1855-1931

John Warrick was born in Leith on 27th October 1855 to William Warrick and Elizabeth Muirhead. He was the fourth son of eight children and his father was a successful Edinburgh Wine Merchant. He was educated at Edinburgh University and the New College, graduating as Master of Arts. He served the church at Forres in Morayshire, and in Edinburgh, before being ordained at Cumnock Free Church on 22nd February 1883. When the Free Church and the Church of Scotland reunited in 1929, Warrick was chosen by Ayr Presbytery to be its first moderator. He was an authority on church law, especially that of the Free Church, and was often asked for advice on ecclesiastical procedure.

He was Free Church minister of the Crichton Church, Ayr Road, Cumnock just as the old Free Church was being demolished and the existing church was being built. He delivered a service when the foundation stone was laid on 27th July 1897. From that time until 1899 he spent time researching The History of Old Cumnock – his main claim to fame.

Although he did not serve on any local committees or organisations, he did tireless work for local causes. He promoted the work of the Nursing Association and helped to raise funds for the Bute Hospital. He was a keen walker and gardener. He had a deep interest in the local Covenanting martyrs – visiting many of their graves. He helped to acquire the Ochiltree Covenanters Banner and presented it to the National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh.

He also helped to preserve Cumnock’s Mercat Cross. By the 20th century the cross was over 400 years old and was in a poor condition. A suggestion was made to break it up but Warrick and other parties organised fellow Cumnockians to its defence. This culminated in a packed public meeting in the Town Hall and the Cross’s protection as a scheduled Ancient Monument.

In 1891 John married Ina Alice Philip but she died in childbirth in 1898 aged only 36. He subsequently married Elizabeth Johnstone in 1903. In 1908, John celebrated his silver jubilee as a minister in Cumnock with a special church service at which he was presented with a pulpit gown and cassock, a Psalm book and a purse of sovereigns. His wife Elizabeth and baby daughter Edith were also presented with a number of gifts.

John Warrick was a literary man. As well as writing the History of Old Cumnock, he also wrote The Moderators of the Church of Scotland from 1690 to 1740, published in 1913 and some of his sermons were also published in pamphlet format.

It is interesting to note that John and his wife Ina looked after his older brother William up until his death in 1887 and both his parents prior to their deaths in 1888 and 1889 respectfully, in the Manse, Ayr Road.

In his old age John continued to serve the church and parish to the best of his ability, even though he was often ill. He was desperate to serve until his Golden Jubilee in 1933, but suffered strokes in June 1931 and died early in the morning of 24th June 1931. A special memorial service was held in the Crichton Church, followed by a burial service at Cumnock’s new Cemetery. In his will he left an estate of over £20,000.

Obituary from the Cumnock Chronicle of 26th June 1931
Passing of the Rev John Warrick M. A.
Forty-eight years ministry in Cumnock
Early on Wednesday morning the soul of John Warrick, Master of Arts, and for forty-eight years minister of what is now known as the Crichton Memorial Church, was gathered in great peace to his Heavenly Father. Several weeks earlier he had been laid aside by sudden stroke, and on Monday, after fair recovery, he experienced a serious relapse which culminated in his death as stated. After a brief period of assistantship at Forres and Edinburgh, Mr Warrick was ordained in the Free Church here in March 1883, in succession to the Rev. Mr Adamson. Of the members of that churches eldership who welcomed him to Cumnock, ex-Provost Hunter, J.P. has been the sole survivor during the past twenty-three years. In 1899 the stately edifice over which Mr Warrick presided was erected by Miss Crichton in memory of her father.

In his long ministry Mr Warrick has cheered and helped many in the time of their sorrow and sadness by kind words of sympathy and encouragement. As an honoured instrument in God’s hands he turned many a soul from darkness to the light of Heavenly truth, and those who knew him best speak lovingly of his consideration for the poor, his sympathy for the bereaved, and his anxiety for the spiritual welfare and highest good of his people.

It is well known that Mr Warrick cherished the hope that he would be spared to celebrate the jubilee of his Cumnock ministry. That desire kept him busy in the affairs of his church and the duties of his ministry, when greater thought for his personal welfare might have urged him to well-earned retirement. For several years he laboured under the serious handicap of bodily ailment, which would have made many a less determined man retire from the arduous claims of his calling. He had strong views on the question of life-long pastorates, and often referred to the historical fact that during the last 225 years only two of his predecessors in office had accepted calls to other parts of the country.

Mr Warrick always adhered to the belief that the pulpit was the minister’s watchtower, and his place of greatest power. Consequently, his advice to young ministers, who have come into our midst, has always been that they should be much in their study preparing for the sermons of the house of God. In his preaching Mr Warrick’s ideal was ever that of being strictly biblical. He adhered to the letter of his ordination to preach the gospel; and to the gospel of the grace of God, it may be truthfully said, he strictly confined himself. No literary, political or semi-religious subject, he contended, fell within the preacher’s commission to be dealt with on the day or worship. His attitude always was that a layman, interested in the study of the book of God and seeking to gain help in the sanctuary to bear the burdens of life, should resent the offer of such un-nutritious fare, irrespective of its great general interest. Perhaps the duty which Mr Warrick allowed most often to break in upon his preparation for the pulpit was that of his visitation of the sick or the lonely. In that sphere of his congregational activity he was indefatigable, and they are a great majority who will remember him best for that especial diligence.

He had fixed ideas of the powers and functions of every church organisation, and few could equal him in his knowledge of church law or ecclesiastical procedure. A man of amazing erudition in these spheres of learning, he was recognised by brother ministers and officers of the church as an authority whose considered opinion could be relied upon. A man of strongly developed literary taste, it was not to be wondered at that he should devote himself to the meticulous compilation of facts pertaining to the town and parish in which he laboured. Every conceivable source of information was searched, and every authority consulted and verified over a period of years; and then, in 1899, there appeared from the Press of Alexander Gardner, the volume treasured by all true sons of our town, “The History of Old Cumnock”. For all time that work will remain the standard of authentic information, historic and antiquarian, relative to our burgh and parish. Mr Warrick penned other works, most important perhaps being his “Biographies of the Moderators of the Church of Scotland, from 1690 to 1740”.

On the consumation of the Re-union of the Church of Scotland, two years ago, he was honoured by being elected the first Moderator of the United Presbyteries. In public life Mr Warrick took no great active part, although he always evinced real interest in the welfare of such beneficent institutions as the Nursing Association and the Bute Hospital. A keen amateur gardener, he spent a good deal of time in the manse grounds tending the flowers and lawns. He was well versed in botany and knew every wayside flower. He was never a member of any of our public boards or committees, though he took more than a passing interest in their affairs. He travelled a good deal.

Eight years ago Mrs Warrick predeceased her husband, and to Miss Warrick now is extended the sympathy and condolence of the entire community. As an act of respectful mourning the church choir and Sabbath School have abandoned their summer outings, arranged to take place this week. A memorial service will be held in the church this afternoon at two o’clock.

{Note – the Chronicle of the following week gives a report of the memorial service and other pulpit references}