GIBB, JAMES (1857-1935) was born at Aberdeen and educated at the Grammar School and University of Aberdeen and Edinburgh College. After spending two years in a bank he entered Divinity Hall, Edinburgh, but owing to indifferent health emigrated to Australia and continued his studies at Ormond College (from 1882). He was stationed at Footscray before his ordination, which took place in 1883, and three years later was inducted to First Church, Dunedin, where he ministered for 18 years.

Gibb took a prominent part in church organisations. He was one of the movers in the establishment of The Outlook and he initiated the formation of the council of churches in Dunedin, of which he was the first president (1899-1900). It was in recognition of his work in bringing about the union of the two Presbyterian churches in New Zealand that he received the degree of D.D. from the University of Aberdeen (1902). His sermons on the moral state of Dunedin created some sensation and led to the formation of the Dunedin Social Reform association (of which he was president in 1893-94). He was chairman of the union committee from 1895 to 1901 and, having been moderator of the synod of Otago in 1901, he was the first moderator of the United Church in the same year. He initiated the Bible-in-schools committee of the Church; was president of it (1901-06) and was president in 1903 of the Bible-in-schools Referendum league. He also presided for some years (1902-07) over the committee on the union of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational churches.

In 1903 Gibb received a call to St John's Church, Wellington. During a ministry of 23 years there he continued the activities which he had initiated in Dunedin and was also president of the Young Men's Bible Class movement in 1902. On a visit to Great Britain in 1920 to bring out missionaries for the Church in New Zealand he was impressed with the need for a universal peace movement and on his return he brought into existence the New Zealand branch of the League of Nations Union. Gibb took a leading part in establishing Presbyterian orphanages and Scots and Queen Margaret's Colleges in Wellington, of which he was chairman till 1933. After his retirement he raised special funds for theological scholarships and for a Maori mission girls' college. He married Jean, daughter of D. Smith (Aberdeen). His death occurred on 24 Oct 1935.

Dickson; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; The Dominion, 24 Oct 1935 (p); Otago Daily Times, 18 Jun, 9 Jul, 31 Sep 1890, 31 Oct 1893, 24 Oct 1935.

Reference: Volume 1, page 162

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