Peter Cumming
(Eastern District) Born at Scalan, 25th March 1827, the son of John Cumming and Jean McPherson; ordained a deacon at Palencia, 27th March 1852, left for Scotland, 16th April 1852, and ordained a priest by Bp. Kyle at Preshome, 24th May 1852; died in Crieff, 6th February 1875.
| Date | Age | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar. 1827 | Born Scalan, Glenlivet | |
| 1840-1846 | 13 |
Blairs |
| 2 Jul. 1846 | 19 |
Arrived in the College |
| 27 Mar. 1852 | 25 |
Ordained a deacon, Palencia |
| 16 Apr. 1852 | 25 |
Left for Scotland |
| 24 May 1852 | 25 |
Ordained a priest by Bishop Kyle at Preshome |
| 1852 | 25 |
Professor, Blairs |
| 1852-1853 | 25 |
St Patrick's, Edinburgh |
| 1853-1856 | 26 |
Forfar |
| 1856-1861 | 29 |
St Mary's, Dundee |
| 1861-1865 | 34 |
St Andrew's, Dundee |
| 1865 | 38 |
St Mary's, Dundee |
| 1865-1869 | 38 |
Perth |
| 1869-1872 | 42 |
Crieff |
| 1872-1874 | 45 |
In bad health. In Stirling, Alloa and Edinburgh |
| 1874-1875 | 47 |
Crieff |
| 6 Feb. 1875 | 47 |
Died Crieff |
Report of the ordination of Peter Cumming in the Scottish Catholic Directory of 1853.
The Rev. Peter Cumming was born at Scalan, Glenlivat, Banffshire, on the 25th March, 1827, and received into St. Mary’s College, Blairs, on the 15tb October, 1840. He was sent, on the 10th June, 1846, to the Scots College at Valladolid, where, having completed bis studies, he was ordained Subdeacon on the 20th of December, 1851, by the Bishop of Valladolid; he received the order of Deacon at Palentia on the 27th March, 1852, from the Bishop of that See. Having returned to Scotland on the 7th of the following May, he was promoted, on the 24th of the same month, to the Priesthood at Preshome, by the Right Rev. Dr. Kyle. Having been employed subsequently for some time as Professor at Blairs College, he was called, on the 17th August, to Edinburgh, as one of the officiating clergymen of St. Patrick’s. In November, he was appointed to the new Mission at Forfar.
Obituary of Peter Cumming in the Scottish Catholic Directory of 1876.
Pray for the soul of the Rev. Peter Cumming, who died at Crieff on the 6th February, 1875, in the 4bth year of his age, and the 23rd of his priesthood.
This zealous and energetic Missionary was born at Scalan, Glenlivat, on the 25th March, 1827; entered Blairs College on the 15th October, 1840 and was sent to the Scots College, Valladolid, in June, 1846. After completing the usual course of studies, and having been ordained Deacon in Spain, he returned to Scotland in May, 1852, and was promoted to the priesthood by Bishop Kyle at Preshome, on the 24th of the same month. He was first employed for a short time as Professor in Blairs College, and then passed to St. Patrick’s, Edinburgh, and entered upon his Missionary duties, which, so long as God gave him strength, he discharged with singular devotion and single-mindedness. In the beginning of the following December, he was sent to take charge of the newly- established Mission of Forfar, to which Brechin and Montrose were attached as Stations. Early in 1856, owing to the scarcity of Clergymen, it was found necessary to place Forfar, &c., once more under the care of the Priest of Arbroath, and Mr. Cumming was removed to St. Mary’s, Dundee. He remained there till September, 1861, when he was transferred to St. Andrew’s, Dundee; and he passed the next three and a half years in that Mission, first as assistant to Rev. Dr. Keenan, and, after his death, as senior Clergyman. His predecessor had brought a Community of Sisters of Mercy to Dundee in 1859, and established them in Wellburn; Mr. Cumming purchased a property in Blackness Road—a far more convenient place for the labours of the Sisters—and transferred them to it in 1863. He also procured a new organ for St. Andrew’s, as he afterwards did for St John's, Perth. In January, 1865, he returned to St. Mary's, and, in July of the same year, was appointed to assist his uncle, Rev. Dr. Macpherson, at Perth. In November, 1869, he went to reside at Crieff, which he had served from Perth during the four previous years. In this widely-scattered Mission he found a large field for his energies, and entered upon it with his habitual zeal and self-sacrifice. He opened a station at Methven, and secured for ii a property which he intended to convert into a Chapel-school and teacher’s house. Up to this time, one of the rooms of the Priest’s house had served as a Chapel for the Catholics of Crieff. Mr. Cumming collected, in various quarters, upwards of £700; built a beautiful little Church, which was opened by Bishop Strain on the 16th November, 1871; and procured for it several valuable paintings and rich furniture, which had formerly adorned the chapel at Murthly Castle. The great fatigue which he underwent at this time, injured his health so much that in September, 1872, he was compelled to resign his charge. He passed some months at Stirling with his friend the Rev. P. Maclachlan, and then went to live with Rev. James Donlevy at Alloa, where he spent the greater part of 1873 and 1874. He was also at St. Patrick’s, Edinburgh, for some time. In August, 1874, he was able to resume his labours at Crieff, to the great joy of his flock. But it was not the will of God to leave him long with his people. On New Year’s Day following, in spite of a storm of extreme severity, he went to say Mass at Tullymet. On his return the train was snowed up at Ballinluig, and he caught a severe cold which resulted in inflammation of the lungs. He received the last Rites of the Church from Bishop Strain, with a fervent piety which moved all present to tears; and on Saturday, the 6th February, peacefully yielded up his soul to God. Twenty-two Priests assisted at the funeral service, which took place on the following Thursday. The Mass of Requiem was celebrated by Bishop Strain, who also passed a high eulogium on the deceased, dwelling particularly on his zeal, his lavish charities, and his scrupulous exactness in the performance of all his duties. His body reposes, at his own desire, in the vault beneath the sanctuary of the Church.