Alexander Penrose Forbes was educated at Edinburgh Academy,
Glasgow University and Haileybury College. After a period as a civil
servant with the East India Company he attended Brasenose College, Oxford
and graduated in 1846. While in Oxford he came under the influence of
the "Oxford Movement". After a spells at various churches in Scotland
and England he was nominated by William Gladstone to the see of Brechin
and he became Bishop of Brechin in 1847.
In 1857 he outlined his doctrine of the eucharist, in which he presented
his belief in the "real presence" of Christ. This led to some
controversy within the Scottish Episcopal Church, and in 1859 he was
accused by certain Episcopal clergyman of teaching erroneous doctrine. He
was
tried by his fellow bishops in 1860 and received a censure and admonition
to be more careful in future.
Forbes was a man of deep spirituality and genuine social concern. His
personal contribution to
Dundee was great. Under his leadership the Episcopal Church grew from a
relatively unimportant minority denomination to become a significant
force in the city. The Cathedral of St Paul's and the churches of St
Salvador and St Mary Magadalene were founded during this period, which
also saw a large increase in the number of active church members. Forbes
was involved with the Dundee Royal Infirmary and was influential in the
foundation of the Baldovan Institute (now Strathmartine Hospital); he was
on the committee of the Model Lodging-house Association and the Dundee
Free Library, and a member of the Dundee school board, in addition to
being a director of the Prisoners' Aid Society.
During a time when the industrialisation of Dundee had led to much
poverty and hardship Forbes attitude and actions led to him being
greatly revered by the ordinary working class people of the city.
Alexander Penrose Forbes died, still incumbent, in 1875.
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