The Rev. Dr. James Smart arrived at St. Paul's in January 1942, moving here from his previous pastorate in Knox Church, Galt, and accompanied by Mrs. Smart and their three daughters.
A graduate of Knox College in 1929, he had pursued post-graduate studies in Germany, leading to his Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Toronto in 1931.
His short sojourn with us ended in September 1944, just two years and eight months from the date of his induction in St. Paul's, Peterborough; a ministry blessed with a considerable measure of progress along the lines every minister desires. During his post-graduate years, Old Testament studies were a specialization, a basic background to his initial endeavour in writing. His first book, "What A Man Can Believe", resulted in an invitation to become editor-in-chief of the Christian Faith and Life curriculum of the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. In this position he had a profound influence on the development of Christian Education programmes through the United States and Canada.
In 1948, Dr. Smart returned to Peterborough to be the guest speaker for the 115th Anniversary of St. Paul’s, celebrated in September of that year due to the general renovations to the church during the month of May, the usual anniversary date.
Between the years 1950 and 1957, he returned to Canada as minister of Rosedale Presbyterian Church in Toronto. During this period, in addition to his normal pastoral duties, he lectured at Knox and Ewart Colleges as well as continuing his efforts in the literary field.
In 1957, he again moved to New York city to become Jessup Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Union Theological Seminary, and a frequent lecturer and preacher in Seminaries and Colleges. In 1970, Professor Smart returned to Roseda1e Presbyterian Church for a short period before retiring from the active ministry in 1974 to continue his writing. His sudden death in January 1982 came as a great shock to his many friends and colleagues both here and in the United States.
Dr. James Smart vas an internationally renowned theologian and writer, the author of more than twenty theological works. St. Paul's was indeed fortunate to have had this outstanding churchman as our teaching elder, if only for such a short time.