David Nasmith was an extraordinary man – a pioneer of the City Mission Movement. Born in Glasgow in 1799, he grew up to become a man with a strong Christian faith and a heart for mission. As he lived and worked in Glasgow, he was deeply moved by the poverty, pain and brokenness surrounding him and came to an understanding that hope for the city could only be found in the grace of God. In response to the unmet needs he saw across the city, David Nasmith founded the first City Mission in Glasgow on 1st January 1826.
6 years later, in 1832, David Nasmith arrived in Edinburgh from Glasgow. He founded Edinburgh City Mission on the 1st March 1832. Through his life, he played an instrumental role in founding over 60 Christian City Missions and agencies worldwide.
David Nasmith pioneered the motto of the City Mission movement in 1826: “may the glory of God and the salvation of souls be your chief – your only end!” To this day, our aim here at Edinburgh City Mission remains the same.
Almost two centuries have passed since the founding of Edinburgh City Mission. By God’s grace, we are still seeking to share the love of Jesus across our capital city through a variety of diverse projects today.
Find out more about the timeline of Edinburgh City Mission’s history at Christian Heritage Edinburgh below.
“May the glory of God and the salvation of souls be your chief – your only end!”