George Hay Forbes (1821-1875) was a cousin of Principal James David Forbes of the United College of the University of St Andrews. Disabled from a young age, he was ordained in May 1848 and sent by the Bishop of St Andrews to revive the Episcopal church in Burntisland, Fife. A parsonage and school were built in 1854 and work began on the church in 1855.
G. H. Forbes became an eminent liturgist and ultimately rector of the Episcopal Church in Burntisland. He ran the private Pitsligo press for the printing of liturgical and other theological works from the Parsonage. Forbes founded the press to print his own works when he was unable to find a publisher for works containing the more obscure Middle Eastern scripts such as Syriac and Armenian. He travelled throughout Europe to further his research. He married Eleanor Wemyss in 1853 and they adopted a French girl who later married the Comte de l'Espinasse. He served as Provost of Burntisland from 1869-70 and was involved in negotiations with the railway company over the creation of the West Dock. He was an early leader of the Co-operative movement in the town.
From the guide to the Papers of the Reverend George Hay Forbes, 1771-1935, 1976, (University of St Andrews)
