John Ross Macduff (1818–1895) was a prominent Scottish divine, hymn writer, and highly prolific author of religious literature during the Victorian era. Born at his family's estate of Bonhard in Perthshire, he received his education at the High School of Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh. Ordained as a minister in 1843, Macduff served several parishes, including Kettins and St Madoes, before taking charge of the Sandyford Church in Glasgow in 1855, where he preached for fifteen years.
In 1870, Macduff retired from his active ministerial duties in Glasgow and relocated to Chislehurst, Kent, to dedicate himself entirely to his writing career. His literary output was vast, consisting of practical, devotional, and theological works that achieved exceptionally wide circulation. Among his most celebrated publications were Morning and Night Watches, The Prophet of Fire, Memories of Bethany, and The Bow in the Cloud. He also wrote children's books such as The Story of a Dewdrop.
Beyond his prose, Macduff was an accomplished hymn writer. In 1857, he was appointed to the General Assembly's Hymnal Committee. His hymns, originally published in collections like Altar Stones (1853) and The Gates of Praise (1876), include "Christ is Coming, let Creation," which remains in use today. Following his death in 1895, his daughter Anne Seton Macduff edited his remaining works, including his posthumous autobiography, The Author of Morning and Night Watches.
