Rev. James G. Carnachan, LL.D., pastor of Park Avenue Congregational Church, Meadville, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, August 29, 1829, and is a son of James S. and Jane (Black) Carnachan, natives of Scotland.
Their family consisted of eight sons and one daughter, our subject being the oldest He received his education at the Andersonian College, Glasgow, and entered the University of Glasgow the session of 1843-44 and graduated in May, 1853. He entered the ministry the same year in Scotland, and in 1856 came to America, settling in Tioga County, Penn., as pastor of Nelson and Farmington Churches from December, 1850, to September, 1858. He was then called to Troy, Bradford County, Penn., remaining there until May, 1866, when he assumed the pastorate of the Grove Presbyterian Church at Danville, Penn, where he continued until June, 1869. He then became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Meadville, remaining in that capacity until the organization of the Park Avenue Congregational Church in April, 1881, of which he has since been pastor.
He was married June 16, 1856, to Mary Meldau, only daughter of George Macfarlane, merchant, Glasgow. She died June 13, 1860. Of their family of five children, four survive—two sons and two daughters.
Dr. Carnachan was again married June 2, 1868, to Rachel Ann, only daughter of Robert H. Long, merchant, Lancaster, Penn.
Rev. Dr. Carnachan was in the service of the Christian Commission from August to November, 1864, and was Superintendent at the Fifth Corps Depot Hospital, City Point, Va. He was also elected Chaplain to the One Hundred and Thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, an honor he was compelled to decline. The title of LL.D. was conferred upon him in 1875 by the free University of Naples by promotion.

Source: History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania: containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1885, page 718-719.

REV. Dr. CARNACHAN has resigned the pastorate of the Park Avenue Congregational church of Meadville, on account of bad health. Advance Argus, 07 Feb 1889, p. 5, Greenville, Pa.