Michael Sørensen Leigh

Notes:

Michael Sørensen Leigh, born 1656 in Copenhagen, died 1710, was a Danish-Norwegian theologian and author, Master of Philosophy in 1684.

Leigh was the principal of the cathedral schools in Stavanger and Kristiansand and published a number of scholarly theological writings. He became best known for his hymns and devotional books in Danish, including God's Children's Glory (1680), Gilead's Salve (1682) translated into Swedish by Anna Catharina Wefverstedt (1754), and the Preach collection The Sigh of Zion and the Consolation of Jesus (1697).

Leigh was born 1656 in Copenhagen, became a student in 1675, a bachelor in 1676 and a master in philosophy in 1684. As a student he participated in a number of disputations where he showed great energy when it came to unfolding theology's positions in relation to philosophy and cognition. This also marked his desire to be a learned man. Leigh was appointed vice-rector at Stavanger Cathedral School in 1683 and rector in 1684. The rector's position also included the income from Malde (now Madla) parish, for which Leigh was thus responsible. There was modest teaching activity at the cathedral school, and he mainly used his time for theological writing. In addition, he married into one of the city's rich families, and this gave him the opportunity to maintain a vacancy even without large official incomes. In 1697, Leigh was appointed associate professor at the cathedral school in Kristiansand, but conditions there were, if possible, even worse than in Stavanger. Leigh remained in his old position for another couple of years while he waited for one of the priestly vocations for the position of associate professor to become vacant. It was not until 1699 that he moved to Tveit parish, for which he had the income and responsibility. In practice, it seems that Leigh had little to do as an associate professor. He lectured in theology a couple of times a week at Kristiansand Cathedral School, but the students were very few. Thus, it was especially Tveit parish call that became his responsibility. However, one of his students, the later principal of Christiania Cathedral School Jacob Rasch, praises Leigh for his learning and skill. He was mainly able to continue his theological writing in Kristiansand.

Michael married Christina Sophia Seehuusen on 17 Nov 1684 in Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway. Christina (daughter of Morten Hanssøn Seehuusen and Elisabeth Søfrensdatter Godtzen) was born on 20 Jul 1663 in Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway; died in 1700 in Skien, Telemark, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Elisabeth Leigh was born in 1685; died in 1710.
2. Johanna Margaretha Michelsdatter Leigh was born on 12 Sep 1691 in Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway; was christened on 13 Sep 1691 in Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway; died on 11 May 1766 in Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway; was buried on 16 May 1766 in Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway.
3. Morten Michelsen Leigh was born in 1692; died in 1760.
4. Christina Marie Leigh was born in 1695; died in 1696.
5. Dorothea Sophia Leigh was born in 1700; died in 1767.