John Menzies Strain (8 December 1810 – 2 July 1883) was a Scottish Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the first Archbishop of the Metropolitan see of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland.
Early life
Strain was born in Edinburgh on 8 December 1810, the son of Hugh Strain and Cecilia Strain (née McKenzie). He was educated at Edinburgh High School, the Seminary in Aquhorties, Aberdeenshire, and the Scots College in Rome.
Priestly career
He was ordained to the priesthood on 9 June 1833. After leaving Rome on 3 August 1833, he returned to Scotland, where he served at St Mary's, Edinburgh for two months before being appointed an assistant at Dumfries. On 17 March 1835, he was appointed to take charge of the mission at St Peter's Church in Dalbeattie, which included the greater part of Kirkcudbrightshire. He returned to Dumfries in 1857 to take charge of the mission there. In 1859, he became the President of St Mary's College, Blairs, Aberdeen.
Episcopal career
Strain was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District and Titular Bishop of Abila Lysaniae by the Holy See on 2 September 1864 and consecrated to the episcopate at the Vatican on 25 September 1864. The principal consecrator was Pope Pius IX, with Cardinals Giuseppe Berardi and Archbishop François Marinelli serving as principal co-consecrators. He participated in the First Vatican Council.
He laboured extensively for the restoration of the Scottish hierarchy, which was achieved under Pope Leo XIII on 15 March 1878. The Eastern District was elevated to the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, with Strain appointed as its first archbishop. He held the first diocesan synod in 1881.
During his nineteen years' episcopate, the number of clergy and missions increased, many new schools were opened, and several religious communities, both of men and women, were introduced.
He died in Edinburgh on 2 July 1883, aged 72. His episcopal motto was Nisi Dominus frustra ("Without the Lord, in vain").
