In the earlier years of the Houston family in Scotland, some of the landless, younger sons turned to the ministry. During the times when Catholicism was the only church, the position of the clergy was one of honor and some authority, without the dangers and hardships to which soldiers and knights were accustomed. Some of these clergymen occupied offices and teaching positions in the colleges and universities which were being established by the kings and the church to bring some degree of learning and culture to Scotland, to raise it nearer the level of England and France.

Sir James Houston, deacon, was one of the more prominent of these sixteenth century churchmen and educators. He was made chaplain of the Collegiate Church of St. Mary and St. Anne of Glasgow on November 17, 1507. Twenty years later he was advanced to "sub-dean and founder" of that great church. Then from 1534 to 1541 he served as lord rector of the University of Glasgow. Still progressing, in 1547 and 1548, he was vicar general under the revered Archbishop Gavin Dunbar.

Sir James was a great friend of the Archbishop, who appointed him executor of his will. As such, Houston was commissioned to erect an elaborate sculpture, honoring the great prelate after death. Further he was entrusted with major repairs on the Cathedral of Glasgow. In the process, Sir James had the Houston coat-of-arms engraved on the gateway to the Bishop’s Castle, at the entrance to the Cathedral grounds.