Presbyterian polity
Leitch stayed with the Kirk through the [[Disruption of 1843]], when he was ordained and worked in the parish of [[Monimail]], in the [[Presbyterian polity#Presbytery|presbytery]] of [[Cupar]] for 16 years. During this time he worked with the church's Sabbath schools and became interested in popular education. He was awarded the degree of [[Doctor of Divinity]] by Glasgow University in 1860.