Scottish Presbyterianism Re-Established: The Case of Stirling and Dunblane, 1687-1710

The Church of Scotland rejected episcopal authority in 1690 and settled as Presbyterian, covering lowland and highland communities speaking English and Gaelic. This book examines the two Presbyteries of Stirling and Dunblane's administrative, theological, and geographical functioning under the new regime, using church records from 1690 to 1710. It compares the new Presbyterian regime to Calvinist Episcopalianism and explores the impact of Presbyteries on those involved with them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2021
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The Church of Scotland, founded in 1690, rejected episcopal authority and embraced Presbyterianism as its new governance structure. The adjacent Presbyteries of Stirling and Dunblane, covering both lowland and highland communities, spoke both English and Gaelic and supported both the new government and the old, creating a representative picture of the nation. This book aims to examine the administrative, theological, and geographical aspects of the two Presbyteries under the new regime. By analyzing the complete indices of surviving church records from 1690 to 1710 at the Presbytery and parish levels, Andrew Muirhead will explore how the Presbyteries interacted with civil authorities, handled problematic discipline cases referred by the Kirk Sessions, and functioned as human and religious institutions in seventeenth-century Scotland. The study will shed light on the profound impact of Presbyteries on those involved with them in any capacity. Key features of the book include a comparison of the new Presbyterian regime with the Calvinist Episcopalianism it replaced, an examination of church records available in Stirling Archives, including recruitment records, civil records, and memoirs and diaries, and statistical analysis of the recruitment and experiences of new ministers, their relationships with each other, and heritors. Additionally, the book provides the backdrop for the origins of the First Secession in Stirling 30-40 years later.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 165 x 246 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474447386