John Fullarton
Encyclopedia
John Fullarton of Greenhall
, Argyll
, was a Scottish clergyman and nonjurant
Episcopal
Bishop of Edinburgh
between 1720 and 1727.
between at least 1609 and 1629, who was still alive as late as 1659, when he received a grant from the Synod of Argyll because of his poverty.
from Glasgow University in 1665. Following his ordination, he was minister at Kilmodan
from 1669 to 1684 and at Paisley
between 1684 and 1689, whence he was ejected at the Revolution
. Robert Wodrow
recorded in 1703 that Fullarton was present with other Episcopal clergy at a service in Glasgow to commemorate the execution of Charles I
, and he also preached there. The connection with Paisley had not been broken, and Fullarton was at the deathbed of the young Lady Dundonald in Paisley in 1710, and later celebrated Holy Communion for the widowed Earl in Paisley Abbey
, "the first instance of Communion at Yule so openly celebrated in this country," according to Wodrow. By 1712, Wodrow considered Fullarton to be "the man of that [Episcopalian] party in most repute in this country."
John Fullarton was consecrated bishop by the Archbishop of Glasgow
, the Bishop of Edinburgh
and Bishop of Dunblane
on 25 January 1705 and was elected Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus
in April 1720, with limited metropolitan powers, following the death of Dr Alexander Rose
. He served as Bishop until his death on 27 April 1727 at his estate at Greenhall.
(in exile) and to have had numerous dealings with the Old Pretender’s agent, George Lockhart
. (According to Thomas Stephen: “The hope of the restoration of the old dynasty was strong in the minds of the bishops…”) The Scottish Magazine and Churchman’s Review summed up Fullarton’s episcopate in this way: “...he greatly exerted himself to accommodate the differences which existed among the clergy respecting usages, and endeavoured also to restore a proper distribution of Episcopal superintendence, for which, however, the state of the Church was not then ripe.”
Auchenbreck Castle
Auchenbreck Castle is located in Argyll, Scotland. Its remains are situated in Kilmodan parish, near the mouth of Glendaruel, north of Tighnabruaich on the Cowal peninsula. Little remains of the castle, other than a flat rectangular platform, around , between Auchenbreck farmhouse and the...
, Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
, was a Scottish clergyman and nonjurant
Nonjuring schism
The nonjuring schism was a split in the Church of England in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, over whether William of Orange and his wife Mary could legally be recognised as King and Queen of England....
Episcopal
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
Bishop of Edinburgh
Bishop of Edinburgh
The Bishop of Edinburgh is the Ordinary of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh.The see was founded in 1633 by King Charles I. William Forbes was consecrated in St. Giles' Cathedral as its first bishop on 23 January 1634 though he died later that year...
between 1720 and 1727.
Origins
Fullarton was the son of James McCloy, alias Fullarton, of Ballochindryan and Jean Stewart, the daughter of John Stewart of Ascog. His grandfather is thought to have been Duncan, or Donald McCloy, minister at KilmodanKilmodan
The parish of Kilmodan is situated in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It includes the valley of Glendaruel and surrounding areas, with Kilmodan Church located in the Clachan of Glendaruel. The alternative historical spelling, Kilmadan, is no longer used....
between at least 1609 and 1629, who was still alive as late as 1659, when he received a grant from the Synod of Argyll because of his poverty.
Career
Fullarton obtained the degree of Master of ArtsMaster of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
from Glasgow University in 1665. Following his ordination, he was minister at Kilmodan
Kilmodan
The parish of Kilmodan is situated in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It includes the valley of Glendaruel and surrounding areas, with Kilmodan Church located in the Clachan of Glendaruel. The alternative historical spelling, Kilmadan, is no longer used....
from 1669 to 1684 and at Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
between 1684 and 1689, whence he was ejected at the Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
. Robert Wodrow
Robert Wodrow
Robert Wodrow , Scottish historian, was born at Glasgow, being a son of James Wodrow, professor of divinity.-Biography:Ordered as in the text above:...
recorded in 1703 that Fullarton was present with other Episcopal clergy at a service in Glasgow to commemorate the execution of Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, and he also preached there. The connection with Paisley had not been broken, and Fullarton was at the deathbed of the young Lady Dundonald in Paisley in 1710, and later celebrated Holy Communion for the widowed Earl in Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey
Paisley Abbey is a former Cluniac monastery, and current Church of Scotland parish kirk, located on the east bank of the White Cart Water in the centre of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, in west central Scotland.-History:...
, "the first instance of Communion at Yule so openly celebrated in this country," according to Wodrow. By 1712, Wodrow considered Fullarton to be "the man of that [Episcopalian] party in most repute in this country."
John Fullarton was consecrated bishop by the Archbishop of Glasgow
John Paterson (archbishop)
John Paterson , the last archbishop of Glasgow, was the youngest son of John Paterson, bishop of Ross. John, after some preliminary studies at Marischal College, University of Aberdeen, was admitted as a student of theology at the University of St Andrews on 13 March 1655, and he is entered as...
, the Bishop of Edinburgh
Alexander Rose
Alexander Rose of Edinburgh was a wood and ivory turner, following in the footsteps of his father, John, who came from Cromarty. He developed an interest in minerals and began a mineral collection, becoming a dealer in minerals...
and Bishop of Dunblane
Robert Douglas (bishop)
Robert Douglas was a seventeenth- and early eighteenth Scottish churchman. Son of Robert Douglas of Kinmonth, a relative of the Earls of Angus, he was educated at King's College, Aberdeen, before beginning life as a preacher around 1650...
on 25 January 1705 and was elected Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus
Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
The Primus, styled The Most Reverend the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, is the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The current Primus is the Most Revd David Chillingworth who became Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church on 13 June 2009...
in April 1720, with limited metropolitan powers, following the death of Dr Alexander Rose
Alexander Rose
Alexander Rose of Edinburgh was a wood and ivory turner, following in the footsteps of his father, John, who came from Cromarty. He developed an interest in minerals and began a mineral collection, becoming a dealer in minerals...
. He served as Bishop until his death on 27 April 1727 at his estate at Greenhall.
Episcopate
Following his election, Fullarton appears to have made strong protestations of loyalty to the Old PretenderJames Francis Edward Stuart
James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales was the son of the deposed James II of England...
(in exile) and to have had numerous dealings with the Old Pretender’s agent, George Lockhart
George Lockhart
Sir George Lockhart of Lee , of Carnwath, South Lanarkshire, also known as Lockhart of Carnwath, was a Scottish writer, spy and politician.He was the son of Sir George Lockhart of Lee....
. (According to Thomas Stephen: “The hope of the restoration of the old dynasty was strong in the minds of the bishops…”) The Scottish Magazine and Churchman’s Review summed up Fullarton’s episcopate in this way: “...he greatly exerted himself to accommodate the differences which existed among the clergy respecting usages, and endeavoured also to restore a proper distribution of Episcopal superintendence, for which, however, the state of the Church was not then ripe.”
Family
Fullarton married, first, Anna Haldane (who died 28 July 1679), secondly, Barbara Hamilton and, thirdly, Isobel Sinclair. His son by his second wife, John Fullarton of Greenhall, who did not long survive him, was a Surveyor of Customs.Sources
- David M. Bertie, Scottish Episcopal Clergy, 1689-2000 (Continuum International, 2000)
- Thomas Stephen, The History of the Church of Scotland: From the Reformation to the Present Time, Vol. IV (John Lendrum, London, 1845)
- The Scottish Magazine and Churchman's Review (R. Lendrum & Co, Edinburgh, 1849)
- Robert Wodrow, Analecta (1843); Correspondence (1842); Early Letters (1937)