Rev John Munro of Tain
Encyclopedia
The Reverend John Munro (died c.1630) was a Presbyterian minister of Tain
, in the Scottish Highlands
. As a Presbyterian, he resisted the efforts of King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) to unite the Presbyterian Church of Scotland
with the Episcopalian
Church of England
. As a result he was persecuted for many years.
, and grandson of Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis
. His mother was Christina, a daughter of Robert Munro of Carbisdale. John Munro married Euphemia, a daughter of Andrew Munro, 5th of Milntown, a cousin of her husband. They had no children. A brother of John was the Reverend Robert Munro, minister of Creich
from 1609 to around 1640.
. In 1591 he was a member of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
. Subsequently he was presented to parish of Tain in 1599, and the charge of St Duthus Church in the village. Among the emoluments of this parish were the chaplainries of Newmore, Tarlogie, Cambuscurry, Morangie and Dunskaith. He was also appointed a Sub-Dean of the Diocese of Ross
.
to prevent it from meeting. The Parish of Tain was one of the Presbyteries which opposed the proposed union, and in defiance of James' interdict, they sent Rev. John Munro as representative to an Assembly at Aberdeen on 2 July 1605. On that occasion he was nominated as Moderator
.
King James had declared the Aberdeen Assembly seditious, so it did little more than convene then disperse, though the fact it had met at all was in defiance of the King. The 19 ministers who had attended the Assembly were summoned before the Scottish Privy Council. Ten of these submitted to the King, while the other seven, Rev. John Munro among them, maintained that the Assembly had been a lawful one. These seven dissenting ministers who appeared were banished throughout Scotland, each as far as possible from their own parish. One of them, Rev. John Welsh of Ayr
, the son-in-law of John Knox
, was banished to France. John Munro was to be sent to Kintyre
, but in the meantime was imprisoned in Doune Castle
, Perthshire, with another of the ministers. With the aid of the Constable of the castle, who was subsequently imprisoned for his actions, John escaped.
In 1607 he and 13 others were again summoned before the Privy Council, appearing on 20 May of that year. However, while waiting on the judgement of the Council they went into hiding in Edinburgh, and quietly left the city before they could be arrested. As a result they were declared rebels. In the meantime, King James had been successful in suppressing all but a small number of the dissenters to his plan. However, his success was later undone when the Puritan
s under Oliver Cromwell
came to power in 1649.
previously paid by the Crown. He continued to live and minister to the people there for many years after.
On 24 May 1610, the Scottish Privy Council sent a letter to the Provost
and Bailies of Tain, admonishing them for permitting the Rev. Munro to remain living among them and to continue preaching unmolested. What action was taken is not known, but Rev. Munro was still in Tain twenty years later in 1630, though he died shortly afterwards.
Tain
Tain is a royal burgh and post town in the committee area of Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland area of Scotland.-Etymology:...
, in the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. As a Presbyterian, he resisted the efforts of King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) to unite the Presbyterian Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
with the Episcopalian
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. As a result he was persecuted for many years.
Family
He was the third son of Hugh Munro, 1st of AssyntAssynt
Assynt is a civil parish in west Sutherland, Highland, Scotland – north of Ullapool.It is famous for its landscape and its remarkable mountains...
, and grandson of Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis
Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis
Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis was a Scottish Highlander, soldier and clan chief of the Clan Munro. He was seated at Foulis Castle...
. His mother was Christina, a daughter of Robert Munro of Carbisdale. John Munro married Euphemia, a daughter of Andrew Munro, 5th of Milntown, a cousin of her husband. They had no children. A brother of John was the Reverend Robert Munro, minister of Creich
Creich
Creich is located near Bonar Bridge, in Sutherland, in Scotland.There is a church and graveyard for the Parish of Creich. Creich Mains farm is located here....
from 1609 to around 1640.
Early years
He was educated for the ministry at St Andrews University, graduating as MA in 1590. He was granted the Chaplainry of Newmore to help pay or his university studies, in accordance with the plans of the reformer John KnoxJohn Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
. In 1591 he was a member of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
. Subsequently he was presented to parish of Tain in 1599, and the charge of St Duthus Church in the village. Among the emoluments of this parish were the chaplainries of Newmore, Tarlogie, Cambuscurry, Morangie and Dunskaith. He was also appointed a Sub-Dean of the Diocese of Ross
Diocese of Ross
The Diocese of Ross was an ecclesiastical territory or diocese in Scotland in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period. The Diocese was led by the Bishop of Ross, and was based at Fortrose. The diocese had only one Archdeacon, the Archdeacon of Ross, first attested in 1223 with the appearance of...
.
Resistance to the union of Churches, 1605-07
In 1605, King James attempted to unite the Presbyterian Church of Scotland with the Episcopal Church of England. In order to prevent the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church blocking this, he placed it under an interdictInterdict
The term Interdict may refer to:* Court order enforcing or prohibiting a certain action* Injunction, such as a restraining order...
to prevent it from meeting. The Parish of Tain was one of the Presbyteries which opposed the proposed union, and in defiance of James' interdict, they sent Rev. John Munro as representative to an Assembly at Aberdeen on 2 July 1605. On that occasion he was nominated as Moderator
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
.
King James had declared the Aberdeen Assembly seditious, so it did little more than convene then disperse, though the fact it had met at all was in defiance of the King. The 19 ministers who had attended the Assembly were summoned before the Scottish Privy Council. Ten of these submitted to the King, while the other seven, Rev. John Munro among them, maintained that the Assembly had been a lawful one. These seven dissenting ministers who appeared were banished throughout Scotland, each as far as possible from their own parish. One of them, Rev. John Welsh of Ayr
John Welsh of Ayr
John Charles Welsh was a Scottish Presbyterian leader.He was born in Dumfriesshire and, after a wayward youth, attended the University of Edinburgh and obtained his MA in 1588. He became a minister in Selkirk, and prior to 1596 and leaving Selkirk, Rev. Welsh married Elizabeth, a daughter of John...
, the son-in-law of John Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
, was banished to France. John Munro was to be sent to Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
, but in the meantime was imprisoned in Doune Castle
Doune Castle
Doune Castle is a medieval stronghold near the village of Doune, in the Stirling district of central Scotland. The castle is sited on a wooded bend where the Ardoch Burn flows into the River Teith. It lies north-west of Stirling, where the Teith flows into the River Forth...
, Perthshire, with another of the ministers. With the aid of the Constable of the castle, who was subsequently imprisoned for his actions, John escaped.
In 1607 he and 13 others were again summoned before the Privy Council, appearing on 20 May of that year. However, while waiting on the judgement of the Council they went into hiding in Edinburgh, and quietly left the city before they could be arrested. As a result they were declared rebels. In the meantime, King James had been successful in suppressing all but a small number of the dissenters to his plan. However, his success was later undone when the Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
s under Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
came to power in 1649.
Later years
Following his flight from Edinburgh in 1607, Rev. Munro made his way to Tain and resumed his ministry among the people there, though without the stipendStipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
previously paid by the Crown. He continued to live and minister to the people there for many years after.
On 24 May 1610, the Scottish Privy Council sent a letter to the Provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
and Bailies of Tain, admonishing them for permitting the Rev. Munro to remain living among them and to continue preaching unmolested. What action was taken is not known, but Rev. Munro was still in Tain twenty years later in 1630, though he died shortly afterwards.