medieval-atlas/the-church/399

Transcription

The Restoration to the Revolution For the presbyterian clergy, the proclamation of toleration in 1687 offered an equitable solution to the problem of nonconformity by enabling both conventicle preachers and the government to modify their respective approaches to the controversial question of Erastianism. On the one hand, the ministers accepted a degree of state authority in church matters by agreeing to make public announcements of their worship services as required by law. On the other hand, by dispensing with the practice of licensing ministers, the state in effect recognised prayer meetings held outwith the established church. How successful this compromise was may be judged by the Dunkeld 111 (1) The name of one location and of one minister (in presbytery of St. Andrews) is not recorded. :2 Forty-eight ministers advertised their intention to preach publicly, but three of them preached in two different presbyteries. The number of meetings advertised in each presbytery with the number of different locations is followed by the number of ministers involved e.g. Dunfermline 7/5 (4) number of ministers who complied with the proclamation and advertised their prayer meetings. Between 9 October 1687 and 12 July 1688,48 presbyterian ministers announced their intentions to preach at 72 different services which were held in a variety oflocations including bams, private houses and special meeting halls. Of the 72 prayer meetings formally announced, the overwhelming majority were located in central Scotland with almost one third (24) held in the synod of Fife alone. Although one meeting has no specific location recorded, the remaining 47 meetings were concentrated in four other synods: Glasgow and Ayr (15); Lothian and Tweeddale (12); Angus and Meams (11); and Perth (9). kms 0 I 25 , 50 ,, 75 , , 100 ,, miles Jacobean toleration 1687 MS 399