John Greig (minister) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Greig |
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| Religion | Christianity |
| School | Presbyterianism |
John Greig was a brave Presbyterian minister from Scotland. He was born around 1617 and passed away on May 17, 1689. His life was full of challenges because of his strong religious beliefs.
Contents
Early Life and Ministry
John Greig became a minister in the small parish of Skirling in Scotland around 1649. We don't know much about his early life or his time in Skirling. However, things changed for him in 1662.
Forced Out of His Church
In 1662, a new law was passed in Scotland. This law forced many Presbyterian ministers, including John Greig, out of their churches. They were "ejected" because they did not agree with the new rules set by the government.
A Time of Defiance
About ten years later, in 1672, John Greig was allowed to preach again. He became the minister of Carstairs. However, there was a strict rule: he could only preach within that specific parish. He was one of the "indulged ministers," meaning he was allowed to preach under certain conditions.
Preaching Beyond Limits
John Greig did not like being told where he could and could not preach. He believed it was his duty to share his faith more widely. So, he started holding secret religious meetings called "conventicles" in other places. These meetings were held in areas like Boghall and Leith.
First Imprisonment
In 1675, John Greig was caught holding one of these secret meetings in Leith. He was arrested and sent to the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, which was a famous prison.
Facing the Council
On March 9, 1675, he was brought before the Privy Council. This was a powerful group of advisors to the King. They ordered him to be sent to the Bass Rock, a very tough island prison.
Preaching in Prison
But John Greig was not immediately sent to Bass Rock. He stayed in the Tolbooth. Even there, he continued to preach to his fellow prisoners whenever he could. He was eventually set free. The condition for his release was that he had to "live orderly." This meant he had to follow the rules and only preach in Carstairs parish. If he broke this rule, he would have to pay a large fine of two thousand "merks" (an old Scottish coin).
Breaking the Rules Again
John Greig soon broke his promise. He continued to attend and lead conventicles outside his parish. Because of this, he was called before the Lords of Council again. He did not show up, so he lost all his rights as a minister. However, he was later given his rights back.
More Challenges and Imprisonment
For the next seven years, John Greig stayed out of trouble, or at least out of public view. But his strong beliefs eventually led him into trouble again.
Refusing to Celebrate
In October 1685, he refused to celebrate two important events for the King. One was the anniversary of King Charles II returning to the throne. The other was a day of thanks for the King's safety from a plot called the Rye-house Plot. Because he refused to join these celebrations and for other acts of defiance, he was sent to the Bass Rock prison.
Life on Bass Rock
John Greig stayed on Bass Rock for about 14 months. His health started to suffer, so he asked to be released. On July 15, the Council agreed to let him go. But there was a condition: he had to pay a huge fine of five thousand merks if he didn't show up before the Council or return to prison. He was set free along with another prisoner named William Spence.
Later Years and Freedom
After his release from Bass Rock, John Greig had to be very careful. He often had to appear before the "My Lords" (the Council) to make sure he could stay free. He was present at an important meeting of ministers in July 1687. This meeting happened after a new law called "Toleration" was granted, which gave more freedom to different religious groups. John Greig passed away on May 17, 1689, when he was about 71 years old.
Family Life
John Greig was married to the daughter of Alexander Livingston, who was also a minister. They had several children: John, James, William, and a daughter who married a sailor named Nicol Mason. After John Greig's death, his wife needed help. In 1692, she was recommended for charity by a church group.
