John Semple (minister) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Semple |
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Carsphairn Parish Church
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| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1602 |
| Died | c. 1677 Carsphairn |
| Denomination | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | minister |
John Semple was a Christian minister who lived in the 1600s. He preached in both Ulster (a part of Ireland) and Scotland. He was a Presbyterian, meaning he followed a specific branch of Protestant Christianity.
His strong beliefs often put him in conflict with the government leaders of his time. He famously refused to take "The Black Oath," a special promise of loyalty demanded by the authorities. Because of this, he was often chased by officials trying to arrest him. Despite many threats and dangers throughout his life, he continued to preach until he died around age 75.
Becoming a Minister
John Semple first worked as a precentor in a church in County Down, Ireland. A precentor is someone who leads the singing during church services.
One day, the minister was late for the service. John felt a strong urge to explain the psalm (a religious song) that had just been sung. He did such a good job that people were very impressed. Soon after, he was allowed to start preaching in private homes. Many people came from all over the country to hear him speak.
The Black Oath and Its Dangers
In the 1630s, Deputy Strafford was a powerful leader in Ireland. He wanted to please King Charles I. To do this, he created a special promise called "the Black Oath."
This oath was forced upon all Scottish settlers in Ulster who were over 16 years old. It made them promise to reject the National Covenant (a Scottish agreement to protect their religious freedom) and to obey the King's every command. This oath was put into effect very strictly starting in May 1639.
Many people took the oath, but others refused. Those who refused often had to hide or flee their homes, leaving their belongings behind. Some were even arrested and put in jail.
If someone refused the oath, their name was sent to Dublin. Then, special officers called 'pursuivants' were sent to arrest them. These officers were very determined to catch those who refused. John Semple was almost caught many times, but he always managed to escape, even after several very close calls.
Ministry in Carsphairn
In 1646, John Semple became the minister of Carsphairn, a town in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. He joined a group called the "Protesters" in 1651, who had specific views on church leadership.
He faced more trouble during this time. For example, the famous leader Oliver Cromwell once spoke for a long time at a meeting of ministers in Edinburgh. John Semple was later punished with six months in prison for something related to this speech.
On August 23, 1660, John Semple was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. The government also stopped his pay. He was later listed as a "rebel" in December 1666, meaning people were not allowed to help him. He was also on a list of people to be prosecuted in August 1667. However, he was later granted a pardon.
In 1672, he was allowed to return to his ministry in Carsphairn. But he was fined again in 1673 for not celebrating the anniversary of King Charles II's return to power.
In August 1677, he was called before the Privy Council, a powerful government group. They threatened him with death or banishment. John Semple bravely replied, "My God will not let you either kill me or banish me, but I will go home and die in peace." He did return to his parish, preached there, and died soon after at the age of 75. He left a good amount of money to help the poor people of Kirkcudbright.
Family Life
John Semple was married to a woman who was six years older than him. However, her name and whether they had any children are not recorded in historical accounts.
