Neil Campbell (bishop of the Isles) facts for kids

Neil Campbell (born around 1590, died between 1643 and 1647) was an important Scottish church leader. He served in the Church of Scotland, which is the national church of Scotland. From 1633 to 1638, he held the important position of Bishop of the Isles.

Who Was Neil Campbell?

Neil Campbell was a Scottish clergyman, which means he was a leader in the church. He was born around the year 1590. His father was also named Neil Campbell, and he was a bishop in a different area called Argyll.

Early Life and Education

Neil Campbell went to the University of Glasgow, a well-known university in Scotland. He studied hard and earned a Master of Arts degree in 1607. This showed he was a very educated person for his time.

In 1611, Neil became a minister in a place called Glassary, in Argyll. A minister is a person who leads church services and guides the community. In 1620, he got married to Jean Boyd. Her father was Adam Boyd.

Becoming a Bishop

Neil Campbell was chosen to be the Bishop of the diocese of the Isles on December 17, 1633. A bishop is a senior leader in some Christian churches, overseeing many ministers and churches in a specific area.

His appointment was officially approved by King Charles I on January 21, 1634. This was a very important role, as bishops had a lot of influence in both church and society back then.

However, things changed for him. On December 13, 1638, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is the main governing body of the Church of Scotland, removed him from his position as bishop.

A Time of Change

During this period, there was a lot of disagreement in Scotland about how the church should be run. Neil Campbell decided to support a new movement. He signed the National Covenant, which was an agreement to protect the Church of Scotland's independence.

He also gave up his support for Episcopacy. This was a system where bishops had a lot of power in the church. By doing this, he showed he was willing to adapt to the changes happening in the church.

Because of his new stance, he was allowed to continue serving as a minister. On October 1, 1640, the church leaders declared he could work as a minister again.

Later Years

On November 10, 1642, Neil Campbell became the minister of Campbeltown. He continued his work serving the church and its people there.

He passed away sometime between October 7, 1643, and April 29, 1647. Neil Campbell lived through a very important and changing time for the Church of Scotland.