Patrick Forbes (bishop of Caithness) facts for kids

Patrick Forbes (born around 1610, died 1679) was an important Scottish church leader. He became a Bishop of Caithness, which means he was a high-ranking official in the Protestant church in Scotland.

Who Was Patrick Forbes?

Early Life and Education

Patrick Forbes was the third son of John Forbes, who was also a minister. His father worked in places like Alford, Aberdeenshire in Scotland and later in Delft in the Netherlands. Patrick went to King's College, Aberdeen for his studies. His uncle, also named Patrick Forbes, was a bishop and the head of that college. Patrick finished his studies in 1631.

A Chaplain's Journey

After college, Patrick went back to Holland and became an army chaplain. This meant he was a minister who served soldiers. In 1638, he was in Scotland and signed something called the national covenant. This was an important agreement where many Scots promised to defend their Presbyterian faith and oppose changes to the church by the king. He signed it at a big meeting in Glasgow.

In 1641, Patrick became the minister of the British church in Delft, Holland. His father had served there before him. He was friends with Principal Baillie, who wrote good things about him in letters. Baillie even liked a manuscript Forbes had written and wanted it to be published. He also encouraged Forbes to work against certain religious groups in Holland, like the Anabaptists. After a short time as a minister in Delft, Patrick became a military chaplain again. He continued this work until the king returned to power in England in 1660, an event known as the Restoration.

Becoming a Bishop

When King Charles II returned to the throne, he brought back the system of having bishops in the church in Scotland. This system is called episcopacy. At that time, Forbes was a chaplain to Andrew Rutherford, who was the governor of Dunkirk. The king chose Patrick Forbes to become the Bishop of Caithness. On May 7, 1662, he and five other men were made bishops at the abbey church of Holyrood. The archbishops of St. Andrews and Glasgow, along with the bishop of Galloway, performed the ceremony. It is thought that Forbes had already been ordained as a minister in Holland under the Presbyterian system. However, none of the Presbyterian ministers who became bishops in Scotland were ordained again.

Patrick Forbes passed away in 1679. He was buried in Kirkwall Cathedral.

Family Life

Patrick Forbes was married twice. His first wife was the daughter of Colonel Erskine, an officer in the Scots brigade in Holland. They had children together. His son, John, who worked as a commissary in Caithness, died in October 1668 at Craigievar, Aberdeenshire. He was buried at Leochel.

His second wife was Katherine Scougal. She was the daughter of Bishop Patrick Scougal and the widow of William Scrogie.