Patrick Gillespie (minister) facts for kids

Patrick Gillespie (1617–1675) was an important Scottish minister and a strong supporter of the Covenanters, a religious and political movement in Scotland. He also became the head of the University of Glasgow, thanks to the help of Oliver Cromwell.

Early Life and Career

Patrick Gillespie was born in 1617. His father, John Gillespie, was a minister in Kirkcaldy. Patrick had two famous siblings: George Gillespie and Lilias Skene, who was a Quaker writer.

He studied at the University of St Andrews and graduated in 1635. In 1642, he became a minister in Kirkcaldy. Later, in 1648, he moved to the High Church of Glasgow. From this time, he became very involved in public life. He was first known as a very strong Covenanter. Later, he became a friend and supporter of Oliver Cromwell.

Standing Up for His Beliefs

Patrick Gillespie strongly disagreed with the "Engagement". This was an agreement to help King Charles I. He helped to remove the government that supported it. He also wanted strict actions against those called 'malignants,' who were seen as enemies of the Covenanters.

He felt the terms made with King Charles II were not good enough. After the Battle of Dunbar (1650) in September 1650, he gathered ministers and gentlemen. He convinced them to create their own armed group. This group was led by officers he suggested.

Gillespie wrote the "Western Remonstrance" in December 1650. This document was sent to Parliament. It accused public officials of wrongdoing. It also criticized the agreement with the king. The group declared they would not support the king against Cromwell.

Soon after, the church leaders decided to allow 'malignants' to help defend the country if they said they were sorry. Gillespie and his friends protested this decision. When the general assembly met in July 1651, they argued it was not a legal meeting. Because of this, Gillespie and two others were removed from their ministry roles. However, they and their supporters ignored this decision, causing a split in the church.

Leading the Protesters

Many of the "Protesters", as these dissenting ministers were called, preferred Cromwell over the king. Some even started to favor independency, a different church structure. Gillespie was the main leader of this group. He had a lot of influence with Oliver Cromwell, who was then the Lord Protector of England.

In 1652, Gillespie was appointed as the head of the University of Glasgow. This appointment faced objections. Some argued that professors should elect the principal. Others said Gillespie lacked enough learning. He had also been removed from his ministry role. Despite these protests, Gillespie started his new job at the university on February 14, 1653.

In 1653, Cromwell closed down the general assembly of the church. The next year, he invited Gillespie and two other Protesters to London. He wanted to discuss how to organize church affairs in Scotland. This meeting led to a large group of Protesters being given power. They could remove ministers they disagreed with. They could also stop payments to any minister who did not have a letter of support from their group. This was known as 'Gillespie's Charter.' It was strongly disliked by the Resolutioners, who were the majority in the church.

Challenges and Influence

In September 1655, Patrick Gillespie went to Edinburgh to preach. Some people in the congregation interrupted him. They asked how he dared to preach there, as he had been removed from his ministry and called a traitor. A few weeks later, on October 14, 1655, he preached in the High Church of Edinburgh. He publicly prayed for Cromwell, which was the first time anyone had done so in Scotland.

Around this time, he convinced the synod of Glasgow to cancel the decision that had removed him from his ministry. He tried to get this decision accepted by the synod of Lothian, but they did not agree. Soon after, Gillespie and other Protesters went to London. They wanted to gain more power. However, John Sharp, who represented the Resolutioners, was there to oppose them. Sharp had the support of English Presbyterians. Gillespie and his friends tried to get help from the Independents, but they were not successful.

Gillespie stayed in London for about a year and became very ill during this visit. He lived in a grand way, preaching before Cromwell in a fancy velvet robe. He was good friends with important people like John Owen and Nicholas Lockyer. He also knew John Lambert and Charles Fleetwood. He convinced Cromwell to give the university more money from church property.

Later Life and Legacy

After returning home, Gillespie had disagreements with the town council. He was accused of not doing his job well and mismanaging money. However, these accusations were not fully pursued. In May 1659, he visited London again. He received more income for the college from Richard Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell's son. On October 28, 1659, he was asked to serve at the Outer-High Church in Edinburgh.

When the monarchy was restored in England, known as the English Restoration, Gillespie sent his wife to the court to ask for mercy for him. He lost his position and was put in Stirling Castle. In March 1661, he was put on trial. He said he was sorry and asked the court for mercy. He had powerful friends, and even John Sharp helped him. Because of this, he was only sentenced to stay in Ormiston for a while. King Charles II thought Gillespie was more guilty than James Guthrie. The king even said he would have spared Guthrie's life if he had known Gillespie would be treated so lightly.

Patrick Gillespie could not find another job as a minister. He passed away in Leith in February 1675. During his time at the university, he improved and expanded the buildings. He also added to the university's permanent income. However, he left the university with some debt.

Writings

Patrick Gillespie wrote several works, including:

• Rulers' Sins the Cause of National Judgments, a sermon published in 1650.
• A book published after his death, The Ark of the Testament opened, which came out in 1677. It included an introduction by John Owen.