Robert Pont facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Pont
Memorial at St Cuthbert's
Personal details
Born	1524
Died	8 May 1606

Robert Pont (born 1529, died 1606) was an important figure in the Church of Scotland. He was a minister, a judge, and a reformer. He helped shape the church during a time of big changes in Scotland.

Pont was known for his legal skills. He became a judge in the College of Justice, which was Scotland's highest court. He also helped write important church rules, like the Second Book of Discipline. He bravely spoke out against laws he thought were unfair, even having to leave Scotland for a short time. Robert Pont also published new versions of the Psalms and wrote about the idea of uniting Scotland and England.

Early Life and Education

Robert Pont was born in Culross, Scotland, in 1529. His parents were John Pont and Catherine Murray. His father originally came from Venice, Italy, and had moved to Scotland from France.

Robert went to school in Culross. In 1543, he started studying at St Leonard's College at the University of St. Andrews. He earned a Master of Theology degree there. After university, he might have studied law in Europe, but we don't know much about his life until 1559. That year, he returned to St. Andrews and became an elder in the local church.

Becoming a Reformer

Robert Pont was a key person at the very first meeting of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This meeting happened in Edinburgh on December 20, 1560. He was one of only twenty people in his area chosen to be a minister or teacher.

He helped create the Book of Discipline, which set out rules for the church. In 1562, he became a minister in Dunblane and then in Dunkeld. He was also considered for the role of bishop of Galloway, but it didn't happen.

Working for the Church

In 1563, Pont became a "commissioner" for the church in northern Scotland. This meant he was sent to check on churches in areas like Moray, Inverness, and Banff. He found it hard because he didn't speak Gaelic, but he continued his work in non-Gaelic areas.

Pont also wrote six metrical psalms, which are psalms put to music. In 1566, his translation of the Helvetic Confession (a statement of faith) was printed for the church.

In 1567, he was given a church role in Birnie. He was also asked to take action against Adam Bothwell, the bishop of Orkney. This was because Bothwell had performed the marriage ceremony for Mary Queen of Scots and the Earl of Bothwell. Pont also helped revise a church document about "excommunication," which is when someone is formally removed from the church.

Moving to Edinburgh

In 1570, Robert Pont became the "moderator" (leader) of the General Assembly. In 1571, he became the head of Trinity College near Edinburgh. Because he knew a lot about law, he was allowed to become a Senator of the College of Justice in 1572. This was a very important legal position.

Pont was also asked by John Knox, a famous Scottish reformer, to share his final wishes with the General Assembly in 1572. In 1574, Pont moved to St. Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh, where he became a minister. He became the main minister there in 1578.

Leader in the Kirk

Robert Pont was chosen as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland again in 1575. From this time on, he was a very important leader in the church. He was part of almost all the major church committees and groups.

He helped create the Second Book of Discipline, which was a new set of rules for the church. He was moderator again in 1581. He moved to St. Andrews to be a minister, but he returned to St. Cuthbert's in Edinburgh in 1583.

Standing Up for the Church

In 1584, when new laws were announced that limited the church's power, Pont bravely spoke out against them in public. Because of this, he lost his job as a judge and had to go to England for a short time to be safe. He was later allowed to return to Scotland.

Pont was moderator of the General Assembly again in 1586. In 1587, the king wanted to make him a bishop. However, the General Assembly refused, saying that the role of bishop was "not agreeable to the word of God." This shows how much the church valued its independence.

He continued to work with church committees to fight against Catholicism and make sure churches had good ministers.

Last Years and Legacy

In 1589, King James VI appointed Pont to a commission to judge church leaders. In 1591, he spoke to the king about the church's right to criticize from the pulpit. He told the king that there was a judgment higher than his own: "God's—put in the hand of the ministry."

Pont was moderator of the General Assembly again in 1596. He supported the idea that the church should have a vote in parliament. In 1601, he was asked to help revise the translation of the Psalms.

Robert Pont passed away on May 8, 1606, when he was 82 years old. He was buried in the churchyard of St Cuthbert's Church in Edinburgh. His tombstone, which he had designed himself, is now on a wall inside the church.

Stories About Pont

There's a story that Robert Pont correctly predicted the date of Queen Elizabeth's death. Some people thought this was a special revelation, while others believed he used his knowledge of astrology.

Works and Family

Robert Pont wrote many important works. These included his metrical psalms and his translation of the Helvetic Confession. He also contributed to the Second Book of Discipline. He wrote a calendar and a preface for an English Bible in 1579.

Some of his other writings include:

• Parvulus Catechismus: A small catechism (a book of religious instruction) for young people.
• Three Sermons against Sacrilege: Sermons against stealing from the church.
• A Newe Treatise on the Right Reckoning of Yeares: A book about how to count years and ages, and about prophecies.
• De Unione Britanniæ: A discussion about uniting England and Scotland into one kingdom.

His Family

Robert Pont was married three times and had several children.

• With his first wife, Catherine, he had two sons and two daughters:

* Timothy Pont, who became a minister and was famous for making the first detailed maps of Scotland. * Zachary Pont, who was also a minister and married John Knox's daughter. * Catherine. * Helen.

• With his second wife, Sarah Denholme, he had a daughter:

* Beatrix.

• With his third wife, Margaret Smith, he had three sons:

* James. * Robert. * Jonathan.

His elder son, Timothy Pont, was a mathematician and surveyor. He is known for creating the first atlas of Scotland.