Thomas Nairn facts for kids

Thomas Nairn was a Scottish minister who lived a long time ago. He was part of different Christian groups called "denominations" during his life. His most important role was helping to start a group that later became known as the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Even though he wasn't with this group for very long, he was important because he had the authority to help create a new church structure. He worked with another minister, John M'Millan, to do this. Before Thomas Nairn joined, John M'Millan had been the only minister for over 36 years in a small group called the United Societies. Thomas Nairn started and ended his career in the Church of Scotland, but he also spent time with the Associate Presbytery.

Who Was Thomas Nairn?

Thomas Nairn was born around 1680. His father, Samuel Nairn, was also a minister. Thomas went to St Andrews University and finished his studies in 1702. He became a minister in 1710 in a place called Abbotshall, near Kirkcaldy.

Thomas Nairn's Journey Between Churches

Thomas Nairn changed which church group he belonged to several times.

• He started in the Church of Scotland.
• In 1737, he left and joined the Associate Presbytery. This group had "seceded" or broken away from the Church of Scotland.
• The Church of Scotland officially removed him from their list of ministers in 1740.
• In 1743, he disagreed with the Associate Presbytery about some important beliefs. So, he left them too.
• On August 1, 1743, he teamed up with John M'Millan to start the Reformed Presbytery. This was a new church group.
• Later, he asked to rejoin the Church of Scotland. He was accepted back in 1758.

Thomas Nairn passed away in February 1764.

Time with the Seceders

In 1737, Thomas Nairn and some of his church members left the main Church of Scotland. They joined the Associate Presbytery, which was a group that had separated from the main church. At first, people in Kirkcaldy who had also left the church wanted their own minister. However, they eventually agreed to join with Mr. Nairn's church in Abbotshall.

Why Thomas Nairn Left the Seceders

Around 1742, the Associate Presbytery wanted to renew some old agreements called "Covenants." They wrote a document that included parts Thomas Nairn disagreed with. These parts talked about how people should obey the government and not use violence to spread religion.

Mr. Nairn felt strongly about his disagreements. Even though the Presbytery tried to get him to change his mind, he refused. He handed in a paper saying he was leaving the group and appealing their decision. He then left the meeting.

Most of his church members did not leave with him this time. However, those who did built a small new church for him. Soon after, he joined with John M'Millan to form the Reformed Presbytery. Later, Thomas Nairn left this new group and returned to the Church of Scotland.

Starting the Reformed Presbytery

After a big event called the Revolution, a group called the United Societies lost all their ministers. For many years, they had no one to lead their services or perform important church duties like baptisms.

Around 16 years later, John M'Millan joined them. But since he was the only minister, he couldn't ordain, or officially appoint, other ministers. This meant he was the only one who could perform certain church tasks for the Societies.

Then, on August 1, 1743, Thomas Nairn joined the Societies. He had previously been a minister in the Secession Church. With two ordained ministers, they could now form a proper church body. They officially created the Reformed Presbytery at a place called Braehead. This allowed them to ordain new ministers. One of these new ministers, John Cuthbertson, was sent to help the church in Pennsylvania, far away.

Thomas Nairn didn't stay with the Reformed Presbytery for very long. He even went on a mission trip to Ireland in 1744. But he left the group soon after, possibly because of some church disagreements.

Thomas Nairn's Family

Thomas Nairn was married and had several children:

• Ann
• Margaret (who married John Cunningham)
• Helen
• Mary (who married James Meldrum in 1752)

Publication

Thomas Nairn wrote and published one sermon:

• A Sermon preached at Braehead (Glasgow, 1745)