Strathendrick, and its inhabitants from early times

THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF FINTRY 9
In 1660 King Charles II. was restored to his throne, and on the 27th May
1661 an Act was passed for the "Restitution and Re-establishment of the
Ancient Government of the Church by Archbishops and Bishops," and thus
the Presbyterian form of Church Government gave place to Episcopacy.
After the deposition of Mr. Adanison, Fintry seems to have been quite
neglected for some years, no Kirk Sessions were held nor records kept, and it
is only from the proceedings of the Presbytery of Dunbarton that any light
is thrown upon the state of the parish. At a meeting of the Presbytery, 15th
September 1663, it was reported that neither the heritors nor the people had
asked for any supply of ordinances, but at a meeting held in October following
the report from the parish was that the people were going to have a meeting
"for addressing themselves to the Presbytery for supply."
In the autumn of 1664, Mr. Adamson presented a petition to the Archbishop
and Synod of Glasgow " anent the oppening of his mouth and exercise of his
ministrie," and this request was referred to the Presbytery, who met and appointed
him to preach before them. He did so, and the brethren were satisfied, and
recommended him to the Archbishop, who, along with the committee of the
Synod, then recommended the Presbytery to reinstate Mr. David in Fintry. This,
however, the Presbytery declined to do, holding that he had been deposed on
proper grounds, and Fintry remained vacant, getting, however, occasional supply
from the Presbytery. This state of matters continued till the 9th May 1666,
when Mr. John Sempill was settled in the parish.
MR. JOHN SEMPILL.
1666-1689.
The first entry in the Session Records after his settlement was on the 29th
May 1667, when the minister was present at a meeting, as well as James
Ewing, John Liddell, John Din, William Din, James Risk, John Ure, Androw
Paull, and John Din, elders. There were regular meetings and well-kept minutes
thereafter, the entries still throwing some light on the ways of the Fintry people.
Thus :
13 October 1667. — " Issobell Donaldson in Clachan being interrogat quhat
pretendit excuses sho had to delay her manage so long, confessed sho was
not willing to goe no further on." The Session thereupon fined her for her
" inconstancie."
10 November 1667. — "James Cunynghame in Easter Tamdaroch being
interrogat if he would tack upon him the function of eldership accepted therof,
and promissed fidelitie therin as God would enable him." The re-introduction
of Episcopacy made little or no change in the forms of worship in the Church,