Strathendrick, and its inhabitants from early times

12 HISTORY OF STRATHENDKICK
It appears from an entry in the Records of the Presbytery of Dunbarton
that the Archbishop of Glasgow and the Synod, while not interfering with the
old form of worship in the main, were trying to insist on a certain uniformity
of service. 3 April 1679. — "The Moderator, in obedience to the Second Act
of the last Synod, did interrogate the several brethren present whether or not
they did sing the Doxologie, say the Lord's Prayer, and require the Belief of
Parents at the baptizing of their children, finds that only Dunbartane, Row,
Inchcalleoch, Balfron, and Fintrie are uniforme in those duties, and therefor
sumonds . . . the rest to the next ensuing Synod for censure."
The Synod and Presbytery required at intervals lists of " disorderly persons "
— Covenanters — from the various parishes in their bounds. On 4th December
1683 the ministers of Drymen, Kilmaronock, Killearn, and Fintry gave in
lists. The names, however, are not recorded.
At Fintry, as in most country churchyards, there were frequent disputes
about the right to burying-places and the ownership of stones, and the Session
had often difficulty in settling these cases, but the following is rather an
unusual complaint, and the manner of meeting it was prompt and effectual :
27 July 1684. — "A complaint was given in by severall in the paroch upon
those in the clachan in knocking of ther webs upon ther grave stones, and
spreading and watering ther clothes in the Churchyaird. The Session, con-
siddering that the dust for which Christ died should be more regairded, do
apoynt ther officer, James Cunyngham, to throw any webs or other clothes
that he should find thus in the Kirkyaird over the Kirkyaird dick in the
pudle; and, if they used it again, to keep them in his custodie until a
magistrat wold censor them, and this to be intimat the nixt Lord's day."
There are no other entries of special interest during the remainder of Mr.
Semple's ministry. The last is dated 24th March 1869, and the following is
written after it :
"The above wreatin Register is subscrived by Mr. John Sempill, minister of
the Gospell at Fintrie. — Mr. John Sempell."
This was one of his last acts in the parish, for King William and Queen
Mary were now on the throne, and Episcopacy was abolished. Mr. Semple had
never been a Presbyterian, having been educated for the Episcopal ministry, and
did not conform to the new order of things. He declined to read in the church
certain Government proclamations, and also refused to pray for their Majesties,
William and Mary. It was also reported that he had said, "let the Whigs
pray for them for he would not, for he never got good by them"; and also,
"that he would not pray for them till she got her father's blessing; and God
keep him from having such a daughter." 1
1 Scott's Fast. Ecc. Scot., Part III., p. 354.