John Scrimgeour (minister)

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John Scrimgeour (minister)

John Scrimgeour (c.1568–1634) was a Scottish Presbyterian minister who served in Kinghorn, Fife. He is best known for opposing the Five Articles of Perth and for defending the liberties of the Scottish church.

Life in brief
- He came from Wester Bowhill, Auchterderran, the son of William Scrimgeour of Myres. Born around 1567, he began his ministry in the region and was proposed for Auchtermuchty in 1592. He later served at Dysart and then Kinghorn.
- In 1606 he joined a group of ministers who were tried for opposing the king’s orders at Linlithgow and went to prison with them. He spoke out against the Archbishop at a synod in 1607 and was briefly confined to his parish by royal command, though he was later allowed some freedom.
- Scrimgeour helped lead a protest for the Liberties of the Kirk in 1617 and openly opposed the Five Articles of Perth in 1618. Because of his position, he was deprived of all church functions in March 1620 and confined to his home at Wester Bowhill. He did, however, preach on several occasions during this time.
- He also traveled with King James VI to Denmark to fetch Anne of Denmark, the king’s bride-to-be.
- He died at Wester Bowhill in 1634 and left a small bequest to the poor of his parish.

John Livingstone’s tribute
A contemporary, John Livingstone, wrote about Scrimgeour’s character. He described him as learned, especially in Hebrew, with a deep and tender heart. Livingstone recalled a story about Scrimgeour’s personal trial and faith during the illness and healing of his beloved daughter, illustrating Scrimgeour’s strong, sometimes plain, but earnest manner of preaching. Despite being banished from official ministry, Scrimgeour continued to influence and sometimes officiate at important religious services.

Family
Scrimgeour married Grizel Forrester of Boquhan, who survived him. They had several children: James of Wester Gartmore (who married Margaret Melville), Henry, Gilbert, Isabella, Christian, and Helen.

Overall, John Scrimgeour is remembered as a steadfast defender of church liberties who stood up to royal authority when it clashed with Scottish religious principles, even at personal cost.