John Guthrie, Minister of Keith & Duffus

Rev. John Guthrie also known as Mr John "Younger" of Guthrie was the son of the Rt. Reverend John Guthrie, Bishop of Moray, 11th Baron of Guthrie, and his wife Nichola Wood. Educated at St Andrews, he graduated in 1620 with an M.A.

In 1625, he was appointed as Minister of Keith, and as Minister of Duffus in 1630. This was a time of religious strife in Scotland. This branch of the Guthrie family were royalists opposing the changes brought to the church by the Covenanters. In 1640, the Rev. John Guthrie was summoned before the Presbyterian Assembly at Aberdeen to answer to his opposition to the Covenant. He was deposed from his position for "his constant scrupling at the Covenant."

On Wednesday, the 27th of July 1642 the General Assembly sat down in St Andrews . . . "At this assembly Mr John Guthrie was simpliciter deposed frae the kirk of Duffus, and Mr Alexander Symmer admitted in his place."

The Duffus Parish Church website explains, "The form of worship in the old kirk passed from Roman Catholic to Protestant, the later form alternating between Episcopalian and Presbyterian rule. No event is recorded which marked the change to the Reformed Church but in 1641 Rev. John Guthrie who had been presented to the living King Charles I was deposed for refusing adherence to the National Covenant. Later, in February, 1643, having subscribed the Covenant and preached penitential sermons before the Presbytery he was once more licensed to preach and restored to Duffus. However, in June of the same year he died at Guthrie Castle in Angus."

The Rev. James Guthrie, Minister of Arbirlot, wrote in his diary on 8 June 1843:
"My nephew Mr Jhone Guthrie, laitt parson of Duffus departed this life in the place of Guthrie, and is buried in the Isle of the Kirk of Guthrie, ultimo Junii. I closed his eyes. Beati qui in Domino moriuntur."

One biographer noted ""Even among his enemies hardly any one could be found to malign this gentle pastor; and he died before his father, most likely of a broken heart."

The matter of a wife and family seems an issue for debate.

Epitaphs & Inscriptions (Jervise, 1879 - p.150) "It was while Mr. John Guthrie was minister of Keith, from which he was translated to Duffus in 1625, that he married Anna, eldest sister of Sir Robert Innes of that Ilk, baronet."

Rev John Guthrie and wife Anna Innes had one daughter, Nicholas Guthrie. (Burke's Peerage)