John Stirling, Min. of Kilbarchan

Biographical Summary

"John Stirling, M.A. ; min. in 1649 ; adm. as an indulged min. here 3rd Sept. 1672. On 8th July 1673 he was fined in the amount of one half year's stipend for failing to keep the anniversary of the Restoration, and was again cited before the Privy Council 11th Aug. 1677. He died " of overflowing of the gall," 18th July 1683. It was said of him that "he had good natural parts, though not the gift of eloquent speaking. What he said was solid and scriptural, and was spoken with great affection, fervency, and vehemency. In the heat of harvest his kirk would be full even to the very door when he preached on a Friday ; the people left the field for an hour and a half, heard with greediness, and returned, and found their day's work as complete as on any other day of the week." But following his " indulgence " it is stated that he " could not then get people to attend a week-day sermon in time of harvest." He was civil to the soldiers who were quartered in his parish, and had great influence in restraining them from abuses. He marr. at Edinburgh 11th Oct. 1653, Jean Maxwell, who died in 1708, and had issue —

• John, Principal of Univ. of Glasgow, bapt. 18th Aug. 1654
• Elizabeth, born 7th Oct. 1655
• James, bapt. 1st May 1657, died young
• Marie, bapt. 20th May 1659
• Elizabeth, bapt. 8th June 1660
• James, min. of Barony, bapt. 13th June 1662."

SOURCE: Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation, Vol. III, page 149