Reverend Alexander Munro of Durness

Biographical Summary

"Alexander Munro, born about 1605, son of Hector M. of Milntown of Katewell, dyer, Inverness ; originally a teacher in Strathnaver, was converted under the ministry of Robert Bruce, Edinburgh, while the latter was confined to Inverness. Soon after, M. imagined he heard a voice from heaven imploring his service in the ministry and informing him of his settlement here. This being several times repeated, he studied at the Univ. of Aberdeen, was entered on trials, and licen. and ord. in 1634. At his entry the people are stated to have been almost heathen, but his labours met with much success. He translated many passages of Scripture into Gaelic verse, which were known and learned oracularly as " Sandy Munro's Verses.'"' Of these only two specimens are known to be extant, consisting of 108 lines in the Fernaig Manuscript. He died before 22nd Dec. 1653. He marr. Janet Cumming, and had issue—

• Hew, his successor
• John, min. of Alness
• Donald, schoolmaster, Alness
• Hector
• Agnes (marr. David Munro of Katewell)
• Christian (marr. (1) John, eldest son of Murdoch Mackay of Achness : (2) Robert Munro of Milntown of Katewell)."

SOURCE: Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae: the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation, Vol. VII, page 101

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16—. — Mr Alexander Munro was appointed to the benefice in the first half of the 17th century. He is styled in Macrae’s MS. “catechist of Stratlmaver”—which at the time formed part of the parish of Durness. He found the natives in a state of heathenism almost, so far as religion was concerned, which demonstrates what many a writer has affirmed concerning the religion of Scotland in the centuries between the decline of the Celtic Church and the Information, that for its influence on the moral and intellectual life of the people, it may be said to have had no existence. The labours of Sandy Munro, as he is called by tradition, were greatly blessed. He was no mean poet, and translated or paraphrased portions of Scripture for the benefit of his parishioners. Some of these are preserved in Macrae’s MS., and are of much interest as showing the northern dialect of Gaelic as it existed about two or nearly three centuries ago—being written phonetically. He was converted under the preaching of Mr Robert Bruce, second son of Bruce of Airth, one of the barons of Scotland, and a connection of the Royal Bruces. This took place while the latter wras prisoner at Inverness, on account of resisting the Episcopal designs of James the Sixth. Soon after he believed he heard a voice from heaven calling him to the ministry, and informing him of this his future settlement. He studied for the Church, and was duly licensed and ordained for this remote parish, through the influence of the Reay family, whose leanings were with the evangelical party. His son, Hew Munro, succeeded to the benefice, and his daughter Christian married John Mackay of Achness, chieftain of the Clan Abrach branch of the Mackays.

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/articles/durness.htm

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The earliest was Alexander Munro, minister of Durness (1634) who came of the Milntown of Katewell branch, had a reputation for versifying Scripture passages - the phrase 'Sandy Munro's verses' is still current, and two of them have survived in the Fernaig MS.

http://www.clanmunro.org.uk/info22.htm

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Reverend Alexander Munro of Durness (1576-1653) Church of Scotland (Presbyterian)

Son of Hector Munro of Mintown and Margaret Baillie, Alexander served the parish of Cape Wrath on the northwest tip of Scotland.

Alexander married Janet Cumming of Bunchrew, daughter of James Cumming of Altyre and Margaret or Mary Fraser.

Alexander was converted through the ministry of through the ministry of Bruce at Inverness was Alexander Munro, son of the Laird of Katewell, Kiltearn.

Alexander was ordained into the ministry in the parish of Durness in the northwest county of Sutherland. There, Alexander found the people illiterate and ignorant of the Gospel. The people, according to Dr.Aird, "were almost heathen" but Alexander was successful in "a large harvest of souls."

Alexander, noting how fond the people were of singing Gaelic songs, began to translate portions of the Scripture into the native Gaelic and set them to popular tunes. Thus the people became familiar with the fundamental doctrines of God's Word.

http://genealogical-gleanings.com/Men%20of%20Faith.htm

References

• Genealogies of Virginia Families from the William and Mary College Quarterly. Vol. III Heale-Muscoe. “The Monroe Family.” Page 742. AncestryImage