The Rev Thomas Forrester (1645? – November 1706) was a Scottish

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

Life

He was born around 1645, the son of David Forrester of Little Dinoven near Stirling. His brother, David Forrester, was a merchant and burgess of Stirling. He was licensed to preach by George, Bishop of Edinburgh, in February 1692 he became first charge minister in January 1663 and ordained as minister of Alva, east of Stirling in January 1664. Contrary to the times he refuted Episcopalian principles and sided with the Presbyterians. He was put on trial in Stirling, found guilty, and imprisoned in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

until released on

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in March 1674. The perusal of John Brown's (1610?–1679) ‘Apologetical Relation’ led him to renounce episcopacy, and he became a field preacher. He was proclaimed a fugitive 5 May 1684, and settled at Killearn. After the revolution he became in succession minister of Killearn in 1688 and sat on the General Assembly in 1690. In 1692 he became first charge minister of

St. Andrews St Andrews ( la, S. Andrea(s); sco, Saunt Aundraes; gd, Cill Rìmhinn) is a town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, southeast of Dundee and northeast of Edinburgh. St Andrews had a recorded population of 16,800 , making it Fife's fourt ...

, then (and still) an important position in the Scottish church. He declined calls to serve in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

and other places, and was later appointed Principal of the new St Mary's College at St Andrews University on 26 Jan. 1698. He died in office in November 1706.

Works

He was well known as one of the ablest advocates of

presbyterianism Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

of his day. His principal work is ‘The Hierarchical Bishop's Claim to a Divine Right tried at the Scripture Bar,’ 1699. Here he controverts Dr. Scott, in the second part of his ‘Christian Life,’ Principal Monro's ‘Inquiry,’ and Mr. Honeyman's ‘Survey of Naphtali.’ Other works bore the titles of ‘Rectius Instruendum,’ 1684; ‘A Vindication and Assertion of Calvin and Beza's Presbyterian Judgment and Principles,’ 1692; ‘Causa Episcopatus Hierarchici Lucifuga,’ 1706.

Family

In April 1667 he married Anne Govan, daughter of Rev John Govan of

Muckhart Muckhart ( gd, Muc-Àird) commonly refers to two small villages in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, Pool of Muckhart ( gd, Poll Mhuc-Àird) and Yetts o' Muckhart. Muckhart is one of the Hillfoots Villages, situated on the A91 around northeast of D ...

. They had several children: *Thomas Forrester, who inherited the Dinoven estate. *Rev John Forrester, minister of Campsie *John *Archibald *Mary, married Rev George Park of Killearn *Helen, married Rev John Henry of

Kinghorn Kinghorn (; gd, Ceann Gronna) is a town and parish in Fife, Scotland. A seaside resort with two beaches, Kinghorn Beach and Pettycur Bay, plus a fishing port, it stands on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, opposite Edinburgh. According ...

*Barbara, married Rev John Craigie of Abercrombie

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forrester, Thomas 1635 births 1706 deaths 17th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland 18th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland People from Stirling Principals of the University of St Andrews