- Adam Bellenden
Adam Bellenden (c1569 - 1647), was a 17th century Scottish churchman.
He was the son of Sir John Bellenden of Auchnoul,
Lord Justice Clerk , by his spouse Jane, daughter of Walter Seton of Touch.Adam graduated from
Edinburgh University on1 August 1590 , and was ordained aPresbyterian minister on19 July 1593 . In 1608 he was appointed minister ofFalkirk , a position he held until 1615.He was promoted to the bishopric of Dunblane, receiving a Crown provision on
24 September 1615 and was consecrated by April of the following year. Balfour Paul states that he was also appointed, circa 1633, Dean of the Chapel Royal atStirling Castle , and also held, as a personal right, Kilconquhar, succeeding to it upon the death of his nephew James, which was ratified in parliament in 1629. [ Balfour Paul, Sir James,Lord Lyon King of Arms , "The Scots' Peerage", Edinburgh, 1905, vol.ii: 66-7]After holding the
Dunblane bishopric for several decades, on2 August 1635 , he was given the more prestigious bishopric of Aberdeen. On13 December 1638 , after the anti-Episcopacy Assembly inGlasgow , described by Spottiswoode as "the wild Assembly", he was deprived of this position and, with many others, excommunicated by the Scottish church.He retired to
England , where, in 1642, he was appointed to a parish in countySomerset .On
17 February 1595 , Adam Bellenden married Jean, daughter of Henry Abercrombie, of Kersie, St.Ninians, and they had ten children, three daughters and seven sons, one of whom, David, was ordained and became minister ofKincardine O'Neil . [ Balfour Paul, Sir James,Lord Lyon King of Arms , "The Scots' Peerage", Edinburgh, 1905, vol.ii: 66-7]Notes
References
* Dowden, John, "The Bishops of Scotland", ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
* Keith, Robert, editor, "An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688", by John Spottiswoode, (London, 1924)
* Watt, D.E.R., "Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638", 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)
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