Pre-Reformation Ministers of Sanquhar. 145 



otherwise he was quite prepared to suffer for his beliefs. In 

 1563 Maister Robert Crychtone, Parsone of Sanchar, along with 

 the Archbeshop of St Andrews, the Prior of Whithorn, and 

 others, was charged for the crime after specified, viz. : — " For 

 controvenyng of our Soverane Ladies Act and Proclamation 

 charging all hir leigis that every ane of thaim suld contem thaim- 

 selffis in quietness keip peax and civile societe amangis thaim- 

 selffis and that nane of thaim tak upon hand privatlie or opinlie 

 to mak ony alteration or innovation of the Stait of religione or 

 attempt ony thing againis the forme quhilk hir Grace fand 

 publicilie and universallie standing at hir arrywell within this 

 realme. The said Mr Robert Chrychtone, Parson of Sanchair, 

 became in our Soverane Ladies Will for the crime committed by 

 him in the Paroche Kirk of Sanchar the tyme foersaid and 

 thairfir in ward in the Burghe of Perthe." (Pitcairn's Criminal 

 Trials.) 



Whether Robert stayed long in Perth or whether he returned 

 to take up his duties again in Sanquhar is unknown. It is re- 

 markable, however, that not until fourteen years after the Refor- 

 mation have we any record of a minister of the Reformed Church 

 in Sanquhar. It would thus appear that Robert must have 

 been minister during part of that time. 



The Church of Sanquhar is said to have been the chief 

 church of the Deanery of Nithsdale which is mentioned as a 

 division of the Diocese of Glasgow as early as 1361. In the 

 return for the Diocese made in 1483 the Rectory of Sanquhar was 

 taxed at £10, being included in the capitulum Glasguencis. 

 Among the Glasgow Diocesian Records there is a rather interest- 

 ing note regarding the provision for the conducting of Divine 

 service in the Cathedral. From this statura de cultu Divino in 

 choro Glasguensi it appears that Sanquhair was expected to pro- 

 vide £3 annually to assist in defraying the expenses of the 

 Cathedral worship as well as £8 10s for other purposes. It does 

 seem a little strange that in spite of the large revenues which the 

 Cathedral possessed the country parishes should have to sub- 

 scribe towards its upkeep as well as their own. Perhaps those 

 who drew the revenues of the Cathedral required too much for 

 themselves to be able to spend what was needed for providing 

 of the ordinances of religion to the Burghers of Glasgow. 



