As it’s St Fillan’s 900th anniversary I’m looking at Rev. Rutherford’s children’s address, where he talks about the history of the church, this one is for 25th September 1967, here he is talking about another name on the brass memorial – this is another of the bad ones – Robert Bruce.
Robert Bruce was the minister from 1637 to 1667 and records tell us he was both lazy and week. He was actually appointed by King Charles I. We read it that it was the kirk session and the ordinary people who kept the church alive.
They forced the three churches – Aberdour, Dalgety and Beath to separate each with their own minister. How they managed in Aberdour to get the money for an assistant minister, and encouraged the minister to visit the people. There was a service on a Tuesday and Sunday an elder went round the village ensuring that the people attended and if not were called before the kirk session.
Imagine if that were to happen today – what would you think? Would you be annoyed, would you be angry, you would think what business is it of yours? The adults who are members have made promises that they would attend church.