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 from 26th Feb ’67. Here he is talks about a gravestone near the entrance to the church.
As you approach the entrance of the church you pass an other gravestone, unlike the one from last week this one you can read but it is in Latin, so here is the translation.
Here lies the mortal remains of Robert Blair – a most faithful preacher of the Gospel at St Andrew, who died 27th August 1666, aged 72.
He settled back in Scotland as the minister of Holy Trinity Church in St Andrews. He was there for 20 years and had a tremendous influence on students and staff alike. In 1646 he was Moderator of the Church of Scotland. At one time he became chaplain to King Charles II. He criticised Archbishop Sharp of St Andrews who obtained his position by bribery. Robert Blair was then banished from St Andrews. He went to live with friends in Couston Castle by Otterston Loch and it was there that he died.
Read more about Robert Blair – Gazetteer of Scotland & The Reformation & Wikipedia.