Angus M'Bean

Angus M'Bean was a Scottish minister and Covenanter. He was the last Presbyterian minister deposed under Episcopacy.[1]

For the Welsh surrealist photographer and set designer, see Angus McBean.
Angus M'Bean
Personal details
Born1656
Died1689
DenominationPresbyterian (Church of Scotland)
SpouseJanet Trent
Alma materKing's College, Aberdeen

Early life and education

Angus M'Bean, born was born in 1656. He was of the family of Kinchyle. M'Bean was educated at King's College, Aberdeen, graduation with an M.A. on 13 July 1675. He was the session-clerk at Foveran from 23 December 1677 to February 1678. In church records he is noted to have been licensed (on the recommendation of Professor Menzies of Aberdeen) and officiated for a time in Ayrshire.[2] He is recorded to have been presented by Thomas Fraser of Strichen in October, had a certificate for ordination dated 28 November, and was ordaineed and installed on 29 December 1683. Becoming doubtful as to Episcopacy, he "inveighed against the sins and errors of his time, particularly against Popery, with great judgment, zeal, and boldness," and on 23 October 1687, he preached a memorable sermon (from Job xxxiv.,31, 32)[3] in which he recanted his former opinions and demitted his charge, "some of his hearers being angry, and some surprised, but those who received most good of his ministry were all in tears." He now actively joined the Presbyterians and conducted services in private houses and in the open air, and, returning to Inverness, gathered round him a large congregation.[1]

Having gone to Edinburgh, he was apprehended, brought before the Privy Council, and after a brief term of imprisonment (from 1 December) was permitted to return home, Duncan Forbes of Culloden giving bail to a large amount that he would answer when called. In February 1688 he received a second summons to appear before the Council on six days' notice. Though in feeble health, and the cold intense, he hastened to Edinburgh and reported himself a few hours before his bail expired. He was handed over to an ecclesiastical court, consisting of Arthur, Archbishop of St Andrews, and eight clerical coadjutors. Boldly avowing his change of creed and refusing to return to Episcopacy, he was deposed and committed to the Tolbooth, where he lay for most of the year, Forbes of Culloden and Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun, Bart., vainly offering 10,000 merks (£555, lis. Id.) for his release.[1]

Liberation, death and legacy

In December the prison was broken open by a party of Presbyterian sympathisers and he was set at liberty, but the rigours of imprisonment had so told on his constitution that he died within two months, in February 1689. He was the last Presbyterian minister to be deposed under Episcopacy. William Stuart of Kiltearn describes him as "a man of great judgment, excellent learning, and in his own opinion less than the least of all saints, but in the judgment of those who had the best discerning, a man who grew in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, to a more than ordinary degree."[1]

Family

He married Janet, daughter of William Trent, merchant, Inverness (she married (2) Robert Baillie, minister of Second Charge, Inverness after Angus' death), and had issue —

  • Isobel (married Alexander Fraser, minister of the Second Charge, Inverness)[1]

Bibliography
  • Wodrow's History, iv., 524
  • Mackay's Urquhart, 368
  • Fountainhall's Decisions, i., 488
  • Brodie's Diary
  • Shaw's Hist., iii., 435
  • Foveran Session Records
  • Mackintoshes and Clan Ghattan, 489, note
  • Covenanters of Moray and Ross, 164-9
  • Tombstone
  • More Culloden Papers, i., 201[1]

References
Citations
  1. Scott 1926, 456-457.
  2. MacDonald 1875, 165.
  3. Shaw 1882, 465-466.
Other sources
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