Fraserburgh Old Parish Church

Fraserburgh Old Parish Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. The present building was erected in 1803 at the head of the High Street, on the site of a 16th-century church. The church is a category B listed building. HistoryThe church was founded in 1571 in the village of Faithlie which was soon to be built up into the town of Fraserburgh by the local landowner, Sir Alexander Fraser. The church itself was the first new structure in the town, after the castle at Kinnaird Head. Early troublesFrom the building of the Kirk in 1571 until 1600, Scotland's official religion was Presbyterian, as a result of the Scottish Reformation of 1560. When King James VI introduced Episcopacy as the official religion in 1600, Fraserburgh had a devout Presbyterian in the pulpit. The Rev. Charles Ferm MA (c. 1565–1617), was appointed to the Kirk in 1599 and rejected the King's new style of religious government. Instead he allied himself with the Rev. Andrew Melville (1545–1622), Rector of the University of St Andrews, who is remembered for calling James VI "God's silly vassal". On 2 July 1605, Ferme was one of the 14 ministers who attended the unauthorised Assembly of Aberdeen. For his part in disobeying the King he was imprisoned in Doune Castle for a year. In 1607 he was summoned before the Privy Council, and was sentenced to confinement on the Isle of Bute, where he was imprisoned for nearly three years. He was restored to his parish in 1609, where he died in 1617. After his death, the Kirk slipped into the Episcopal form of Church Government.

Fraserburgh Old Parish Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. The present building was erected in 1803 at the head of the High Street, on the site of a 16th-century church. The church is a category B listed building. HistoryThe church was founded in 1571 in the village of Faithlie which was soon to be built up into the town of Fraserburgh by the local landowner, Sir Alexander Fraser. The church itself was the first new structure in the town, after the castle at Kinnaird Head. Early troublesFrom the building of the Kirk in 1571 until 1600, Scotland's official religion was Presbyterian, as a result of the Scottish Reformation of 1560. When King James VI introduced Episcopacy as the official religion in 1600, Fraserburgh had a devout Presbyterian in the pulpit. The Rev. Charles Ferm MA (c. 1565–1617), was appointed to the Kirk in 1599 and rejected the King's new style of religious government. Instead he allied himself with the Rev. Andrew Melville (1545–1622), Rector of the University of St Andrews, who is remembered for calling James VI "God's silly vassal". On 2 July 1605, Ferme was one of the 14 ministers who attended the unauthorised Assembly of Aberdeen. For his part in disobeying the King he was imprisoned in Doune Castle for a year. In 1607 he was summoned before the Privy Council, and was sentenced to confinement on the Isle of Bute, where he was imprisoned for nearly three years. He was restored to his parish in 1609, where he died in 1617. After his death, the Kirk slipped into the Episcopal form of Church Government.