A church mystery

“The National Museum in Edinburgh is the repository of a pair of pewter communion cups inscribed Wishart’s Kirk Dundee 1695,” writes Ian McCraw of Dundee.

“However, there is no known record of a church of that name in the late 17th Century. (The Secession Church in the Cowgate called Wishart Church, after the arch, was built in 1841.) An expert on Scottish pewter confirmed from the style that the cups were correctly dated.

“There is a possible explanation, but little other evidence to substatiate it. In the mid 17th Century the Church of Scotland was Episcopalian. Following the accession of William and Mary in 1689 the kirk once more became Presbyterian.

“South of the Tay the change was generally welcomed but north of the Tay there was the opposite reaction. The main change was not in the form of worship but in the governance; by a Presbytery in place of a bishop.

“There were two churches in Dundee at this period – the Parish Church of Dundee, St Mary’s, and the adjacent church, the South Church which had two charges. The minister of St Mary’s, Henry Scrymgeour, retired in 1690 and was not replaced until 1699. The two ministers of the other charges, Robert Norie and Robert Rait, were deprived by the Privy Council in 1689 for refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the new sovereign.

“Messrs Norie and Rait formed their followers into one congregation, probably meeting initially in private houses. Perhaps a sympathetic family named Wishart made their property available.

“At this period the sacrament of Holy Communion was only dispensed in the East Church of St Mary’s. The communionware, when not in use, including the magnificent Fithie Salver and the splendid Guild Cup was kept in the Town House for safety.

“The people of the South Church moved to the East Church to be served with the elements. It is unlikely the Episcopal adherents would do likewise, which might explain the existence of these cups.

“The Episcopal Church records do cover the relevant period. However, there are references in Dundee Presbytery minutes for 1695-6 expressing concern at meeting houses in Dundee and Montrose ‘kept up by several persons unqualified by and according to law.’”