John Row (reformer)

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Not to be confused with his son, the historian
John Row (Principal)
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John Row
Personal details
Bornc1526
Died16 October 1580[1]
Denomination(1) Roman Catholic
(2) Church of Scotland
Alma materSt. Andrews

John Row (c1525–1580), was a Scottish reformer, born around 1526 near

First Book of Discipline. He was translated to Perth (by consent of the General Congregation of Edinburgh) 17 July, and admitted before 20 December 1560. He was appointed by the General Assembly, 10 July 1568, to visit Galloway. He was styled Commissioner of Nithsdale and Galloway, March 1570 and elected Moderator of the General Assembly 21 July and 25 December 1567, 24 April 1576, and 11 June 1578. He died on 16 October 1580, at which time he held the vicarages of Twynholm and Terregles in Galloway. He was regarded as "a cautious and prudent reformer, of moderate views, benevolent disposition, and amiable and winning manners, a wise and grave father, of good literature according to the time." He was skilled in the original languages of Scripture, and did much towards building up the Reformed Church in Scotland. He was married in 1560 to Margaret, second daughter of John Beaton of Balfour.[2]

Education in Scotland and Rome

John Row (1526?–1580), Scottish reformer, was descended from a family supposed to have been of English origin. Born about 1525 at

papal nuncio to examine into the cause of the spread of heretical opinions in Scotland, and to advise as to the best means of checking them. His inquiry resulted in his conversion to Protestantism. He arrived in Scotland on 29 September 1558, and returned to Rome some time prior to 11 May 1559. But shortly afterwards he was induced by James Stuart, afterwards Earl of Moray, to leave Rome for Scotland.[4]

Conversion to Protestantism

Row was first led to entertain doubts regarding things he'd been taught by discovering—through the information of

superintendents to the chief towns and districts of Scotland was made, in July 1560, Row was appointed minister of the Old or Middle Church, Perth. He entered upon his duties there prior to 20 December, when he was present as minister of Perth in the first meeting of the general assembly of the church of Scotland (Calderwood, ii. 41).[5]

Row the polyglot

While on the continent, Row, besides acquiring a knowledge of French and Italian, had mastered Greek and Hebrew. He is supposed to have been the first to teach the Hebrew language in Scotland, and he also instructed the master of the grammar school of Perth—then one of the most famous in Scotland—in Greek. Several of the sons of noblemen and gentlemen attending the academy were boarded in Row's house, and he instructed them in Greek, Hebrew, and French. The last was the only language used in conversation in Row's house, and the Scriptures were read in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, and English (Appendix to Rowe's History of the Kirk of Scotland).[5]

Row's theology and career

Row was one of a commission of six men (all named John) appointed in April 1560 to draw up the sum of the doctrine "necessary to be believed and received within the realm". The result, written in four days, is now known as the

stewartry of Kirkcudbright. On the second charge he was found guilty, and commissioners were appointed to deal with him and his session (ib).[6]

Later years

Row in 1574 was appointed one of a commission to "convene and write the articles which concern the jurisdiction of the kirk" (ib. p. 307), and in the following year was named one of a commission to confer with the commissioners that might be appointed by the regent "upon the jurisdiction and policy of the kirk" (ib. p. 344). The result of these and other commissions of which Row continued to be a member was the construction of the "Second Book of Discipline." At a meeting of a commission of the assembly in July 1575, when the question was raised "whether bishops, as now allowed in Scotland, had their function from the Word of God," Row was chosen, with three others, to argue in favour of episcopacy; but he was so impressed with the arguments urged in favour of presbytery that he afterwards "preached down prelacy all his days." He was chosen moderator of the assembly which met at Edinburgh on 9 July 1576, and also of that which met at Stirling on 11 June 1578. He died at Perth on 16 October 1580.[7]

Family

By his wife Margaret, daughter of John Beaton of Balfour in Fife, he had ten sons and two daughters:

  • Thomas, died young
  • James, minister of Kilspindie, bapt. 25 June 1562
  • William, minister of Forgandenny, born 1563
  • Oliver, died young
  • John
    (1568–1646), minister of Carnock, bapt. 6 January 1568
  • Robert
  • Archibald, minister of Stobo, bapt. 23 March 1571
  • Patrick, died young
  • Colin, minister of St. Quivox, baptised 1 March 1576
  • Henry, died young
  • Catherine, married to William Rigg of Athernie, merchant, Edinburgh), died 15 December 1615
  • Mary, married to Robert Rynd, minister of Longforgan.[7][2]

Legacy

Calderwood describes Row as "a wise and grave father, and of good literature according to the time," and states that "he thundered out mightily against the estate of the bishops, howbeit in the time of blindness the pope was to him as an angel of God" (ib. p. 479). He is credited in the memoir by his son with the authorship of a book on the "Signs of the Sacrament," no copy of which is known to be extant.[7]

Bibliography

  • Biography in Appendix to his son John's History of the Kirk of Scotland
  • Histories of Knox, Calderwood, and Spotiswood
  • James Melville's Diary (Wodrow Soc.)[7]
  • Edin. Tests.
  • Reg. of Deeds, vii., ix.
  • Zurich Lett., ii.
  • Nisbet's Heraldic Plates, 120
  • Acts of Pari., vii., 35, 105
  • Fittis's Eccles. Annals of Perth, 105
  • Calderwood's Hist., ii., 41, 296
  • Forbes- Leith's Pre-Reformation Soldiers in Scotland[2]

References

Citations
  1. ^ Wilson 1860, p. 168.
  2. ^ a b c Scott 1923.
  3. ^ Row 1842, p. 452.
  4. ^ Henderson 1897, p. 327-328.
  5. ^ a b Henderson 1897, p. 328.
  6. ^ Henderson 1897, p. 328-329.
  7. ^ a b c d Henderson 1897, p. 329.
Sources
  • Calderwood, David (1843). Thomson, Thomas Napier (ed.). The History of the Kirk of Scotland. Vol. 2. Edinburgh: Wodrow Society. p. 41, 296.
  • Greaves, Richard L. "Row, John".
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/24185. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  • Henderson, Thomas Finlayson (1897). "Row, John (1525?-1580)". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 49. London: Smith, Elder & Co. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • Hewat, Kirkwood (1920). "John Row". Makers of the Scottish church at the reformation. Edinburgh: Macniven & Wallace. pp. 223-271.
  • Howie, John (1870). "William Row". In Carslaw, W. H. (ed.). The Scots worthies. Edinburgh: Oliphant, Anderson, & Ferrier. pp. 88-91.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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