Robert Cunningham (minister)

Robert Cunningham
ChurchChurch of Scotland, Church of Ireland
Personal details
Died29 March 1637[1]
Irvine[2]
DenominationPresbyterian
Occupationminister

Robert Cunningham (d. 29 March 1637) was one of the early Scots ministers who settled in Ulster in the 17th century.[3] He was the first Presbyterian minister in Holywood and was one of Samuel Rutherford's correspondents.[4][5] He was deposed for his adherence to Presbyterian principles.

Life

Robert Cunningham or Cunninghame was at first preacher for a while to the Earl of Buccleuch's regiment in Holland, but afterwards became minister at Holywood, in the North of Ireland.[6][5] He was brought to Ulster by James Hamilton as were his fellow ministers John Livingstone and Robert Blair.[7][8] Livingstone came after being urged by Cunningham. Cunningham was one of the first Scots ministers in County Down. He came to Ireland on the return of the troops to Scotland, and was, on the 9th of November 1615, admitted to the ministry by Robert Echlin, the Bishop of Down and Connor. He was returned on the diocesan roll, in 1622, as curate of Holywood and Craigavad, and as maintained in this office by a stipend from Sir James Hamilton who had been ennobled by the title of Lord Claneboy.[9]

In 1625/26, he, Blair, Hamilton and John Ridge began preaching in Antrim; this led to the Six Mile Water Revival.[10]

On the 11th/12th August 1636, he, along with Hamilton and Ridge, was suspended from his post by Henry Leslie, Bishop of Down due to their refusing to follow church episcopy.[8][11][12] The following year, he, Ridge and Blair returned to Scotland and preached in Irvine; he died there a few months later.[10]

Family

He married Isabel Montgomerie, one of Sir Hugh Montgomery's daughters.[7][13][14] He married Janet Kennedy.[15] He and Janet had three sons, James, John and Robert.[16]

He had a daughter, Isabella (died 8 November 1703, aged 70), who married John Law, and had issue - William, professor of moral philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, founder of the family of Law of Elvingston, East Lothian.[17]

Death and posthumous fines

His epitaph was written by Robert Blair:[18]

Hic Cunninghami recubat Roberti
Corpus. O qualis genius latebat,
Quamque divinus fragili iuvolutus,
Pulvere in isto !
Acrius nemo intonuit superbis ;
Nemo dejectos magis erigebat ;
Sed Dei laudes celebrando, vicit
Seque aliosque.

Some weeks after Cunningham's death he was cited to appear in court and being deceased did not appear and was fined. His widow and eight children had their goods seized to pay the fine.[14]

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Blair 1848, 148.
  2. ↑ Livingstone 1845, 326.
  3. ↑ "Biographies: Bishops and Ministers". Visit Ards and North Down. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  4. ↑ Rutherford 1904, 140.
  5. 1 2 Howie 1870.
  6. ↑ Livingstone 1845, 325-327.
  7. 1 2 Thompson 2006e.
  8. 1 2 Thompson 2006f.
  9. ↑ Reid 1853, 95-96.
  10. 1 2 Claven, Terry (2009). "Ridge, John". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  11. ↑ "Six Mile Water Revival". UK Wells. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  12. ↑ Reid 1853, 179 ff.
  13. ↑ Blair 1848, 136.
  14. 1 2 Blair 1848, 148-149.
  15. ↑ Scott 1920, 9.
  16. ↑ Wodrow 1842, 73-74.
  17. ↑ Scott 1915, 66.
  18. ↑ Thompson 2010.
Sources
  • Howie, John (1870). "Robert Cunningham". In Carslaw, W. H. (ed.). The Scots worthies. Edinburgh: Oliphant, Anderson, & Ferrier. pp. 171–173.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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