1600’s – Field Conventicles

 
In 1662, the restoration of Charles II ended the years of Cromwellian dictatorship, but brought further difficulties for the Church. Charles attempted to bind the spiritual power of the church to the secular power of the state by appointing bishops to act as overseers to the church ministers. Ministers were obliged to accede to the power of a bishop or to lose their living. 270 Presbyterian ministers refused to accede to episcopal power and were expelled from their parishes. Many of these continued to carry out open-air services or field conventicles; one was held close to North Queensferry in 1678.

James Henderson, an innkeeper in North Queensferry was declared a rebel, and had his goods forfeited in 1677 for attending a conventicle. In 1678, Robert Dick, a ferry man, was one of a number charged with “withdrawing from the church and keeping house and field conventicles and for disorderly marriages and baptisms.” He was charged again with similar offences in 1682.

The rebellious spirit and distance from a church left villagers somewhat remote from the official religious authorities. In 1695 the people of the North Ferry were admonished publicly by the minister “not to cross the passage in boats on the Sabbath Day and not to carry in their water as formerly.” The Inverkeithing Kirk session records similar entries in 1697 and 1736.