Angus M`Bean. Recanted
from Episcopacy.

Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae,
H Scott (1915) rev 1917, 1920
vol 6 p 456 Inverness,1683

        
ANGUS M’BEAN, born 1656, of the family of Kinchyle; educated at King’s
College, Aberdeen; M.A. (13th July 1675); was session-clerk at Foveran
23rd Dec. 1677 to Feb. 1678; licen. (on the recommendation of Professor
Menzies of Aberdeen) and officiated for a time in Ayrshire; pres. by
Thomas Fraser of Strichen in Oct., had a certificate for ordination 28th
Nov., and ord. and inst. 29th Dec. 1683. Becoming doubtful as to
Episcopacy, he ” inveighed against the sins and errors of his time,
particularly against Popery, with great judgment, zeal, and boldness,” and
on 23rd Oct. 1687, preached a memorable sermon (Job xxxiv., 31, 32) in
which he recanted his former opinions and dem. his charge, ” some of his
hearers being angry, and some surprised, but those who received most good
of his ministry were all in tears.” He now actively joined the
Presbyterians, conducted services in private houses and in the open air,
and, returning to Inverness, gathered round him a large congregation.
Having gone to Edinburgh, he was apprehended, brought before the Privy
Council, and after a brief term of imprisonment (from 1st Dec.) was
permitted to return home, Duncan Forbes of Culloden giving bail to a large
amount that he would answer when called.
         In Feb. 1688 he received a
second summons to appear before the Council on six days’ notice. Though in
feeble health, and the cold intense, he hastened to Edinburgh and reported
himself a few hours before his bail expired. He was handed over to an
ecclesiastical court, consisting of Arthur, Archbishop of St Andrews, and
eight clerical coadjutors. Boldly avowing his change of creed and refusing
to return to Episcopacy, he was dep. and committed to the Tolbooth, where
he lay for most of the year, Forbes of Culloden and Sir Robert Gordon of
Gordonstoun, Bart., vainly offering 10,000 merks (£555, l1s. 1d.) for his
release. In Dec. the prison was broken open by a party of Presbyterian
sympathisers and he was set at liberty,but the rigours of imprisonment had
so told on his constitution that he died within two months, Feb. 1689.
Hewas the last Presbyterian min. to be dep. under Episcopacy. William
Stuart of Kiltearn describes him as “a man of great judgment, excellent
learning, and in his own opinion less than the least of all saints, but in
the judgment of those who had the best discerning, a man who grew in grace
andin the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, to a more than ordinary
degree.” He marr. Janet, daugh. of William Trent, merchant, Inverness (she
marr. (2) Robert Baillie, min. of Second Charge, Inverness), and had issue
Isobel (marr.
Alexander Fraser, min. of the Second Charge, Inverness).