a brief biography of Robert Leighton

 

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Hebrews 13:17


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On the 16th of December 1641,at Newbattle, one Robert Leighton was ordained both as a Minister in the Church of Scotland and as Parish Minister of Newbattle. The life of this man is a story in its own right. He was 30 years old at the time of his ordination, having been born, to Scots parents, in London in 1611. At the age of 16, he came to study at Edinburgh University. Family life prior to his ordination had not been tranquil. He had seen his father, a medical Doctor, suffer terrible hardship resulting from his father's authorship of a book, "Zion's plea against Prelacy". In this book his father had criticised severely the Bishops who then ruled the Church of Scotland, at a time when Episcopacy and Presbytery fought for supremacy. He had had his ears cut off, his nose split, thrown in Jail and was only released when his son was ordained at Newbattle. An earlier day Salman Rushdie perhaps, but not so lucky!

Leighton maintained a quiet dignity about himself in the midst of turbulent times, something that he had to exercise even during his acceptance at Newbattle. Parish records show that he had to deliver some 5 trial sermons - two of which had to be delivered on the same day - before being accepted.

From the Session Records the following entry exists:-
"On the 16th of December, decreed as a whilk day for the appointment of Mr Robert Lichtoune, a sermon was delivered by John Knox, based on Hebrews 13 Verse 17. After his sermon, Mr John Knox put to Robert Lichtoune and the parishioners, sundry questions competent to ye occasion and after the imposition of hands and ye solemne prayer, was admitted minister of Newbattle"
The John Knox referred to was not the Reformer himself but his nephew, who was Minister at Carrington at that time. (but we can always claim "John Knox preached from our Pulpit, just not the John Knox!)

Leighton himself served Newbattle for some 11 years before moving on to be Principal of Edinburgh University, Bishop of Dunblane and finally Archbishop of Glasgow. Leighton's legacy remains today in the Leighton Library now held in its entirety at Dunblane, including the portion originally owned by Newbattle and stored at the old Manse. Leighton saw good and bad in both the Episcopal and the English Puritan forms of worship. The Puritan Party gained such popularity that Leighton retired from the Ministry at Newbattle, citing the introduction of the Cromwellian ideas as to doctrine and ritual, as his main reason. Scotland's "Apostle of Peace", as he became known, took up the post at Edinburgh University as Principal for a period of 8 years, before being summoned to London, by Charles II, to be one of four Bishops appointed to look after the King's Northern realm in the Westminster Way. Hence his term at Dunblane as Bishop and subsequently at Glasgow as Archbishop.

When he retired he went to live with his sister in London, his final parting wish was that "At eventide there might be light". He died as he would have wished, in an inn in the shadow of a partly finished St Paul's Cathedral. The Cathedral was largely financed from the tax levied upon coal - a fact that was not lost on him as a reminder of Newbattle, where it had all begun, his Ministry and the winning of coal in Britain.