Conventicle at Corsock House

Moniave and Dunscore Churches hold a Conventicle each year in different places connected to the Covenanters.   This year the Rev. Christine Sime held a Conventicle at Corsock House on Sunday afternoon of 21^st August.

 These  21^st century conventicles take the form of a short half hour service with psalms sung unaccompanied to well known tunes, prayers and a short talk by the Rev. Sime in places that have significance to the Covenanter movement.     They are an opportunity to worship God while remembering those that gathered in troubled times past.

Corsock House (then Corsock Castle) was owned by John Nielson who, as a Laird, was an unusual supporter of the Covenanters.  It is also believed that Nielson offered  hospitality to the Rev Gabriel Semple (ousted minister of Kirkpatrick Durham) and where  the Covenanters held their first Field-Meeting or Conventicle.  Initial meetings were held within Nielson’s house then, when numbers increased, moved outdoors.

Through the service we (some 30 people from Corsock, Kirkpatrick Durham, Moniaive Dunscore and other local churches) were reminded of the strength of faith of the Covenanters.  In the case of John Nielson he was “spoiled of his goods, driven from his home, tortured with the boot and hanged at the cross of Edinburgh in December 1666” for adherence to his Presbyterian faith.

The annual Conventicles are a wonderful tradition, remembering the depth of faith and sacrifices that the Covenanters  endured for their beliefs.   The Rev. Sime reminded us that although we today we are not called upon to make the sacrifices that John Neilson made for our faith, there are sacrifices of such things as time that we can make.

The showers greeted early arrivals but for the service itself the sun came out!  A lovely afternoon.