01 Gilbert Keith

DATES OF RECTORSHIP:  1688 – 1705

BEFORE
1672: Laureated by Kings’ College, Aberdeen
1686: Ordained Deacon and Priest in the Church of England

AFTER:

BIRTH –  1652 or 3rd September 1657
Place: Aberdeen
Father: Likely Gilbert Keith of Caldhame
Mother: Mary Rait

MARRIAGE:
He was definitely married twice, the first time possibly to a Hellin Galloway (sic), in 1677. The second marriage was possibly to a daughter of Alexander Young, the Bishop of Ross. Gideon Guthrie, Keith’s successor at Stonehaven, is said by some to have been married to the same woman! This is not likely, looking at the dates.

DEATH  –  Likely 1709 or 1710.
Possibly buried in St. Nicholas’, Aberdeen.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Was likely resident at Dunnottar from 1672 until his death. His appointment to a clerical position in Stonehaven more or less contemporary with the birth of the Episcopal Church herself is probably not coincidental. He was appointed by the Earl Marischal, He was noted as having been a Non-Juror, and was probably an Arminian (a theological school of thought opposed to Calvinism which formed the basis of later theological thought from the Non-Juror camp).

Looking at the raw information, it would be unsurprising if thoughts of “have you ever seen Gideon Guthrie and Gilbert Keith in the same room?” came to the reader’s mind! This was a complex period in Scots history though, and so some ambiguity can be forgiven.

It is interesting to note that despite his theological and political views, it seems that Keith favoured the English liturgy. This is likely due to a few reasons. Namely, that it could be what the Earl Marischal had requested. It could also be due to the fact that in this period, the Church of England was not nearly as hostile towards the theological and political stance of the Non-Jurors as she was in later decades. This, coupled with his English ordination, may have given Keith the view that the English Prayer Book was acceptable. Something which would certainly not have been the view of his successors 50 or 100 years down the line!