Patrick Forbes was one of Raban’s champions in the city. He was Bishop but also Chancellor of King’s College. He, alongside Sir Paul Menzies (later Provost) was instrumental in bringing Raban to Aberdeen in 1622. Raban printed the funerals and epitaphs on Forbes’s death in 1635. The volume contains a series of sermons and memorials about the prelate.
Of particular significance in this volume is ‘Raban’s Regrate’ which is the final tribute at the end of the book. It is worthy of study as it gives an insight into Raban and his attachment to the late Bishop.
Of particular significance in this volume is ‘Raban’s Regrate’ which is the final tribute at the end of the book. It is worthy of study as it gives an insight into Raban and his attachment to the late Bishop.
Who was Patrick Forbes?
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Patrick Forbes was born in 1564, the son of William Forbes of Corse and Elizabeth Strachan. He was educated at the High School of Stirling, the University of Glasgow and then the University of St Andrews. At St Andrews, he came under the influence of the renowned theologian Andrew Melville.
He succeeded his father as Laird of Corse in 1598. Forbes became religiously puritanical and avid preacher, but was reluctant to enter the ministry. The Archbishop of St Andrews ordered him to enter the ministry or stop preaching, and as a result Forbes confined his preaching to his own household. At the death of his friend John Chalmers, the minister of Keith, in 1611, the dying Chalmers requested Forbes to take control of the parish of Keith and continue his work there. Consequently, in 1612 and at the age of forty-eight, Forbes was ordained and was inducted as Minister of Keith in Banffshire. |
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In January 1618, Forbes was given the crown nomination to succeed Alexander Forbes as Bishop of Aberdeen. Forbes was initially reluctant to take up the position, but cited his obedience to the King's wishes. Taking up a bishopric necessarily meant that he encountered some hostility from the anti-Episcopal Presbyterians in the Church of Scotland, but Forbes was nevertheless well respected for his piety and theology.
Forbes was also Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen and was responsible for much reorganisation in the university, including reconstruction of the system for education and training future ministers. Forbes began to suffer from apoplexy and died on 28 March 1635. He was buried in St Machar's Cathedral. Edward Raban printed the volume of Epitaphs and Sermons for his funeral. His son, John, was one of the Aberdeen Doctors. |
