26 Facts About Alexander Shields

Alexander Shields or Sheilds or Sheills was a Scottish, Presbyterian, nonconformist minister, activist, and author.

Alexander Shields was imprisoned in London, in Edinburgh and on the Bass Rock for holding private worship services.

All three of the Cameronian field-preachers, of which Alexander Shields was one, rejoined the church after the Revolution.

Alexander Shields served as a chaplain to King William's armies in the Low Countries.

Alexander Shields was later called to be a minister at St Andrews but did not stay there long as he joined the second Darien Expedition.

Alexanders Shields was born in 1661, the son of James Shields, a miller, from Haughhead in the parish of Earlston, Berwickshire.

Alexander Shields was the brother of Michael Shields, author of Faithful Contendings Displayed.

Alexander Shields later wrote it Sheilds; it is often printed "Shields".

Alexander Shields began the study of divinity under Lawrence Charteris, but his opposition to prelacy led him, with others, to migrate in 1679 to Holland.

Alexander Shields studied theology at the University of Utrecht, entering in 1680 as "Sheill".

Alexander Shields came into close touch with some of the leading Puritans.

Strict measures being taken shortly after for the enforcement of the oath, Alexander Shields proclaimed its sinfulness, and his licensers threatened to withdraw their licence.

Alexander Shields attended on that day, but being out of court when his name was called, his bail was forfeited.

Alexander Shields signed a paper renouncing all previous engagements "in so far as they declare war against the king".

Alexander Shields's Hind Let Loose is a vindication of Renwick's position on historical grounds.

Alexander Shields was asked to superintend its publication, but failed to find a printer.

Alexander Shields crossed to Holland, saw the work through the Press there, and busied himself with the completion of his Hind.

Alexander Shields went to Holland to get it printed, but returned to Scotland, leaving it at press.

When Renwick was killed, on the scaffold, Alexander Shields became their leading minister.

Alexander Shields became the recognised leader of the United Societies, and to the general meetings of the Societies his brother Michael acted as clerk.

Alexander Shields certainly approved of the Cameronian insurrection, under Daniel Ker of Kersland, at the end of the year, when the incumbents of churches in the west were forcibly driven from their charges.

Alexander Shields was present at the gathering at the cross of Douglas, Lanarkshire, where these proceedings were publicly vindicated; giving out a psalm, he explained that it was the same as had been sung by Robert Bruce at the cross of Edinburgh, on the dispersion of the Spanish Armada.

Alexander Shields served in the Netherlands, and was present at Namur and Steinkerk.

The last-named section was added, Alexander Shields tells us, as an afterthought.

Some Scottish Presbyterians were at the time refusing to pay their church rates, which went to support the establishment episcopal church, and Alexander Shields defended their practice.

Alexander Shields made his case for unity, and against schism, in the book An Enquiry into Church-Communion.