Crown and Parliament

The conflict between crown and Parliament continued to cause unrest even after the King was beheaded, and, because of the involvement of the lairds of Balloch, all the people of Breadalbane were affected. In 1650 the
Honours of Scotland, the crown and sceptre, were brought to the castle of Balloch for safe keeping prior to the abortive crowning of Charles II at Scone. There is also the record of a military funeral to Kenmore Church on the 4th day of February, 1654. Colonel Edward Wogan, one of the most colourful leaders of the time, commanded a troop in the Royalist army. He was wounded in a skirmish near Drummond Castle and died at Balloch.
Although burials within churches had not been allowed since the Reformation, Colonel Wogan was laid to rest inside the Kirk of Kenmore. The minister and his Elders protested but Sir Cohn Campbell was powerful enough to over-ride the objections. William Menzies had an eventful twenty years as minister. Although there was much strife and hardship, the work of the church went on. Attempts
were being made to establish a school at Kenmore. The Kirk Session sought to establish standards of moral behaviour. As far as they could, they were welfare workers, upholders of the law and even dispensers of
justice while at the same time seeking to improve the spiritual awareness of the people. The minister’s stipend was paid by the landowners and the fabric of the church was looked after by the local heritors. When times were hard these responsibilities towards the church and minister were not always met.

About 1647 the Presbytery of Dunkeld was asked for financial help as it was difficult to find the minister’s stipend. William Menzies died in 1657. By the time his successor, Patrick Campbell, came in 1660, the lochside
was more peaceful, and the lot of people in general had improved. The school was opened at Kenmore, and, in 1669, a new church was built at Lawers. This church by the lochside, part of which is still standing today, enabled the minister to have regular services at Lawers whereas, before,the church was built, services were held irregularly in the open air when weather permitted. The church at Lawers had a near neighbour in the Lady of Lawers whose name was to become a legend on the lochside because of the seeming accuracy of her prophecies.

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