Rev James Currie (d. 1693)

Rev James Currie studied at the Unviersity of Edinburgh where he obtained the degree of A.M. in 1645. He was called to the parish of Shotts on 27 May 1649 and was admitted as minister in the same year, but the Session Minutes do not indicate exactly when as they are blank. He was deprived of his charge by Acts of Parliament and Privy Council in 1662. He was cited before the Privy Council in 1669 but did not appear.

Currie accepted the Second Indulgence on 3 September 1672 and was returned to Shotts. His parishioners so detested him for accepting the indulgence that they refused to attend, and he had to lock the church door for want of attendance. He was cited before the Privy Council in 1673 and a decreet was passed against him, fining him of half of his stipend and crop for 1673. This was for failing to keep the 29 May as a celebration of Charles II's birthday and restoration. He was cited before the council again on 7 August 1677 for having attended a Conventicle in his parish. He confirmed that he had attended, but claimed, 'It was in the corner of his own parish, and he went thither to expostulate with the preacher for drawing his people away from him'. He was discharged, but libelled for the same offence in July 1684. On that occasion he was dismissed for lack of evidence.

On 8 October 1684 his indulgence was withdrawn for refusing to read the proclamation regarding the deliverance of the King and the Duke of York from the Rye House Plot. He was placed in prison, and was later released 'on condition not to exercise any part of his ministry in Scotland, otherwise to forfeit his bond of 5,000 merks'. He appears to have been imprisoned a second time, for he was released on 12 March 1685.

Rev James Currie was able to return to the pulpit at Shotts in August 1687, again under indulgence. He served until 14 February 1688. He was married to Elizabeth Cunningham in 1646, by whom he had at least one son, Robert Currie, a merchant in Edinburgh. Rev Currie died in 1693.