Who Was Rev. Robert Kirk?

Introduction
I have an interest in Rev. Robert Kirk, who was a Scottish minister and scholar who lived from 1644 to 1692. He is best known for translating the Bible into Scottish Gaelic, though I’m not a Gaelic speaker, but Kirk made God’s Word accessible to Highland communities. His work on the Gaelic Psalms and Bible is connected to my family’s heritage in the Free Church of Scotland, which had a tradition of Scripture-focused worship.

What also intrigued me was my grandad’s doing “the books,” a devotion time morning and night, where he read Psalms from a Gaelic Bible.

This article explores Kirk’s life, his contributions, and why he matters today.

Early Life
Robert Kirk was born in 1644 in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, Scotland, I imagine there was no “Go Ape” or zip line whizzing through the sky.

He was the seventh son of a minister named James Kirk. He studied theology at Edinburgh University (earning an MA in 1661) and St. Andrews. Kirk became a minister in 1664 at Balquhidder, a Gaelic-speaking parish, and later served in Aberfoyle from 1685. His time in the Highlands shaped his love for Gaelic culture and language.

Translating the Gaelic Psalms
In 1684, Kirk published the first complete translation of the Psalms into Scottish Gaelic, called Psalma Dhaibhidh an Meadrachd (Psalms of David in Metre). These were metrical Psalms, meant for singing in church, but also used for reading in family worship. This was important for Gaelic-speaking Scots, like those in the Free Church, who valued Psalms in worship.

The 1690 Gaelic Bible
Kirk’s biggest achievement came in 1689 when he went to London to oversee the printing of An Biobla Naomhtha, the first full Bible in Scottish Gaelic using Roman letters. Started by Bishop William Bedell, this Bible was finished with support from scientist Robert Boyle. Kirk ensured its accuracy and added a short Gaelic vocabulary. Known as “Kirk’s Bible,” it helped Highlanders read Scripture in their own language.

Folklore and Legacy
Kirk was also fascinated by Highland folklore. In 1691, he wrote The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies, a book about Scottish myths and “second sight.” The Fairy Knowe, also known as Doon Hill, in Aberfoyle, Scotland, is deeply connected to Rev. Robert Kirk’s folklore legacy.

Kirk, who served as Aberfoyle’s minister from 1685 until his death in 1692, believed Doon Hill was a gateway to the fairy realm, where the “Fair Folk” (Sleagh Maith) lived in caverns, accessible to those with second sight.

Kirk often walked the hill, reportedly lying on it to listen for fairy activity. On May 14, 1692, his body was found there, likely from a heart attack, but local legend claims the fairies abducted him for revealing their secrets.

Stories say his soul remains trapped in a lone Scots Pine on Doon Hill or serves as chaplain to the Fairy Queen, with his Aberfoyle grave holding stones, not his body.

Kirk’s Secret Commonwealth, published in 1815 by Walter Scott, became a cornerstone of fairy folklore, cementing Doon Hill’s mystical reputation and Kirk’s nickname, “The Fairy Minister.” After his sudden death in 1692 on Doon Hill, Aberfoyle, locals believed fairies took him, adding mystery to his story. His book was published in 1815 and remains a classic in folklore studies.

Why Kirk Matters Today
Kirk’s translations made the Bible and Psalms accessible to Gaelic speakers, strengthening faith in places like the Isle of Lewis, where my grandad read his Gaelic Bible and attended the Free Church.

Growing up, during school holidays when we were on the Isle of Lewis in Point, my grandad’s love for the Lord, expressed through prayer and reading the Word, was a witness that supports my daily devotion today, reading a Psalm, a Proverb, and portions from the Old and New Testaments, followed by prayer.

For Free Church and evangelical believers, Kirk’s legacy reminds us to treasure God’s Word in our language, whether Gaelic or English.

Conclusion
Rev. Robert Kirk was a minister, scholar, and Gaelic champion whose translations shaped Scottish worship.

His 1684 Psalms and 1690 Bible brought Scripture to Highland homes, influencing devotional practices like my grandad’s.

Today, I honour this by reading Scriptures daily, connecting to my Free Church roots and appreciation for non-Calvinistic ideals like those of Calvary Chapel.

Kirk’s life shows how God’s Word can unite culture and faith.

Sources

• Free Church of Scotland, freechurch.org
• Reformation Scotland, reformationscotland.org
• Historical accounts of Kirk’s life and translations