Cameronians

Known as the ‘Society people’ until 1690, these covenanters of south-west Scotland followed the extensive field preaching of Richard Cameron (1648-80) and Donald Cargill (c. 1627-81). After Cameron was killed in battle and Cargill hanged, the various dissident societies combined against the Test Act. After 1690 they raised the prestigious Cameronian regiment against James. The Cameronians refused to join the restored presbyterian Church of Scotland which they saw as Erastian, and finally became the free church (1876).