Guthrie Ring
Reproduction
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Object number20458
TitleGuthrie Ring
DescriptionThe Guthrie Ring is beautifully simple with five garnets set in the shape of a cross. Yet the story behind it is much more complicated, culminating in the execution of its original owner. It belonged to the Reverend Dr James Guthrie (c1612-1661), one of the most important ministers in Scotland during the Covenanting era.
Guthrie was a distinguished and respected scholar who taught Theology at the University of St Andrews. He came to Stirling as the minister for the Church of the Holy Rude in 1649.
As an active Covenanter, Guthrie was against the monarchy interfering in church matters. He strongly opposed attempts by both Charles I and Charles II to impose Episcopal forms of worship on the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. As a loud and continuous critic of the monarchy, Guthrie was not pardoned at the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. Instead, he was arrested, tried and finally executed on 1 June 1661. His head was placed on a spike above the Netherbow port in Edinburgh – where it remained for almost 30 years.
Guthrie is celebrated as one of the first martyrs of the Covenant; his name appears on the Martyrs’ Monument in Greyfriars Churchyard, Edinburgh. His ring was passed on to his niece following his execution. It was handed down to the daughters of six more Church of Scotland ministers until we were able to purchase it for our collection in 2004.
Production date 1650
Production periodcovenanting
Object nameRing, Finger ring
Materialgarnets (facetted), Gold, enamel
Dimensions
whole Diameter: 20 mm