Robert Echlin

Robert Echlin (1576 – 17 July 1635) was a Scots-born clergyman who wasthe Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Connor from 1612 to 1635. He obtained his Presbytery Degree fromthe University of St Andrewsin Scotland and was made Minister for Inverkeithing.

He was the youngest son of Henry Echlin (1546- ?), laird of Pittrado, and his wife. Grizel Colville of Kinross(1541–1607),and was born at Pittrado, Fife in 1576. King JamesVI is said to have made Roberta bishop out of regard forthe memoryof his late father, whom he had known and respected.

As Bishop of Down and ConnorRobert isremembered mainlyforhis fierce clashwith therecentlyarrived Presbyterian clergy,who were all Scots like himself.Having at firstwelcomed then warmlyinto his diocese,and allowed them considerable latitude as regards their liturgical practices, he later becametheir bitter enemy, andsuspended two of them, Robert Blair andJohnLivingstone.They werequickly restored to office, due to thegoodwill of JamesUssher,Archbishop of Armagh, whose ownreligious beliefs were closer to Presbyterianism than Echlin's, but Echlin remainedtheir implacable enemy and finally had them deposed andexcommunicated fornonconformity. They made an abortive effort to emigrate to New England, then returned to Scotland.

Robert worked hard to restore the finances of his diocese, which had suffered greatly from the mismanagement of his predecessor James Dundas, even though Dundas held the see for only one year. At hisurging the Kingappointed a Commission to inquire into the diocesan finances and makerecommendations as tohow to repair the damage.

There is a well known story that the doctor who attended him in his final illness asked what ailed him. The Bishop with great difficulty replied "My conscience, sir!" The doctor replied that there is no cure for a guilty conscience.

He died at his palace, the Abbacy, Portaferry, andwas buried at Templecraney, Portaferry in County Down. An account of Robert Echlin's life and background is given in an earlier bookbut some of this is claimed as inaccurate by J. R. Echlin's later work.

Echlin married Jane Seton of Lathrisk, Fife in 1600 and had two sons and four daughters:

1. Margaret Echlin (1602-18 Nov 1684) m. Robert Maxwell (bishop) of Kilbride, Archdeacon of Down and later Bishop of Kilmore. He was the ancestor of the Earls of Farnham.
2. Isabel Echlin (1604- ) m. Archibald Stewart of Ballintoy, co. Antrim.
3. Hugh Echlin (1606–1641) m. Magdalene Cowell. He was murdered in the Irish Rebellion of1641at Caledon Bridge with his son Robert and his servants.
4. Euphemia Echlin (1608- ) possibly married a Robert Echlin
5. John Echlin (1612- ) m. Mary Stafford, 3rd daughter of Sir Francis Stafford of Mount Stafford, County Antrim and also of Bradney,Shropshire,England: he was the grandfather of Sir Henry Echlin, first of the Echlin baronets.
6. Jane Echlin (1615–1646) m. 1. Rev. Henry Maxwell in 1640 and 2. Rev. William Fullerton, Archdeacon of Armagh.