Welcome to five minutes in church history hosted by Dr Stephen Nichols, where we take a little break from the present to go exploring the past.

Travel back in time as we look at the people, events, and even the places that have shaped the story of Christianity.

This is our story, our family history. Let's get started.

On this episode of five minutes in church history we're going to be looking at one of our

forgotten founding fathers Francis McKimie. Francis McKimie died in

Akamack County Virginia and near where he is buried there is a monument.

And on that monument we have written everything we need to know.

Well, maybe not quite everything, but most of the things that we need to know. Well, maybe not quite everything, but most of the things that we need to know about

Francis McKimie. Let me read the inscription to you. It says Francis McKimie, who was born in

Ramleton, County Donegal, Ireland, AD 1658, was educated at Glasgow University

Scotland and came as an ordained evangelist to the American colonies, AD 1683, at the request of Colonel William Stevens of

Rehoboth Maryland. A devoted and able preacher of our Lord's Gospel, he labored

faithfully and freely for 25 years in Maryland, Virginia, the Barbados, and elsewhere.

A Christian gentleman, an enterprising man of affairs, a public spirited citizen, a distinguished advocate of religious liberty,

for which he suffered under the governor of New York.

He is especially remembered as the chief founder of organized

Presbytery in America, AD 1706, and as the first moderator of the

general Presbytery. He died at his home, whose is nearby in Acamack County, Virginia in the summer of

AD 1708.

So who was Francis McKeme?

Well first we know he was Scotch Irish. He was born in Ireland and he was trained in Scotland at the University of Glasgow.

He was an ordained minister in 1682 and the next year he was a missionary. In 1683 he arrived in America.

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