There were still ministers who preached the strict adherence to the Covenant, one of whom was Rev. David Houston, who became a thorn in the side of several Presbyteries. Born in Glasgow in 1633 he came to Ulster in 1660. He was several times admonished for his Covenanting principles and was formally suspended by the Route Presbytery in 1672.

Houston continued in his ways both in Ulster and in Scotland and he was formally deposed in 1687 by which time he was firmly committed to the Scottish Covenanting Societies. In 1689 Houston was living in Newtownards and latterly at Armoy, Co. Antrim where he died in 1696. His contribution to the Reformed Presbyterianism was significant and through his work he united the many disparate Societies into a cohesive fellowship.

Apart from Houston there were others who wished to retain their attachment to the Covenant and they began to hold separate meetings for fellowship - apart from both the established Church of Ireland and the Presbyterian Church. To these separatists there came the likes of Alexander Peden who preached to them at Kells and Glenwherry in Co. Antrim in 1679 and 1681.

These separatists formed themselves into Societies and corresponded with the Covenanting Societies of Scotland who followed Richard Cameron and James Renwick. By doing so they perpetuated the testimony of the Covenant in Ireland and were the seed from which the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland grew.

James II did not last long and soon revolution in England was under way, King James left London on December 18, 1688, and the Presbyterian King William III took his place. In Ireland, General Schomberg and his soldiers took charge and on June 14, 1690, William landed at Carrickfergus to start his campaign that would settle matters once and for all. He wasted no time and rapidly moved southwards to destiny at the river Boyne where the deciding battle took place on July 1, 1690. A defeated James fled to Dublin and soon after to France.

Covenanters Time Line
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