He was presented to the parish of Nenthorn in the presbytery of Kelso in 1689, but on 13 September of that year was deprived for refusing to read the proclamation of the estates declaring William III and Mary II king and queen of England, and for having prayed for King James VII.
In 1693, according to his own account, he was for some time imprisoned in the common gaol of Edinburgh for exercising his ministerial functions.
[1] Once free, Calder went to Aberdeen, where he officiated at services in his own house, using the Book of Common Prayer.
To obstruct his celebration of the Lord's Supper on Easter Day 1707, he was summoned before the privy council at Edinburgh on Good Friday.
Not complying, he was sentenced to be banished from Elgin under a severe penalty should he return within 12 miles of the city.