Complex sentence: In the first few years of his episcopate, Gordon made a determined but unsuccessful effort to stamp out the growth of protestantism, and in 1549 attended the Scottish provincial council convened to reform the Scottish church.
Split into simpler sentences: In the first few years of his episcopate, Gordon made a determined, unsuccessful effort to stamp out the growth of Presbyterianism. In 1549 the Scottish provincial council convened to reform the Scottish church.