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121 Pages·2004·1.76 MB·English

by  Bill Macpherson

Annals of Arngask

The Story of a Parish in the South-East
Corner of Perthshire

By

THE REV. JAMES MACKIE, M.C., M.A.

The Manse of Arnpask

Glenfarp, June, 1858 Perthahire.

PREFACE
It has been said that in every individual life lies the material for a novel: and it might be
said, with equal truth, that the story of any community, even the smallest, contains all the
makings of a romantic narrative. The Annals of Arngask are full, not only of incident,
but also of interest: but just as one cannot write the story of any personality and neglect
entirely the society of which that personality was a part, so one cannot do justice to the
history of an ancient parish without setting it in the wider background of national events.
As the first minister of the re-united parish of Arngask, I have, naturally, chosen the
church as the centre round which the story revolves, as the thread on which all the
incidental events are strung. It is the one organisation which, in varying forms, has
persisted through the ages. My interest is not confined, however, to the life and
development of the church, I have tried to reflect the many-coloured life of the
community, and to picture the lives and environment of those whose characters were
moulded by both church and community.
1958 seems an appropriate date for such a task as I have undertaken. It follows the 750th
Anniversary of the first documented endowment for religious purposes in the area which
is now the parish of Arngask.
Dr. J. W. Jack, one of my predecessors, wrote two guide-books of Glenfarg and the
district around, both of which have long been out of print and to him I am greatly
indebted for a great deal of information of value. The search for the whole story,
however, has taken me far beyond the sources used by Dr. Jack, that search being
complicated by the fact that, until the end of last century, the parish lay in three counties,
all of whose histories had to be explored.
Part of the story belongs to the period before documents, a period about which there
must be conjecture and uncertainty: but when documentary evidence is lacking, even the
most conscientious of historians must make the most of what scanty sources of
information are available. If he has done his utmost to sift and interpret these fragments
of knowledge, he is entitled to draw conclusions that have some measure of certainty,
and which are more than unfounded conjecture. The major part of this story is well
documented, and for the last 750 years there is no lack of material.
To a number of friends who have helped during the preparation of this volume I offer my
warm thanks. Two parishioners especially have been of great assistance: Mr. J. L.
Anderson, of Langfauld, who read the first sketch of the work and made several valuable
suggestions: and Col. T. Harris Hunter O.B.E. T.D. whose technical advice saved me
from many mistakes. To my wife I am indebted for many occasions when her assistance
halved my work.
This volume is printed privately, and copies can be obtained from the author.
JAMES MACKIE.
The Manse of Arngask,
Glenfarg

CHAPTER
I. The Parish and its Name.
II. Before the Romans came.
III. The Roman Occupation.
IV. The coming of Christianity.
V. The Canmore Dynasty.
VI. A Norman Benefaction 1207.
VII. The Period of the Frisleys, 1281-1332.
VIII. The Period of the Barclays 1332-1507.
IX. The Period of the Murrays, 1507 to the Reformation.
X. The Reformation and its Aftermath to 1635.
XI. The First Protestant Ministry: George Moncrieff,1635-1665.
XII. The Second Protestant Ministry: Robert Geddes, 1665-1690.
XIII. A Short Ministry: Gilbert Melville, 1688-1694.
XIV. The First Half of the Eighteenth century.
XV. The Days of Andrew Williamson: 1747-1782.
XVI. The Days of William Lang 1783-1819.
XVII. The Days of Alexander Burt: 1819-1867.
XVIII. A Digression James Skinner, Metaphysician.
XIX. The Beginnings of the Free Church
XX. The Baxter Decade 1867-1877.
XXI. The Days of Dr. Moncrieff 1877-1919.
XXII. The Free Church from 1892 to 1943.
XXIII. The Parish Church from 1920 to 1943.
XXIV. Since the Union of 1943.
XXV. Some Statistics and Notes.

SKETCH MAPS
The Parish of To-day Chapter I.
Arngask in Roman Days Chapter III.
The Estate of Fourgie Chapter VII.

DRAWINGS
Balvaird Castle, from an old Photograph Chapter IX.
The Old Parish Church, as restored in 1806 Chapter XVI.
The Free Church of 1844 Chapter XIX.
The Parish Church of To-day Chapter XXIV.
CHARTS AND TABLES
The Ministry of Arngask throughout the Centuries After Preface
The Murray Family Tree Chapter XI
The Family Tree of the Browns Chapter XIV.
Photostat Of Signatures of Ministers and Elders Chapter XIV.
Family Links in the Ministry Chapter XVII.

BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS CONSULTED
For General Historical Background.
Roman Britain (I. Richmond).
Roman Britain North of the Antonine Wall (O. G. S. Crawford).
Early Sources of Scottish History (A. O. Anderson).
Early Scottish Charters (Sir Arch. Lawrie).
Guide to the Public Records of Scotland (M. Livingstone).
Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland Preserved in the Public Record Office (J. Bain).
History of the Highlands and Gaelic Scotland (Dugald Mitchell).
Social and Industrial History of Scotland (James McKinnon) .
Social and Economic Development of Scotland before 1603 (I. F. Grant).
The Drove Roads of Scotland (A. R. B. Haldane).
Mediaeval Scotland (Cochran Patrick).
Rerum Scoticarum Historia (George Buchanan, 1582).
Short History of Scotland (Robert L. Mackie).
Scotland in Early Christian Times (A. O. Anderson).
Account Books of Sir John Foulis (Scottish Historical Society).
For Church Historical Background.
The Story of the Scottish Church (Ninian Hill).
The Church of Scotland (Principal Story).
Church History of Scotland (Principal Cunningham).
Treasury of the Scottish Covenant (J. C. Johnston).
Bygone Church Life in Scotland (Wm. Andrews).
Scottish Church History (N. L. Walker).
The Kirk in Scotland, 1560-1929 (John Buchan).
Register of Ministers, Exhorters, and Readers since 1567 (Wodrow Society).
Register of Assignations for Ministers' Stipends, 1574 (National Library)

Local Documents.
Chartulary of Cambuskenneth (National Library of Scotland) .
The Chartulary of Cambuskenneth (Wm. Fraser for the Grampian Club).
Minutes of the Presbytery of Perth (John Wilson).
Old Statistical Account, 1791. Chapter by Wm. Lang.
New Statistical Account, 1842. Chapter by Alex. Burt.
Diocese and Presbytery of Dunkeld, 1669-1689 (John Hunter) .
Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae (Hew Scott).
Minutes of Arngask Kirk Session from 1694.
Minutes of Free Church from 1844.
Autobiography of a Metaphysician (James Skinner).
Diary of a Perth Citizen, 1644-45.
Diary of Sir John Lamond of Newton, 1649-71.
Log Book of Arngask School, 1871-1930.

Local Books.
Monograph on Cambuskenneth Abbey (Stewart Cruden).
The Browns of Fordel (Stodart).
Letters, Essays, and Verses (John Brown of Balcanquhal) .
Glenfarg, Past and Present (J. W. Jack).
Scott's View (J. W. Jack).
Historical Scenes within our Limits (" Historicus " of Kinross Advertiser).
About Kinrossshire and its Folks (R. S. Young).
The Ancient Church and Parish of Abernethy (D. Butler) .
Fife, Pictorial and Historical (A. H. Millar).
Bygone Fife North of the Lomonds (James Wilkie).
Lindores Abbey (Dr. Andrew Laing).
Highland Constable (Hamilton Hewlett).

General.
Place Names in Scotland (J. B. Johnston).
Celtic Place Names in Scotland (W. J. Watson).
Geographical (Walter Macfarlane)

THE MINISTRY OF ARNGASK THROUGHOUT THE
CENTURIES
Few names have survived of those who ministered in the parish before the Reformation, and these are
mentioned in the relevant chapters.
The details since the Reformation are as follows:-
The Parish Church.

1560 The Reformation.
1567 Arngask under Superintendency of Dunbarney.
Minister: Patrick Wemyss.
Readers: 1567 John Pitblado.
1574 Alexander Wardlaw.
1603 Arngask under Superintendency of Strathmiglo.
1603 Laurence Mercer, M.A. Translated to Fossoway, 1607.
1607 Services conducted by Ministers of Strathmiglo.
1625 John Letham, M.A., Minister of Strathmiglo.
1635 Arngask revived as an Independent Charge, and the Rev. George Moncrieff, M.A.,
appointed. Died 1665.
1665 Robert Geddes, M.A., son-in-law of above. Deposed by Presbytery, 1690.
1688 Gilbert Melville, elected before deposition of above. Translated to Glendevon, 1694.
1695 John Dempster. Translated to St. Madoes, 1706
1707 James Gillespie, M.A. Died 1729.
1731 John Johnston. Died 1746.
1747 Andrew Williamson. Translated to Auchtergaven, 1782.
1783 William Lang. Retired 1819. Died 1827.
1819 Alexander Burt, nephew of above. Died 1867.
1867 William Lang Baxter, nephew of above. Translated to Cameron, St. Andrews, 1877.
1877 Robert K. Moncrieff, D.D. Retired 1920. Died 1930.
1920 James Campbell, M.A. Translated to Cairnie, 1933.
1934 A. McClymont Adams, M.A. Translated to Aberdour, St. Drostan's, 1937.
1937 D. B. M. Mellis, M.A. Appointed to Bridge of Dun, 1943.
Note:- In 1856, Arngask was transferred from Perth Presbytery to Kinross Presbytery, and at the
Union of the Church of Scotland with the United Free Church of Scotland in 1929, it was transferred
back to Perth Presbytery.

The Free Church
1843 A. Donald, M.A. Translated to Blackford, 1845.
1847 John Young. Died 1891.
1891 James W. Jack, D.D. Died 1942.

The United Charge.
1943 James Mackie, M.C., M.A.