Beath Parish Records
- work in progress
The Church of Beath was granted to the Abbey of Inchcolm prior to year
1178 and was subsequently annexed to Dalgety. Beath sustained an
attachment to Dalgety after the reformation and up to the year 1611,
when the church of Dalgety and the church of Beath were united to
Aberdour. This arrangement however did not prove satisfactory and the
union with Aberdour lasted only until 1643, when Beath was disjoined
and re-erected as a separate parish. The parish church of Beath had
been rebuilt in 1640, three years prior to the disjunction. In 1962
Beath was linked with the charge of Cowdenbeath Guthrie Memorial. This
arrangement continued after the 1972 union of Cowdenbeath Guthrie
Memorial and Lumphinnans, who were united under the name of Cowdenbeath
North, and in 1998 Beath and Cowdenbeath North united together to form
the charge of Beath and Cowdenbeath North. The Kirk Session sat within
the Presbytery of Dunfermline, later of Dunfermline and Kinross and,
following the restructuring of the Presbyteries in 1976, it became part
of the Presbytery of Dunfermline once again.
- Lumphinnans Free Church Kirk Session (united with Guthrie
Memorial to form Cowdenbeath North, later North and Kirk of Beath)
see under Ballingry
- Cowdenbeath Free Church (later Guthrie Memorial, United
Free and Church of Scotland):
Cowdenbeath Free Church was established as a station in 1856. The
church was opened in 1863, but replaced in 1891, the year the charge
was finally sanctioned. It passed successively to the United Free
Church, as Cowdenbeath Guthrie, and to the Church of Scotland, as
Cowdenbeath Guthrie Memorial, which was first reduced in status, in
1945, linked with Beath in 1962, and united with Lumphinnans in 1972 as
Cowdenbeath North. The Church of Scotland charge was in the presbytery
of Dunfermline and Kinross and the synod of Fife.
- Cowdenbeath United Presbyterian Church (later United Free,
Cairns Church of Scotland):
Cowdenbeath United Presbyterian Church began in 1883 under Dunfermline
presbytery, in what was then a large mining village. A church building
was opened in 1884. It transferred to the United Free Church, as
Cowdenbeath Cairns, and subsequently to the Church of Scotland. The
Church of Scotland charge was in the presbytery of Dunfermline and
Kinross and the synod of Fife.
- Kelty Oakfield Kirk Session:
The parish of Kelty was erected in 1925 when it was disjoined from that
of Beath, a mission chapel, which became the parish church, had been
built here a number of years prior in 1894 . Following the union of the
Church of Scotland and the United Free Church in 1929, Kelty parish
church became termed Kelty Oakfield and in 1974 Kelty Oakfield was
united with the congregation of Kelty North, under the name of Kelty
once more. The kirk session, which remains active today, presently sits
within the Presbytery of Dunfermline.
- Kelty Free Church, (later Kelty North, Moray United Free,
and Church of Scotland):
Kelty Free Church was formed at the Disruption, when the minister of
Cleish and many of his congregation adhered to the Free Church. A
church was erected soon afterwards. It passed successively to the
United Free Church, as Kelty Moray, and to the Church of Scotland, when
Kelty North was formed by the union of Kelty Moray and Kelty Trinity.
Kelty North in turn united with Kelty Oakfield as Kelty in 1974. The
Church of Scotland charge was in the presbytery of Dunfermline and
Kinross and the synod of Fife.
- Kelty Trinity United Presbyterian Church (later Trinity
United Free and Church of Scotland Kelty North):
Kelty, Trinity United Presbyterian Church was opened as a mission
station by Dunfermline Presbytery in 1894, in what was then a mining
village north of Cowdenbeath. The first minister was ordained in 1898.
It passed successively to the United Free Church, as Kelty Trinity, and
to the Church of Scotland, as Kelty North, a union of Kelty Moray and
Kelty Trinity. Kelty North united with Kelty Oakfield as Kelty in 1974.
The Church of Scotland charge was in the presbytery of Dunfermline and
Kinross and the synod of Fife.
- Lassodie Free Church (later United Free and Church of
Scotland):
The congregation of Lassodie Free Church was established in 1866 as a
mission station to serve the needs of the growing mining population of
Lassodie. The church was erected in 1869 and the charge was later
sanctioned in 1874. Lassodie F.C. originally sat within the Presbytery
of Kinross but was transferred in 1881, at the request of the minister,
to that of Dunfermline. In 1900, upon the union of the Free Church and
the United Presbyterians, Lassodie Free Church was renamed Lassodie
United Free Church and following the 1900 union between the United Free
Church and the Church of Scotland, Lassodie U.F. became Lassodie Church
of Scotland. A union was established with the session of Kingseat in
1930 and the charge was reduced to the status of a mission station,
which was later attached in 1933 to the congregation of Dunfermline
Townhill.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- CH2/1059
Beath Kirk Session
Accounts, 1871-1906; Woman's guild minutes, 1940-1950; Proclamations,
1861-1878 and 1884-1963; Communion roll, 1841-1850 and 1871-1954;
Minutes, 1691-1731 and 1822-1974; Miscellaneous papers, 20th cent; Cash
book, 1948-1968; FWO Treasurer's cash book, 1968 and 1971-1975.
- CH3/837
Cowdenbeath Free Church (later Guthrie Memorial, United Free and Church
of Scotland):
Minutes, 1864-1914, 1927-1972; Deacons' court minutes, 1867-1917,
1923-1972; Managers' minutes, 1856-1867; Baptismal register, 1864-1882,
1917-1972; Communion roll, 1856-1884, 1890-1897, 1929-1936, 1951-1972;
WFO accounts, 1936-1945; Gospel Temperance Society roll, 1890-1908;
Ladies' work party cash book, 1925-1943; Property register, 1956-1972,
nd; Certificates of transference, 1965-1972; Financial statistics,
1937-1971; Accounts, 1962-1972; Miscellaneous, 20th century.
- CH3/1158
Cowdenbeath United Presbyterian Church (later United Free, Cairns
Church of Scotland):
Minutes, 1886-1948, 1959-1971; Managers' and congregational minutes,
1886-1911; Managers' minutes, 1912-1950; Congregational board minutes,
1950-1957; Baptisms, 1886-1963; Communion roll, 1886-1903; Jubilee
Book, 1886-1936.
- CH2/1385
Kelty Oakfield Kirk Session
Minutes, 1956-1974; Congregational board minutes, 1962-1985; Cartulary,
1924-1925; Cash book, 1913-1925 and 1929-1971; W.F.O. cashbook,
1941-1973; Baptismal register, 1897-1974; Proclamation register,
1951-1978; Communion roll, 1904-1931 and 1941-1979; Manager's minutes,
1896-1954; Accounts, 1896-1928; Social committee minutes, 1951-1972.
- CH3/1377
Kelty Free Church, (later Kelty North, Moray United Free, and Church of
Scotland):
Minutes, 1844-1941; Congregational board minutes, 1956-1964; Accounts,
1915-1951; WFO cash books, 1953-1954; Baptisms, 1910-1929; Communion
rolls, 1911-1916, 1919-1928; Supplementary roll, 1959-1971;
Correspondence and miscellanea, 20th cent.
- CH3/1368
Kelty Trinity United Presbyterian Church (later Trinity United Free and
Church of Scotland Kelty North):
Minutes, 1950-1974; Managers' minutes, 1895-1911; Congregational board
minutes, 1964-1974; Baptisms, 1901-1974; Marriages, 1932-1974;
Communion rolls, 1916-1929, 1932-1964.
- CH3/205
Lassodie Free Church (later United Free and Church of Scotland):
Session minutes, 1889-1930 (with Baptisms, 1918-1930).
Included in the Old Parochial Registers on microfilm and at the ScotlandsPeople
Centre, Edinburgh but not online:
- Beath Kirk Session
410/1
Minutes, 1643-1649.
At the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, USA, but
available on microfilm at LDS Family History Centres around the world:
- Microfilm no. 104150 Item 5
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Cowdenbeath Branch
Record of members, early - 1883.
- Microfilm no. 104155 Item 4
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kelty Branch
Record of members, 1880-1883.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- HR/56
Beath parish heritors' records
Minutes including cash book, 1834-1928; Papers relating to transference
to Church of Scotland, 1926-1929; Correspondence, 1873-1927;
Miscellaneous, 1871-1924.
At the National
Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh:
- VR101
Valuation Rolls: Fife
1855-1975.
At the Fife
Council Archive Centre, Markinch:
- B/Cow
Cowdenbeath Burgh Records
Assessment rolls, 1890-1974.
At the Fife
Council Archive Centre, Markinch:
- FCC/6/10
Beath Parochial Board / Parish Council
Minute books, 1845-1930; Cash book, 1868-1890; Chartulary, 1849-1962.
At the Fife
Council Archive Centre, Markinch:
- Broad Street School
Log books, 1876-1944.
- Broad Street Infants School
Log books, 1876-1904, 1959-1969.
- Foulford School
Log books, 1921-1929; admission registers, 1896-1975.
- Foulford Infants School
Log books, 1896-1921.
- Mosside School
Log books, 1922-1944.
- Cowdenbeath Public School
Log books, 1944-1958.
- St Bride's Roman Catholic Primary School
Log books, 1904-1992; admission register, 1904-1966..
- Hill of Beath School
Log books, 1890-1978.
- Kelty Infants School
Log books, 1875-1974.
- Oakfield Special Needs School
Log books, 1915-1927.
- Oakfield School
Log books, 1915-1923
- Oakfield Intermediate Technical School
Log books, 1923-1947.
- Oakfield Junior Secondary School
Log books, 1947-1964.
- Kelty Public School
Log books, 1874-1925.
- Kelty Public Evening Continuation School
Log books, 1894-1924
- St Joseph's Roman Catholic School
Log books, 1956-1996; admission registers, 1914-2002.
- Lassodie School
Log books, 1877-1940.
- Lassodie School Junior Department
Log books, 1878-1926.
- Lassodie Evening Classes
Log books, 1894-1922.
- Beath School Board
Minutes, 1873-1919.
Entries less than 50 years old may contain sensitive personal
information and are not on open access. If you are a former pupil you
are entitled to see your own entry. Please contact the Archivist for
further details.
At the Fife
Council Archive Centre, Markinch:
- B/Cow
Cowdenbeath Burgh records
Town Council minutes, 1974-1975; Beath Local Authority minute book,
1868-1877; town clerk's letter books, 1939-1965; town council account
books, 1891-1975; assessment rolls, 1890-1974; Burgh court case
registers, 1891-1965, licensing registers, 1909-1974 (with gaps); Dean
of Guild court registers of plans, 1915-1964.
At the Local History Department, Dunfermline
Carnegie Library:
- Cowdenbeath Town Council
Minute books and related records, 1890-1975.
Data provided by the Scottish Archive Network
(SCAN)
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William McM.
Owen : last updated
11 April, 2009
