Statistical Account of Scotland - Barony Parish - Church

written about 1791-1798, published 1799 - Transcribed by Linda Nisbet, New Zealand

Ecclesiastical State of the Parish, School, Poor, &c.

The parish church is a part of that venerable building, the cathedral of Glasgow, and has been occupied by the Barony since the year 1595. Being of an arched roof, which is low, and supported by a great number of massy pillars, it is exceedingly dark, dirty, and incommodious; of this the heritors are so sensible, that a visitation of the presbytery has been called upon it this year; and there is some probability of another church being built for the accommodation of the inhabitants. At Shettleston, in the east end of the parish, a Chapel of Ease was erected about 50 years ago; and there is another, as mentioned above, at North Woodside, supported at the sole expense of Mr. William Gillespie. Another chapel is much needed in the village of Calton, and, it is to be hoped, will be provided. At Anderston, there is a Relief Church, built about 20 years ago: one Cameronian meeting in the Calton, and another at Sandyhills, in the east end of the parish. Though there are many dissenters of different denominations in the parish, these are the only places of worship, because a great number of the inhabitants are accommodated in the city of Glasgow. The numbers connected with each of the different denominations of Christians in the parish, including their children, is as follows:

* Though, from the above statement it appears, that the number of dissenters from the Established Church is very considerable, yet, perhaps there are few parishes where less of a party-spirit is to be found. The people of various persuasions meet in the intercourses of social life, and even cultivate habits of intimacy and friendship with each other, without suffering their minds to be embittered with disputes respecting their differences of opinion or profession. In this liberality of mind, they have an amiable example set them by their ministers, who are men of good sense, learning, and piety. And it is with pleasure I do them the justice to acknowledge, that the dissenters, in general, are as pious, virtuous, upright, industrious, and respectable, as any in the parish.

The King is patron. The stipend is about 165l. annually, including the value of the glebe, consisting of about 6 acres and a half, and the rent allowed by the heritors in lieu of a manse. There are few of the inhabitants who have been bred in this parish, who have not been taught to read; and most of them can write, and understand the common rules of arithmetic. Education is so cheap, as not to be placed beyond the reach of the poorest. And the people are so impressed with a sense of its importance, that all parents, if not most profligate themselves, are exceedingly anxious to have their children instructed in reading. They often cheerfully deny themselves many of the comforts of life to give their children education; and many of them have been rewarded, by seeing them rising to affluence and respect in society. As the Barony parish is very extensive, the children could not be accommodated at one school. In the beginning, therefore, of this century, the legal salary was divided into four equal parts, and four schools erected in those places of the parish then judged most convenient for the inhabitants: One at Shettleston, where an excellent school-house, in which the master is also accommodated, has been very lately built by private subscription; and the master has also the benefit of two small mortifications, paid by the session: one school at Rachazie, for the north-east quarter of the parish: one at Lambhill or Ruchhill, for the north-west quarter: and one at Anderston, where a school-house was mortified by the laird of Stabcross. Besides these, there are fifteen private schools, attended some of them by above 70 children: a charity school in the Calton, supported by Mr. David Dale, the master has 15l. Salary annually; and one in the mill at Woodside, supported by Mr. Gillespie, for the instruction of the children attending his cotton-mill. There are also 4 Sunday's schools, very well attended. viz. two in Calton, of about 70 children, boys and girls each; one in Camlachie, only for boys; and one at Shettleston. The school-wages paid in the villages are 2s. 6d. or 3s. the quarter; and at one school, 4s.; and in the country, in general, 2s. a-quarter. Many children also in the neighbourhood of Glasgow attend schools in the city, for different branches of education. The number of poor upon the roll of the session last year, (1790), amounted to 186. And the sum expended for their relief was 247l. 8s. 4d., which, at an average, is 2s. a-month nearly to each. The least given to any person is 1s. a-month, and none received more than 5s. a-month, excepting one woman, who is insane, for whom 12s. a-month is paid by the session; and some children, who are boarded till they are able to do something for themselves, at the rate of 3l. 12s. 8d. a-year. The session also pays for their education, as they do for all the children of the poor upon their roll*.

* The session indeed are particularly attentive to this, being fully persuaded that a proper education and habits of sobriety and industry are of the greatest importance to the comfort of the individual, and the benefit of society. The funds, provided for the support of these poor, under the management of the session were,

The session are so much convinced, that regular assessments for the support of the poor, have the most dangerous tendency, that they exert themselves to the utmost to prevent the necessity of them. It is but a few years since they were obliged to have recourse to them, and they hope soon to be relieved from the necessity of resorting to so dangerous an expedient, as they expect a commodious place of worship will be provided for the inhabitants. It is proper to mention, that by the care of the elders in the distribution, no assessment has ever been laid on the heritors, to a greater extent, than the sum stated above; and some years no assessment has been required. Before any person or family is admitted to receive any sessional charity, a strict examination is made into their employment, state of health, circumstances and earnings, all of which are distinctly entered into a book kept for the purpose, and to which recourse is had at any time, that the charity may be economically and properly distributed. The sums given by the session, are, in many cases, very inadequate to the necessities of particular persons; when this is the case, private contributions are made among their neighbours to supply the deficiency, and a great deal of money is annually raised in this manner, which is always bestowed at the sight of the elder of the portion. Besides this, there are many charitable societies established in the parish, which afford much

relief to tradesmen and labourers when laid aside from work by sickness. In general, the members, when in health, besides their first entry-money, pay a certain small sum quarterly into the funds of the society, for which they are entitled to a weekly provision in sickness; funeral expenses also are allowed, in case of death, and some of them also give a certain allowance to the widow. Many tradesmen are members of several of these societies at the same time; so that in sickness, they are better provided for than in health. These societies are of much advantage; because in this way, youth and health make a provision for old age and sickness. They are also friendly to the morals of the members, because riotous, disorderly persons forfeit their right in the society, and, in general, they are cut off from any support in diseases evidently brought on by intemperance and vice. Of these societies, there are 16 in the parish. Some of them distribute annually from 7l. to 20l., and one of them distributes from 45l. to 50l. In general, the members receive from 4s. to 5s. a-week, when confined to bed, and 2s. or 3s. when able to go about, but not to work. One society also, besides defraying funeral charges, gives to the widow 10s. yearly, for the education of any children under 10 years of age.

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