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The first known date of a church in Auchterhouse
is 1238.
Fifteenth century charters refer to the foundation
of a chaplanrie in the Parish Church of St Mary, Auchterhouse.
1426 - the original
building was replaced with an extensive Gothic structure.
1567 - Rev. Alexander Tyrie became
the first minister of the reformed Church of Scotland in Auchterhouse.
The present church was built in 1630.
It has been described as the last specimen
of early church architecture in Scotland. Due to some structural
defect, it was partially re-built in 1775.
| "Its only remarkable feature was one
too characteristic of a poverty-stricken, uncultured, and
in artistic age, - external and internal rudeness." |
Two Norman fonts remain from the original thirteenth
century church. A stone inscribed "Ave
Maria" may be seen built into the east gable of the present
church.
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| The clock
illustrated below was made by Thomas Ivory, a well-known Dundee
clockmaker. It can be seen at the rear of the church |
Church
font, dating from mediaeval times |
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The church in the 17th century
There were no pews and no flooring.
The soil was strewn with rushes.
Light came from small windows partially
fitted with glass and there was no heating of any kind.
The interior was damp, cold and uninviting. |
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Burial vault.
Underneath the present church is a very old burial vault
containing remains of the Buchans,
Ogilvies, and the Lyons of Strathmore
but there are no memorial tablets. Burials took place in
the church, under the rushes, despite the General Assembly
having forbidden it in 1643 |
Church Discipline
All parishioners were compelled to
go to church.
Any attempt to work met with heavy
penalties metered out by the beadle. Offences included failure to
observe the sabbath, drunkenness, brawling and swearing.
During services the beadle went round
the church to "wauken sleepers, to drive
outh the dogs, and remove greeting' bairns" Padlocked collars
called "jougs" were used as was
a tar brush that he used to prevent parishioners from sleeping in
church. He also used "branks"
which was an iron hood.
Delinquents stood on "The Pillar"
in front of the minister and congregation and were the subject of
the "Wee Sermon"
If a parishioner was found guilty
of spreading slander about their neighbours they were treated in
the following way:
1st offence - they had to stand up before the congregation and cry
out "Tongue ye lied"
2nd offence - they were made to sit on the repentance stool for
a period of time
3rd offence - they were banished from the parish.
| Elders'
responsibilities
They visited houses between morning and afternoon services
on Sundays to ensure church attendance and to clear out
the taverns.
They were responsible for the care of the poor - at home
and abroad. |
Extracts from the Church Session Records
To Christian Biddie, a poor child, to buy her shoues,
10d.
To James Christie, in Kirktoun, having a poor, small family, to
help him buy a cow, 5s.
To distressed Protestants in Lithuania in Poland, a voluntary contribution
for their relief.
The Session chest was the parish bank
Important dates in the history of the
church
1717 New Communion
cup
1719 Church bell refounded at a
cost of £8 16s 6d.It was taken to Dundee, weighed, then taken to
Forgan where it was founded, reweighed in Dundee, put up and drink
money given to the servants.
1721 Rev John Glas of Tealing preached
in Auchterhouse (later founder of Glasites) He was suspended by
the Church of Scotland in 1728
1728 Seats erected in church -
yearly charges of 8d - 1s
1740 David Scott became minister.
Died 1773 (33 years minister)
1774 James Scott became minister.
Died 1804 (30 years a minister)
1774 A meeting was called and it
was decided to build a new church. The church was practically rebuilt,
mainly out of the old material.
1783 Due to scarcity of meal, the
kirk session agreed to buy a quantity of meal for the poor of the
parish.
1789 Manse built
1789
The Great Church Robbery.
A strong-box containing the poor
money was broken into and stolen. A reward of £5 was advertised.The
following advert appeared in Edinburgh newspapers:
"Whereas some day of the
week preceding Sabbath, the 19th April current, the Kirk-session's
box of Auchterhouse, which stood in the session-house,
was broken open, and sundry valuable papers and securities,
with about Thirty or Forty Pounds in cash, were carried
off, a reward of £5 stg. will be paid by the Kirk-Session
to any person who shall make such a discovery as will
be sufficient to convict any of the offenders."
Two men were detained but later
acquitted. The amount taken was £31.10s 5d stg.
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The church acted as local pawnbrokers to the poor
on articles pledged. It also helped in times of food shortages by
buying meal and selling it at the market.
For news and information about
Auchterhouse Church
its activities and its congregation click the link
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