A1vah Parish
Built
1792
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Taken by declan chalmers 1995
Introduction
The
History section below was written sometime after 1901 by one of its minister's
mentioned in the text, Rev. Hugh Fraser.
Parish dates
consist of the start and end dates of Baptisms,Marriages and some deaths in the
parish records
Finally
a section with the family names that are connected with this parish from 1640
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Back to: Scotland Back to: Main Page Family Names connected with parish |
Muiryhill
looking south east |
Family Names connected with parish
Chalmers, Cheyne, Anton, Barclay, Avins, Webster, Stewart, Scott, Pirie
By the
Rev. Hugh Fraser, M.A.
It is probable that the light of Christianity came to this parish
through the labours of missionaries from lona. The names of some of these are preserved
in the names of the principal Fairs in neighbouring parishes - Marnan and
Brandan. A spring which for many years supplied the town of Banff with water,
has long been known as St CoIm's Well. From old records we find that the first
church erected in the parish was dedicated to St Columba.
In 1314 a charter was granted by Marjory,
widow of John, Earl of Atholl, granting to the Abbot of Cupar the patronage of
the Kirk of Alveth, with the whole lands of Kirkton, &c., comprising a
large part of the north east end of the parish. The boundaries of the Church
lands are here minutely detailed, but owing to improvements and changes since
effected it is now difficult to trace them at all points. The present Parish
Church was built in 1792, and was a plain structure with four windows in the
south wall and one in each gable. From time to time it has undergone various
repairs and improvements. In 1882 the inside walls were lathed and plastered,
the area of the church re-floored and re-seated, a commodious vestry and porch
built, and a system of heating by hot-water circulation introduced. The church
is now seated for 409, and has a Communion Roll at present of 351.
From 1883 a harmonium was used in the
service of praise, and in 1900 this instrument was exchanged for a
vocalophone at a cost of over £100 The harmonium is now used in the Rosieburn
meeting-house, where fortnightly evening services are held. This building, it may be
mentioned, has within recent years been almost entirely renewed through the
liberality of parishioners and the Woman's Guild.
The
church bell bears date 1645.
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1574-1580
Henry Mortimer. (a) |
1718.1745
James Stewart. (c) |
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1586-1589
James Lyle. (b) |
1745.1775
Alexander Wilson. |
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1628-16-
James Melvill. |
5776.1805
George Sasgster. |
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1642-1684
Robert Blair. |
1805-1840
James Sangster. |
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1684.1717
George Campbell. |
1841-1867
Andrew Todd, D.D. |
1868-
Hugh Fraser, M.A.
Present
Office-Bearers are:-
Elders-Messrs Charles Christie, Bagra, 1898(d);
Robert Findlay, Itlaw, 1898; Peter Hay, Malyrust, 1898; Alex. F. Leslie,
Monteoffer House, 1875; James MacWilliam, Deuchnes, 1898; William Livingston,
Newton of Mountblairy, s885; Aneas Reid, Clayfolds, 1898; Andrew Simpson,
Rosieburn, 1885. Session Clerk, Mr A. Stuart, Schoolhouse; Organist and
Precentor, Mr James Andrew, Fattiehead; Church Officer, Mr Robert Thain,
Berryton.
The Communion plate consists of one
quaich1 two cups bearing the following inscription: "Georgius
Oglivius de Banf Deo & Ecclesi~ Alvahensi hoc Poculum Consecravit"
[George Ogilvie of Banif dedicated this cup to God and the Church of Alvah],
with crest, and date 1625; two cups, the gift of Mrs Wilson, Carridale,
Coatbridge; and two cups, three patens, and flagon, the gift of the Woman's
Guild ;-all solid silver.
The following bequests were made to the
Kirk Session for the poor in the parish not in receipt of parochial relief --By
John Watt, at one time merchant in Banff; £92 3s. 6d.; Archibald Duff, Macduff;
£93 13s. 6d.; George Morison, late Boat of Auchinbadie, £121 155. 6d. The
interest of the Watt Bequest is expended on clothing or coals; of the Duff
Bequest on tea and sugar on New Year's Day; that of the Morison is restricted
to natives of the parish who are resident in it.
The Churchyard was considerably extended
in 1888, the whole of the ground laid out in regular divisions according to
plan, and the enclosing walls repaired. Among the oldest memorial tablets is
one bearing date 1589, with crest and the letters I.M. G.M. It is believed to
have marked the last resting place of a family who owned the lands of
Auchinbadie. The tablet is now built into the outside wall of the vestry. On
the outside of the south wall of the church is a tablet bearing the following
inscription -"In memoriarn perennaturam mulieris lectissimae, Elizabethae
Camphel, uxoris suae charissimae, D. (a) Georgii Campbel, V. D. (b) apud
Alvenses quondam praeconis filiae, natae I I Cal. Sept. anno 1696, conjugatae I
3 Cal. Feb. anno 1717, tandemque denatae 3 Id. Maias anno 1728, Archibaldus
Campbel, Regia colligendis reditibus amoris ergo monumentum hocce maestissimus
curavit extruendum "-"In evetlasting memory of a most worthy lady,
Elizabeth Campbel, his beloved wife, the daughter of Rev. George Campbel, at
one time preacher of the Word of God at Alvah, born 22nd August 1696,
married 20th January 1717, died 13th May 1728, Archibald Carnpbel, a Collector
of the King's dues, out of love and in his great grief had this monument
erected."
Beneath this is a granite tablet erected
by parishioners; and friends in memory of the Rev. Andrew Todd and his widow,
and another in memory of the members of his family.
In the Churchyard are not a few memorial stones with interesting inscriptions.
Some of these are rather quaint and curious, and may be given here:-
Here Lyes Intered the Body of James
Ruddiman, (C) Induler (a) Some time in Raggal and afterwards in Ratie in the
Parish of Boyndie who having verteously and with a good reputation arrived at
the age of 67 years departed this Lyfe October the 22nd 1707. Sumum nec metuas
diem nec optes. (e) This stone is Erected Be James and John Ruddirnan his sons.
Here rest in peace the Bodies of John Ruddiman late Farmer in Alehouseburn who
died the 8th May 1742, and of his spouse Isabel Mime who died 5th August 1763.
Here Lyes the ashes of Thomas Walace,
Squar Wright (f) in Banf, Deacon, Conveener, Burges of the said Burgh, who
departed this Life the 30th of March 1712, in the 47th year of his age. This grave stone is
erected by Jean Clerk his Loving Spouse in Memory of her affection to the
Defunct.
In Glory now we Hope he in Triumph
Reigns, Eternally with the great King of Kings.
George Chapman died at Inchdrewer 1first May
'777, in his 84th year and Hellen Stewart his spouse 4th January
1780 in her 93rd year. He was an honest man. She was a virtuous woman.- Erected
by Dr Chapman their son.
(Dr Chapman for many years conducted a
prosperous boarding school at Inchdrewer. The poet Burns spent some time with
him when on his tour in the north).
Here Lys
J. P.
FEBUARY
2
1709.
Pause
gentle stranger, from the Tomb
Consent
to Learn thy hastening Doom.
Boast
not of youth, its Sweetest Flower
Oft
blooms and withers in an Hour.
Love's
Virgin Flame my Bosom fired.
Its
purest joys my hopes inspired.
A few
days more and on my Bier
My Bride
let fall the Widow's tear.
TI EM
how now
dear ghosts
do name
and ensigne show that oh
with us
your days
should
prove too
few the
cinkfoyles
show
that vee were
fading
grass which
might
ansunder by
heat be
turned to ashe
your
name denots
jehovah's
fervent love
when
that your
soules
are caught
from us
above the
grasse
grasse the soules above the
skys
mong mortal
men your
ain imortail lves.
This stone shows elaborate ornamentation.
Much of this, however, has disappeared in the course of time. The tombstone
bears sacred texts indicating the brevity of human life and the hope of a
blessed resurrection-" As for man, his days are as grass," &c., &c.
A smooth space at the top probably contained ensigns "-perhaps figures
suggestive of the "ghosts," the spirits of the dead-and sculptured
cinquefoils. The further inscriptions,
HERE LYES THE ASHES OF THOMAS JOASE,
INDULAR AND LATE BAILYIE OF BANF WHO DECEASED THE . . . MARCH 1665
and
HERE LYE THE ASHES OF JOHN JOASE... HIS
LAWFUL SON DECEASED 25 JANUARY ANNI 1666 AS ALSO...
line the sides.
With this help, and by modernising the
diction, the obscurity of the inscription is somewhat relieved, and the whole
may read
How now,
dear Ghosts, do name and ensign show
That oh,
with us your days should prove too few!
The
cinquefoils show that ye were fading grass
Which
might asunder by heat be turned to ash.
Your
name (a) denotes Jehovah's fervent love
When
that your souls are caught from us above
The
grass. Grass! The soul's above the skies;
'Mong
mortal men your one (6) immortal lies."
The Manse was built in 1870 on the site
of the former Manse built in 1764. The population of the parish has for many
years been steadily decreasing. In 1871 it stood at 1436. At the last census in
1901 it had fallen to 1186.
Notes:
(a) The name "Joase" or
"Jehovah's." (6) One part or body.
('1) Reader. (6) Translated to Rathven.
(C) Translated from Inverkeithoy. (d) The date after an Elder's name indicates
the year of his ordination.
(a) D.-Dominus or Reverend. (b) V. D.-
Verbi Dei, of the Word of God. (C) James Ruddiman was the father of the Latin
grammarim. (a) Indweller or tenant. (e) "Neither fear nor desire the day
of thy death." (f) Cabinetmaker.
Alvah Parish Dates
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Baptisms
1717 - 1854 |
Marriages:
1720 - 1854 |
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Missing
:Jan 1813 -1818 |