Stornoway, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

Parish # 88 Insular

History
The ancient name of the parish is said to have been Uy, which in the Danish language signifies an isthmus or neck of land. The parish of Stornoway is situated in the island of Lewis, and derives its name from the point of land on which the town of Stornoway is situated. Stron, in the language of the country signifies a nose, Stron-a bhaigh, the nose of the bay. From time of memory, the parish consisted of three districts, Stornoway, Gress, and Ui. It is bounded by the parish of Barvas and the district of Ness, on the north; and the mainland called the Minch; and by the parishes of Lochs, and Uig, on the south and west.

Stonoway is the only market town in the parish, and is the chief town in the Northern Hebrides. The nearest market town from Stonoway, is Dingwall, which is 120 miles away.

Two eminent characters were born in this parish, Sir Alexander M’Kenzie of Avoch, celebrated for his travels and discoveries on the continent of North America; and Colonel Colin M’Kenzie of the East India Company’s service, distinguished for his writings, and research into the antiquities of India.

The only landowner in the parish is James A. Stewart M’Kenzie, Esq. of Seaforth, M.P.; he married the oldest daughter of the Late Lord Seaforth, and has a large family.

The population in 1750 was 1836, and by 1831, it is numbered as 5491.

The crops that are produced in the parish are, barley, oats, potatoes, turnips, meadow hay. Fishing is the principle employment of the male population, and every farm and hamlet have their own boats. The season is divided between fishing, farming, and kelping; and most families have a share of a boat and a lot of land.

The parish church is situated in Kirkhill, in the town of Stronoway. It is only convenient for the population in and near the town. From the farm Tolsta, which contains 250 population, the church is twelve miles distant; and six miles of a pathless moor that is very rugged. There is only accommodation or legal seat room for 800 persons, though two thirds of the people between Tolsta and Stornoway number 2000. There can be no free sittings in a church, from which more than 2000 persons are excluded for want of room. There are no chapels of ease here. There is one Government church, built in the district of Ui, four miles from the parish church, at the extremity of the district, and is in the most inconvenient situation, for 800 out of a population of 1308. There is one catechist, employed by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge.

The earliest entry in the parochial register is dated 1780; the second was discontinued in 1791. Since 1825, the registers have been regularly kept, and weekly entries are made by the session clerk.

This account was written in 1833.

Source: New Statistical Account of Scotland, FHL book 941 B4sa, series 2, vol. 14.

Also available online at http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/. Browse the scanned pages under ‘For non-subscribers,’ then search for the parish report.

Established Church—Old Parochial Registers
Condition of Original Registers:
 * Index: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index available on computers at the Family History Library and family history centers. The records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index.
 * Births: Births are intermixed with marriages prior to 1794, they are few in number. No entries 1794–1804 from which date a separate record of births is kept for twelve different districts.
 * Marriages: Marriages are intermixed with births prior to 1794 and are few in number. There are regular marriage entries from 1793 and no entries October 1800 – February 1804.

Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
The extent of records is unknown.

Stornoway Free Church
History— In response to a request from the adherents of the Free Church a session was organized and the charge sanctioned in 1844. A church was soon erected. It was burned down in 1850 and rebuilt with improvements. After enlargement and extensive repairs it was reopened in June 1894. The manse was built in 1850. In 1858 a few families seceded and formed the United Presbyterian congregation. In 1875 about 300 members withdrew to form the English congregation. In 1892 some hundreds seceded to the Free Presbyterians and in 1900 a section declined to enter the Union. Withal the congregation still remained over 1300 strong. Membership: 1855, 650; 1900, 1450. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source, including ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Knock Free Church
History— The minister and congregation of this Parliamentary Church in the parish of Stornoway "came out" at the Disruption. The church and manse were built in 1845. A new and larger church was built in 1882. About two–thirds of the congregation did not enter the Union in 1900. Membership: 1855, 800; 1900, 1700. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details may be given in the source, including ministers.

Records— The extent of records is unknown.

Return to Ross &amp; Cromarty parish list.