Firth & Stennes, Orkney, Scotland Genealogy

Parish #17

History
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.

Condition of Original Registers—
Indexed: 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: Stennes registers are incomplete throughout, especially 1745–1747 and 1750–1752 inclusive. Firth has only one entry May 1782–May 1785 and is very incomplete 1787–1817. Marriages: Stennes has no entries 1761–1765. Firth has no notations. Deaths: Stennes has only 31 entries prior to 1818. Firth has no notations. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes 1732–1945 Note: Available on Film at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, records CH2/1089 and CH2/1102.

Firth United Presbyterian Church
History— Firth and Stennis form a united parish in the island of Pomona, or the mainland of Orkney. The population in 1831 was 1200, of whom about 450 resided in Firth. The United Associate Presbytery of Orkney fixed upon this place as a mission station in 1835 and located Mr. William Jameson as a missionary there. He subsequently died in Old Calabar and other missionaries succeeded him until the congregation obtained a settled minister. Despite many difficulties and obstacles, the station prospered. The people built a place of worship in 1839. Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details may be given in the source.

Records— Minutes 1844–1911 Note: Available on Film at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/1093.

Firth and Stennes Free Church
History— William Malcolm, minister of Firth, "came out" at the Disruption in 1843 and a church was created that year. Stennes was disjoined from Firth at the Disruption. A church was built and the charge sanctioned in 1844. Upon the minister's removal in 1874 it was reduced to a preaching station. Firth Membership: 1848, 191; 1900, 153. Stennes Membership: 1848, 180. 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.

Records— Firth, St. John's - Minutes 1843–1945 Deacons' Court Minutes 1845–1911, 1852–1880 - scroll Other Post–1855 Records Note: Available on Film at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/1094.

Stennes Free Church Mission
Baptisms 1844–1867, 1919–1933 Other Post–1855 Records Note: Available on Film at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/1113 or RH4/83/63. The original records are available at Orkney Archives at Kirkwall, Orkney. The baptisms for 1844–1855, as well as some earlier entries for 1836–1843, are also available online at: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/meg.greenwood/

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