Alloa Nonconformist Church Records

Alloa First Associate, Anti-burgher Church, later Townhead United Presbyterian
History—

About 1738, the Seceders in and about Alloa adhered to the Associate Presbytery and were attached to a congregation at Stirling. In 1746 they were disjoined and formed into a separate congregation. At the breach in 1747, the majority of the congregation adhered to the General Associate, Antiburgher Synod. Following the forced settlement of an unpopular new minister in the parish church of Alloa in 1750, many of the parishioners withdrew from the Established Church and joined with the recently-formed Alloa General Associate congregation. This congregation joined the United Presbyterian Synod in 1847.

Membership: 1788, 512; 1791, 376. This is from the Statistical Account of c.1795. (By 1840, according to the New Statistical Account of Scotland, the membership was 300 families and 1350 persons.)

Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details are given in the source.

Records—

There are no known early records.

Minutes 1851–1871 Note: Available at the Stirling Council Archives, Stirling, Scotland, record CH3/1057.

Alloa West, or Bedford Place Burgher Church, later Second United Presbyterian
History— In 1765, due to the settlement of an unpopular new minister, a number of persons resident in Alloa applied to the Associate Burgher Presbytery of Dunfermline for regular supply of sermon, which was granted. Membership: 1788, 392; 1791, 263. This is from the Statistical Account of c.1795. (By 1840, according to the New Statistical Account of Scotland, the membership was 200 families and 850 persons.)

Source: Annals and Statistics of the United Presbyterian Church, by Rev. William MacKelvie, D.D., pub. 1873. Film #477618. More details are given in the source.

Records— Various Minutes 1765, 1769–1963 Communion Rolls 1779–1792, 1853–1958 Correspondence 1838–1920 Note: Available at the Stirling Council Archives, Stirling, Scotland, record CH3/613.

Alloa Burgher, later East Free Church Congregation
History— This congregation, of the Original Associate Burgher Synod, may have been founded about 1809. It joined the Church of Scotland in 1839 when quoad sacra parish designation was assigned to it as the east parish of Alloa. The congregation adhered to the Free Church in 1843. Membership: 1841, 750; 333 communicants (from Statistical Account of 1840-1); 1848, 233; 1900, 182. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details are given in the source.

Records— Minutes 1809–1909 Accounts 1830–1854 Note: Available at the Stirling Council Archives, Stirling, Scotland, record CH3/1227.

Alloa West Free Church, later Chalmers Church of Scotland
History— The minister of Alloa did not adhere to the Free Church in 1843. Those parishioners who did formed a Free Church congregation and built a place of worship. This congregation became a United Free church in 1900 and rejoined the Church of Scotland in 1929. Membership: 1848, 430; 1900, 423. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details are given in the source.

Records— Minutes 1843–1970 Note: Available at the Stirling Council Archives, Stirling, Scotland, record CH3/1263.

Tullibody Free Church
History— This congregation dates from the Disruption in 1843. Membership: 1848, 200; 1900, 167. Source: Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, 1843–1900, ed. Rev. William Ewing, D.D., 2 vols. pub. 1914. Film #918572. More details are given in the source.

Records— Minutes 1843–1881 Accounts 1840–1888 Deacons’ Court Minutes 1844–1902 Church Door Collections 1843–1847 Note: Available at the Stirling Council Archives, Stirling, Scotland, record CH3/655.

Alloa Congregational Church
History— This church was formed in 1810. Of its early history nothing is known. A chapel was built in Castle Street in 1839. The congregation joined the Evangelical Union in 1844 but ceased by 1855. (By 1840, according to the New Statistical Account, the membership was 80 families and 300 persons.)

Source: A History of Scottish Congregationalism, by Harry Escott. Glasgow: Congregational Union of Scotland, 1960; FS Library British Book 941 K2es.

Records— The extent of records is unknown. For more information write to: The United Reformed Church, Scottish Synod Office PO Box 189 240 Cathedral Street Glasgow G1 2BX Scotland

Alloa Baptist Church
History— In 1838, some members of the Stirling Baptist Church formed the Alloa Baptist Church. The congregation purchased a former Episcopal chapel for their church. This congregation is not mentioned in the New Statistical Account of Scotland for 1840-1.

Source: The Baptists in Scotland, edited By D. W. Beddington, Glasgow: Baptist Union of Scotland. FS Library British Book 941 K2bs.

Records— The extent of records is unknown. For more information write to: The Baptist Union of Scotland 12 Aytoun Road Glasgow G41 5RT Scotland

Alloa Episcopal Church
History— No history is available. A new chapel was erected in 1939. Membership: 1788, 52; 1791, 32. This is from the Statistical Account of c.1795. By 1840, according to the New Statistical Account, the membership included 79 families.

Records— Registers of Christenings and Marriages 1775–1854 Registers of Burials 1839–1854 Note: The records may still be in the hands of the minister. For information write to: St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church c/o 18 Alexandra Drive Alloa FK19 2DQ Scotland

Alloa Roman Catholic Church
History— Prior to 1838 there were 62 Catholic familes, consisting of 112 individuals, residing in the parish, but most moved away, perhaps to Stirling. A church opened in 1850. The congregation was earlier served from Stirling. Source: Catholic Missions and Registers, 1700–1880, volume 6, 'Scotland,' by Michael Gandy, pub. 1993. FS Library Brit Ref. Book 942 K24gm, vol. 6. Also the New Statistical Account of Scotland for 1840-1 (see the parish history above).

Records— There are no pre-1855 records. See Stirling, Stirlingshire for earlier records.

Other Churches
While the New Statistical Account mentions congregations of Methodists and New Jerusalemites, no information is available for these. Together, they were stated then to have about 75 members.

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