Selkirk, Selkirkshire, Scotland Genealogy

Selkirk (#778)

Condition of Original Registers—
Index: For an index to these records, see the Scottish Church Records Index on computer at the Family History Library and family history centers. Some records may be indexed in the International Genealogical Index. Births: Mother's names are not recorded until January 1700. Marriages: The record prior to March 1700 is intermixed with births for the same period. Seven entries mutilated at 1719. Deaths: Burials; first page is nearly illegible. The record 1667–1670 was kept by an incompetent person, probably the sexton. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

St. Mary’s
Minutes and Accounts 1700–1776, 1823–1986 Minutes of Certificates Received 1823–1835 Treasurers’ Accounts 1828–1907 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/1380.

Selkirk Associate Congregation Burgher First United Presbyterian Church
History— Many inhabitants of the neighboring parishes of Yarrow and Ettrick dissented from the Revolution settlement of 1689 and withdrew from attending the Established Church. A formal accession to the Associate Presbytery took place in April 1738. The place chosen for the meeting was at Inner Huntlee on the Ettrick, parish of Yarrow, and sermon was continued there and at other places in the district until 1742, when a minister was settled in Midholm, and the Seceders in the widely surrounding district were included in his congregation. At the Breach, the Seceders in the parishes of Selkirk, Ashkirk, Ettrick, and Yarrow, adhered generally to the Associate Burgher, while those in Bowden and other parishes to the east and north adhered more extensively to the General Associate Anti-burgher Synod. The latter retained the property, which had been common to both, and the former raised an action at law to recover it from them. The action was decided in favor of the former, on the ground of their being the majority. The unacceptability of the minister in Selkirk had increased the number of Associate Seceders in that parish; and with a view to accommodate those and others to the west, it was proposed to have a place of worship there and another in Midholm for the accommodation of those towards the east and north, with one minister to supply both. They began accordingly to meet in Selkirk and Midholm alternately, and continued to do so, but without proceeding to build a church in either place until 1758, when the person under call to be their minister refused to submit to ordination unless the seat of the congregation was in one place only, and his ministerial services were confined to it. Selkirk was then preferred, and a church built there. This was superseded by another in 1805. 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 1751–1835 Note of Expenses of Communion 1776–1779 Minutes 1835–1842, 1844, 1 loose minute, 1847–1905 Managers' Minutes 1805–1926 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH3/1229.

Selkirk Second Church, extinct
History— This congregation originated with members of the congregation of Midholm, resident in the parishes of Selkirk and Yarrow, who, being desirous of having a place of worship in their own connection more conveniently situated for them than the one they were accustomed to attend, applied to the Presbytery to be formed into a separate congregation, with its seat in Selkirk, which was allowed in 1813. Before obtaining a fixed pastor, the congregation called Mr. Cranstoun, who was appointed by the Synod to Morebattle. After the minister's resignation in 1825, the greater part of the congregation connected themselves with the other United Associate congregation in Selkirk. The remainder, about 20 in number, connected themselves with the Original Seceders. One of these purchased the place of worship, and had it supplied for a time with ministers of the denomination with which he had connected himself, but the cause not meeting with success, was abandoned. 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— Extent of records is unknown.

Selkirk West Church
History— This congregation was formed by a disjunction from the First congregation. When the call to Mr. John Lawson, afterwards fifth minister of the First congregation, Selkirk, was laid on the Presbytery table, 16 July 1850, there were presented at the same time a petition and remonstrance, signed by 233 members and 64 ordinary hearers, against sustaining the call, and praying the Presbytery, in the event of the call being sustained, to take steps immediately for forming them into a separate congregation. The Presbytery complied with the request of both parties, by sustaining the call presented by the one party, and relieving the other from concurring with it, by forming them into a separate congregation. Church built, 1850. Alterations made in 1871. 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— Extent of records is unknown.

Selkirk Free Church
History— The congregation was organized in 1843 by John Thomson, formerly minister of Shettleston. They worshiped at first in the Odd fellows Hall; and, in summer, under a great oak tree on the Haining estate. The church was built in 1844. Mrs. Douglas of the Haining, a member of the congregation, donated the necessary timber, and Mr. Mitchell of Philipaugh carted the material without charge. The manse was erected in 1848. Membership: 1848, 300; 1900, 348. 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— Extent of records is unknown.

Selkirk Evangelical Churches
History— The church in Selkirk traces its remote origin to the labors of a small band of earnest evangelists known at Cavers Missioners. The church was formed in March 1842 of twenty-two members from Melrose Church. At that time the congregation met for worship in Chapel Street Hall. In 1858, Sir John Murray, who had become a Congregationalist, gifted to the church an Episcopal Chapel which he had built on the Philiphaugh Estate. Until 1871, the Selkirk Church had been Congregational, though its sympathies from the first were of a Morisonian character, but in that year the congregation was formally connected with the Evangelical Union. In 1878, there was among the members a difference of opinion regarding Bible instruction in school which unhappily led to a split in the membership. The seceders formed a second church in May 1878 known as Chapel Street or Thorniehall, in connection with the Evangelical Union. A new church was opened in June 1885. In 1917 Thorniehall Church, then without a pastor, successfully approached the Philiphaugh Church with a view to union under one pastor. This arrangement continued until 1930, when it was decided to use one church building. As the result of a vote, Thorniehall was chosen as the place of worship. In 1951, Philiphaugh Church was converted into a hall–cum–church by voluntary labor. Source: A History of Scottish Congregationalism, by Harry Escott. Glasgow: Congregational Union of Scotland, 1960. FHL British Book 941 K2es. Source contains a list of minister.

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

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