Glenshiel, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland

Parish # 67

History
The district of Kintail, which formerly constituted a parish of that name, was, about a century ago, divided into two parishes, to one of which the original name of the district is named, while the other is named Glensheil. There are different interpretations of the name Glensheil, namely; the glen of cattle (Glenshelibh,) of hunting, (Glenshelig,) or of rain (Glensshlidh,) any of which describes the locality.

The parish is bounded, on the north, by the arm of the sea called Lochduich, which divides it from the parishes of Lochalsh and Kintail, and the river Croe; on the east, by the parishes of Kiltarlity, Urquhart, and Kilmanivaig; on the south, by the parish of Glenelg; and on the west by the strait of Kylerea which divides it from Skye.

The nearest market town is Inverness, which is about 80 miles distance.

Of the history of this parish, little is known of an earlier date than the middle of the thirteenth century. About this period, Colin Fitzgerald, the founder of the family of Seaforth, received from Alexander III the governorship of Castle Donan in Kintail, in reward, it is said, of his conduct at the battle of Largs.

The whole lands of this parish, as well as of the neighboring parishes of Kintail and Lochalsh, were possessed by the family of Seaforth.

The population of the parish in 1801 was 710, and in 1831 the population was 715. Of interest of the people in the parish it is said that the male inhabitants have long been remarkable for the personal qualities of great size, strength, activity, and courage; the females, for beauty and gracefulness, and both for an extraordinary taste for the cultivation of poetry and music.

The parish church is situated near the eastern part of Letterfearn, and is about eight miles from the western extremity of the parish. It was built in 1758, being the first church erected in this parish. It affords accommodation for about 300 sitters. The whole inhabitants belong to the Established Church, with the exception of a few shepherds from the south of Scotland, who are seceders, and about 30 Roman Catholics.

This account was written November 1836.

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.

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:There are separate records of births for each of about twenty districts into which the parish was divided; only a few of them are prior to 1801. Most of them are irregular and incomplete. Source: Key to the Parochial Registers of Scotland, by V. Ben Bloxham, pub. 1970. British Book 941 K23b.

Established Church—Kirk Session Records
Minutes with Accounts and Communion Rolls 1831–1948 Note: Available at the National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh, record CH2/1203.

Glenshiel Free Church
History— A catechist was appointed to the district of Kintail and Glenshiel in 1852. The following year a church was built in Kintail, conveniently placed for people in both parishes. In 1858 these districts were placed under the care of the minister of Lochalsh. Owing to considerable accessions to the congregation at Glenshiel, a church there became necessary in 1864. The charge was sanctioned in 1866 and a minister was settled in 1867. Membership:1868, 400; 1900, 14. 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.