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Description |
This catalogue lists heritors' records transmitted to the National Records of Scotland in terms of Statutory Rules and Orders issued under the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Act, 1925 (15 & 16 Geo.5, c.33), s.44, together with a few accessions from other sources.
Cross-references to the catalogue of Church of Scotland records (CH2) have been given where applicable. Business was, however, often of mutual interest to the kirk session and heritors, and for this reason, the two catalogues should be used in conjunction with each other. |
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Admin
history |
Information on the qualifications and responsibilities of heritors, and on methods of assessment according to old valued rent or real rent, may be found in Duncan's 'Parochial Ecclesiastical Law of Scotland' (revised by Johnston), (Edinburgh, 1903) and similar works. Briefly, heritors' responsibilities may be listed as (1) provision and maintenance of suitable buildings for worship; (2) supply to the minister of stipend, manse, glebe, and allowances for Communion; (3) arrangements for parish education until the Education Act, 1872; (4) poor relief in association with the kirk session, and after 1845, representation on the parochial board; (5) churchyards and burial grounds; (6) service as statute labour road trustees. The powers and duties of the heritors were extinguished by the 1925 Act. Heritors' expenditure was met by assessment, and assessment rolls prior to the Lands Valuation Act, 1854, are often found in the heritors' minute books. In addition, localities of stipend and lists of inhabitants and poor persons within the parish are regularly entered in the minute books in the period before 1855. |