Genealogy Chat

I was brought up in a small village in Skye. We (and most families) had our own pew and no-one was rich. However, the church was built by the local men and that was the reason. Prior to building the church services were held in open air (Free Presbyterian split from Free Church and Church of Scotland). My mother, b. 1929, remembers services outside because of the numbers attending - usually the children were left outside and behaved perfectly! Fear of the Minister's wrath I reckon. Anyway, this same church (100 yrs old in 1999) is now disused, how times have changed.

Same way you get to the House of Lords these days - Envelope full of cash. Bob

I think this was for the rich people, and certainly those families who owned the 'living', ie appointed the vicar. nell

Browsing some parish records, I came across an entry saying (my modern translation) .....It is ordered by the Minister and 24 of Elsdon Parish that Mr Edward Laing of Hill shall erect and Build a pew as broad as Wm Armorers joining to the said Wm Armorers pew and the pillar on the other end ... (this is 1719). I have often seen nameplates on pews in old churches & till now never wondered just who had them. Any ideas anyone? Just occurred to me its another way of tracking a family's presence in an area.

Just wondering who got their own (named) pews in churches? Anyone - or only those rich enough to afford it? see below