Haddingtonshire parish churches 19th Century

[jessden]

I see from Jill's post yesterday that she has marriage certificates showing 19th century marriages conducted in East Fenton by the (presumably) Church of Scotland Minister of Dirleton.  Perhaps I should mention that this does not imply that the marriage took place in a church, chapel or other place of worship. Many marriages in 19th century Scotland were held in someone's home - sometimes in the minister's manse.  The minister probably came to East Fenton and conducted the ceremony in one of the ordinary buildings or homes that were available there.

Jessie

[RJ_Paton]

I see from Jill's post yesterday that she has marriage certificates showing 19th century marriages conducted in East Fenton by the (presumably) Church of Scotland Minister of Dirleton.  Perhaps I should mention that this does not imply that the marriage took place in a church, chapel or other place of worship. Many marriages in 19th century Scotland were held in someone's home - sometimes in the minister's manse.  The minister probably came to East Fenton and conducted the ceremony in one of the ordinary buildings or homes that were available there.

Jessie

A good point  it would have been extremely unusual for a ceremony for an ordinary family to have been conducted in the actual church given the presbyterian attitudes towards the limited uses of the church building.

The practice wasn't confined to the 19th or earlier centuries and was the norm until well into the 20th Century - the most common places of marriage were either the brides home or the ministers own home.

[JillStatton]

.... given the Presbyterian attitudes toward the limited uses of the church building.

Good grief - what better use of a church than to sanctify marriage?
What exactly were the limited uses of the church which were acceptable to Presbyterians?

But point taken - my later marriages were definitely in private homes but the earlier ones in 1860's just state East Fenton, or in 1837 merely Dirleton.

However, I would assume my people were actually permitted to attend church services in the parish church so I am still interested in the parish church of Dirleton, or the Dirleton kirk.

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

Jill

If anything comes photograph wise up on the other site i mentioned i'll let you know.

Is there anything in Berwickshire you may need at all? I have quite a collection of images around the Border towns if you need anything.

Glen

[JillStatton]

Thanks Glen,

Don't suppose you have any pics to do with Socttish ploughmen or their implements?

Moving on a generation, grandfather James Smith EDINGTON, prior to emigrating, was living at home in 1901 at Nether Hailes Farm Cottage in Prestonkirk.  Have not yet followed this up, but local knowledge and pics might be a big help, or do I need to start a new thread for this?

[Glen in Tinsel Kni]

Thanks Glen,

Don't suppose you have any pics to do with Socttish ploughmen or their implements?

Moving on a generation, grandfather James Smith EDINGTON, prior to emigrating, was living at home in 1901 at Nether Hailes Farm Cottage in Prestonkirk.  Have not yet followed this up, but local knowledge and pics might be a big help, or do I need to start a new thread for this?

Nothing for Prestonkirk area at the moment i'm afraid,

Ploughmen and implements......although it might be a few weeks (Easter?)  before they open for the season proper again the local "big house" has turned the old stable block into a museum with assorted farm equipment from the period. I'll pop down with the camera one weekend and have a look.

[JillStatton]

That would be wonderful, Glen.  Thanks

[RJ_Paton]

What exactly were  the limited uses of the church which were acceptable to Presbyterians?

Basically the early Presbyterians/Calvinists appear to have used their church buildings purely for worship and while Christenings fell under this general heading Marriages did not.

Whether this was anything to do with the separation of Church and marriage under Scots Law in the 16th century I don't know but the attitude of the Church today is miles from where it was even in the early 1900's.

[JillStatton]

Well I'll be...!   Thanks for that Falkyrn.