Other ministers of the Parish

George Mackay the successor of George Brodie was his son-in-law. He was the eldest son of John Mackay of Achness. He was licensed by Presbytery Of Tongue in July 1738 and ordained to the Eddrachillis charge in April 1741. He died 18^th June that same year.

William Henderson was born 1705, son of John Henderson a schoolmaster at Knockbreck, Durness. He was educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen from 1725-29 . He was licensed by Presbytery of Tongue in Nov. 1732, and ordained by the Presbytery of Dornoch in Aug. 1736, as a missionary within their bounds. He was admitted to the Eddrachillis charge in Aug. 1742. He died after a long illness on 19th May 1743. He was unmarried.

John Munro was born in Uist, about 1708, the son of Captain Robert Munro of Eriboll, who was in Dunbarton’s Regiment. He was educated at King’s College, Aberdeen where he graduated M.A. in 1728. He was first chaplain in the family of George, Lord Reay and thereafter was licensed by the Presbytery of Tongue in Aug. 1732 and ordained to South Uist in Jan. 1737. He was translated and admitted to Eddrachillis in June 1744. He died 13^th Feb 1755. Two of his sons, George and Hugh were ministers in Uist and Lewis respectively. 

John Mackay was licensed by the Presbytery of Edinburgh in Oct. 1755 and ordained to the Eddrachillis charge by the Presbytery of Tongue in Jan. 1756. He was called and translated by the Presbytery to the Tongue charge in May 1762. It was difficult to get a quorum for the Presbytery that day as Hugh Morrison relates: 

Lord and Lady Reay were very anxious to get Mr Mackay settled, and it is not a little amusing at this time of day to read of the means used to get a quorum of Presbytery. Writing at Ribigill, in Tongue, on the 15th May 1762, Mr Macdonald says, “On my arrival at Port Chamil (west side of Loch-Eriboll) I found an express with a letter from Mr George Munro, entreating me to come to Tongue, as our correspondent from the Presbytery of Dornoch, without whom there could not be a quorum, would come no further. In the letter there was, by order of the Grandees here, a boat to be sent for me next day, but finding myself greatly the worse of my walk to Port Chamail, I returned the express who was to be at Tongue in such time as might hinder the offered boat from setting out. In expectation whereof, I went the next day to Island Chorie, to which place notwithstanding all my precautions, the boat came at night with a feather bed and blankets for my accommodation at sea from Lady Reay, together with a second letter from the minister of Farr earnestly pressing me to come over all impediments to the Presbytery’s seat, by the positive orders of said Lady in absence of her Lord. However surprising and disconcerting this new command was, finding the sea so very mild on the morning of Wednesday, I came off early and before 12 o’clock we arrived at Tongue.

He died in Dec 1768. It is said in the Fasti (vol 7, p110) that he was of a weak and sickly constitution, and unable to labour efficiently in the parish. He was said to be a “preacher of the first order, and Lord Reay used to observe ‘that for preaching, praying, and singing, he could match the Presbytery [of Tongue] with any other in Scotland’” (Gaelic Soc. of Inverness, Vol. 11, p310).

Alexander Falconer was born in Inverness in 1730. He was educated at King’s College, Aberdeen, graduating with M.A. in April 1750. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Dalkeith in Aug. 1757 and ordained a missionary at Fort Augustus June 1758. He is mentioned in the Diary of James Calder in the entry for 31^st Dec. 1762: “I was helped to plead, in a wrestling, importunate, believing way, for my own soul, for each of my children and servants, for some of my friends, for many of my worthy brethren in the ministry, and for some young divines, students and candidates for the ministry, particularly Mr. Alex. Falconer, Mr. Ja. Hay Park, Mr. George Rainy, and Mr. Lewis Fraser.” He was ordained to the Eddrachillis charge in July 1763. He died 14th May 1802. He was the grandfather of Dr Mackintosh Mackay of Dunoon. He had a legal dispute with Lord Reay concerning the taking the seaweed from in front of his glebe. He took out an action in the Court of Session but lost his case, the Court finding “that he had no right to the sea ware upon the shore of his glebe, except for the purpose of manuring his land and feeding his cattle.”

Mr Hew Morrison, from Rev Murdo Macdonald’s diary, wrote concerning three of the ministers which followed George Brodie.

Mr Brodie was succeeded by Mr George Mackay, one of the clan Abrach, a branch of the clan Mackay, who possessed Achness at the north end of Loch Naver in Sutherland. His was a short ministry, extending to less than two months. It was supposed that his sickness and death were brought about by a reputed witch whose daughter Mr Mackay had reproved in the severest manner. Mr Macdonald, who attended the funeral, and makes lengthy remarks on the case, says “In short never was a scene of more opposite circumstances within the compass of my knowledge, and I think the case has hardly a parallel in history or experience.”

Mr Mackay was succeeded by Mr William Henderson, who died within a year of his ordination. The next was Mr John Munro, a native of Uist, who was ordained at Tongue in 1743 and died in 1755.

Of these two, and of the next incumbent, Mr Falconer, who was a native of Inverness, Mr Macdonald does not make frequent mention. Shortly after Mr Falconer’s arrival from Fort-Augustus, where he had previously acted as missionary, he visited the manse of Durness, and the minister says “That he promises to be an agreeable member of society, and fit in body and mind for the pastoral charge designed to him.” Gaelic Soc. of Inverness, Vol. 11, p301-302.

John Mackenzie was born in 1759. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Tain in 1792. He was ordained a missionary in Kincardine and Creich in 1797 and translated to Eddrachillis in 1802. Concerning his ministry nothing positive has come down to us. Dr Kennedy, in The Days of the Fathers in Ross-shire wrote concerning a communion in Kinlochbervie during Mr Mackenzie’s time as parish minister: 

The Sacrament of the Supper was dispensed at Kinlochbervie, while he [John Kennedy] was missionary in the district. The only minister present with him on that occasion was the parish clergyman. The less that would be given him to do, the better pleased would he himself and all others be, and so the whole burden of the service was left upon the missionary.

In 1824 a libel was brought before the Presbytery of Tongue, Donald Lamont appearing on behalf of many in the congregation and others who had an interest in it. The signatories were: George Campbell, teacher; Hector Morrison and Donald Morrison, Badcall (elders); Donald MacKay, Shegra; Murdo MacLeod; Donald Lamont; John MacKenzie, Achrisgle; Murdo MacKay; Hugh Ross, Scouriemore; Neil MacKay, Scouriemore; Roderick MacKenzie, parish catechist; George Ross, schoolmaster of Eddrachillis; Rev. Donald Gordon; Ralph Reid, Esq., Scouriebeg; Robert MacKay, S.P.C.K. teacher, Oldshorebeg; Mrs. Donald MacKay, Shegra [known as the Woman of Great Faith]; Hugh MacKay, tacksman, Sandwood; Robert MacKay, Midtown, Melness; Francis MacBain; Gaelic schoolmaster, Edinburgh; Rev. Robert Clark, Duke Street, Glasgow; Angus MacKay, S.P.C.K. teacher, Ru Stoer; Captain Hugh Clark, Achumore; Captain William Scobie, Ardvar; Mrs. Scobie (wife of preceding); Kenneth Scobie (son); John MacKenzie, student in divinity.
In 1825 Mr Mackenzie wrote to the Presbytery stating that in order to sist proceedings he offered that £50 of his stipend for the next three years would be paid to an assistant [Mr Gordon] and this satisfied those who had brought the libel against him and the matter was then dropped.
After Mr Gordon’s departure for Stoer in 1829, the congregation, now reduced in number by the newly instigated quoad sacra parish of Kinlochbervie, were again greatly concerned with the situation in being left under the ministry of Mr Mackenzie, and in May 1831, Mr Hector Morrison, elder from Badcall, and Hugh Ross, tenant in Scourie, appeared before the Presbytery at Tongue with another petition concerning Mr Mackenzie – a complaint of his moral character and petition for a Presbyterial visitation:

Unto the Reverend, the Presbytery of Tongue, this complaint and petition of elders, and heads of families in the parish of Eddrachillis,
Humbly sheweth,
That your petitioners feel themselves imperiously called upon from a duty they owe to themselves and their families, as well as the cause of religion in the parish, to state, and which they do with sincere regret, that the moral character of our parish minister, the Reverend John Mackenzie, is much traduced by various reports circulating to his prejudice which are now become common fama; that in consequence of the incidences of these reports, the public ordinances of religion are much neglected, so that in a population of about 600 souls, and at no great distance from the parish church, scarcely above a score are found entering the church on Sabbath days; that for several years there has been a total neglect of several official duties incumbent upon him as a parish minister, such as catechising, holding of kirk sessions and the discipline of the church, as well as want of public preaching for several successive Sabbaths without any cause whatsoever assigned for it; that although the reports circulating against his character, and his neglect of public official duties, might form subjects for libel, yet we do not feel ourselves at present called upon to specify them in that shape; that while we feel disposed to make every candid allowance for the infirmities of age, and that these reports may in some cases be exaggerated, still their existence is cause of much regret and injurious to the cause of religion and ought to be early enquired into and investigated by the Presbytery, otherwise they will occasion a laxity of morals and indifference to public ordinances in the parish which may take many years to suppress.
May it therefore please the Reverend Presbytery, to take the above into their serious and consideration, and with their earliest convenience appoint a Presbyterial visitation of their parish according as the laws of the church direct in such cases, and your Petitioners as are duty bound shall ever pray —
Signed: Donald Morrison, elder; Hugh Ross; Hector Morrison, elder; Donald Lamont; Hugh Ross, Neil Mackay; Murdoch Mackay, John Mackenzie; Donald Mackenzie, Donald Macleod; Murdoch Mackay; George Mackay; Hugh Morrison
To the Reverend, the Moderator of the Presbytery of Tongue, to be communicated.

The crave of the Petition was granted and a date assigned for a Presbyterial visitation at Badcall the following month. At that Presbytery a letter was received from Mr Mackenzie stating that he was willing for an assistant and successor to be appointed. At this proposal the Petitioners withdrew their petition. Four months later George Tulloch, missionary at Eriboll, was ordained as his assistant and successor. Mr Mackenzie died in 1837.

The Commissioners for Religious Instruction, Scotland in their 1837 Report listed both men as ministers, George Tulloch as the assistant and successor. The Report of the parish is as follows:

The parish: Greatest length, about 16 miles. Greatest breadth, about 11 miles. From the hilly nature of the surface, the area could not be stated. Not original, but disjoined from the parish of Durness, about the year 1724, by authority of the Court of Teinds. Single, and landward; and the population dispersed over the country. A portion of the parish was erected into a parish quoad sacra, and annexed to the Government church of Kinlochbervie in 1829. The boundary between this parish and Kinlochbervie had not been precisely fixed, but it was understood that it would be the river Laxford.

The nearest boundary of the perish, which is the seashore, is distant from the church only a few hundred yards. The furthest boundary, which is to the southeast, at Glencoul, about 16 miles.

The population of the parish, quoad civilia, including Kinlochbervie, by census of1831, 1965 . Present population, quoad sacra, 745. All belong to the Established Church. All of the poor and working classes, with the exception of two families. The number was returned according to a census taken by the minister, or by individuals in whom he had confidence.

Those included among the poor and working classes, generally rent crofts or lots, the average rent of which is from L3 to L.4. The produce of these, joined to what they earn from fishing and kelp manufacture, form the means of their subsistence.

The population chiefly consists of fishermen and agriculturists. The part of the parish lying to the south of the parish church, toward Glencoul, is a sheep-walk in the possession of one tenant, and inhabited by a few shepherds.

The congregation: The average attendance during the summer, from 300 to 400. During winter, from 200 to 300. All the parishioners who are capable, are in the habit of attending the parish church, although those most distant can come but seldom in winter. From 20 to 40 non-parishioners occasionally come in good weather from the nearest part of the parish of Assynt. Stationary for the last five years. All of the poor and working classes, two families excepted.

Number of communicants, about 70. All parishioners. On sacramental occasions, many of the communicants of the neighbouring parishes attend. No material change in the numbers within the last five years. Poor and working classes as above.

The situation of the population, with reference to the parish church, was as follows:—

1. In Badcall and around Scourie Bay, which both lie to the west and north of the parish church, a population of about 508 are collected, who have easy access to it.

2. There are 10 families resident in the island of Handa, whose distance from the parish church is about four miles and a half, two of which are by water. In bad weather they can cross, unless when it is extremely rough, at a point where the channel is about 400 yards broad; but in that case, they have a walk of about five miles to the parish church,

3. From Tarbet along the coast, to the north of the island of Handa, and along the shore of Loch Laxford to Badnabay, there are 17 families in different townships, whose distance is on an average from 6 to 7 miles. The road for 24 miles is along the highway, but the rest is rough, except for a few families.

4. Across the country, in Achfaary, the next township, and in the other hamlets along the banks of Lochmore, there are five families, the nearest of whom to the parish church is about 11 miles, and the furthest about 16, Their road is along rough hills, and across streams which are sometimes quite impassable. There is no made road to that district. Six other families lie, from Glencoul and Glen Dhue, at the head of Loch Dhue, along the shore; of whom the most distant are those at Glencoul, who are 16 miles, and the nearest those at Duartbeg, who are about 3 & 1/2 miles from the parish church,

One family at Glencoul, and perhaps those at Glen Dhue, are more contiguous to the parish church of Assynt than to their own parish church.

None of the parishioners usually attend public worship out of the bounds of the parish.

The Parish church: Total sittings, at 18 inches, about 275. There are, besides, two forms in the passages. The seats, after having been put in by the heritor of the parish, were sold by him to the tenants; and from that time, the parishioners have been in the custom of regarding them as their private property. No seats are specially set apart for the poor, but they have no difficulty in finding accommodation. The difference between the attendance in summer and the accommodation, was explained by the people crowding into the seats, and standing in the passages.

Collections
The ordinary collections are applied to the support of the poor, together with L2 a-year contributed for the same purpose by the heritor. The extraordinary collections were in aid of various religious societies.

The annual stipend is L150, of which there is from teinds and mortification, L46, 13s. 4d., and from the Exchequer, L103, 6s. 8d.

The minister stated, that he understood that when the parish was separated from Durness, the General Assembly directed a collection to be made throughout Scotland, the produce of which being given to the Reay family, they became bound to pay a certain sum of interest to the three ministers of Eddrachillis, Duress, and Tongue. From an old document which the minister has seen, it appears that the amount payable from the teinds is L180 Scots; the remainder, paid by the heritor, he presumes, is the produce of the mortgage.

There is a manse and glebe; the annual value of the latter about L20.

The minister only officiates in the parish church except when engaged in catechising, and then in the remote townships.

A teacher, Donald Ross, in the employment of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, was requested by the families, six years ago, to act among them as catechist, for which he receives from them about L2 annually. . He has charge of the whole civil parish of Eddrachillis.

There are no Sabbath schools; but readings of the Scriptures take place on the Sunday evenings, at which a great part of the population, young and old, usually assemble. These are conducted in some places by elders, and in others by properly qualified persons.

The minister states, that he is prevented by distance, bad roads, and the sea, when stormy, from extending his week-day superintendence to the whole of the parishioners; and that the same causes deprive the poor and working classes of the means of public worship, religious instruction, and pastoral superintendence.

None are prevented from attending public worship for want of accommodation, though the church, from it smallness, is overcrowded.

The minister states, that the situation of the families lying in the neighbourhood of Lochmore, renders it difficult for them to come to the parish church, and for the minister to give them the usual week-day superintendence; and he suggests that, for these, a missionary: should be provided, as they are too. few, and too much scattered, to be formed into, or. compose part of a new parish. The missionary might: take charge of a number of families in the neighbouring parishes of Kinlochbervie, Lairg, and Durness, which. are similarly situated.