Old photograph of the church on St Kilda, Scotland. St Kilda was a registration district in its own right, and the minister or the school teacher acted as local registrar, recording births, deaths and marriages. The longest served was the Reverend John McKay, from 1865 until 1889. For most of its history, the St Kildans were without a resident minister. Baptisms and marriages were performed annually by the chaplain who would visit Hirta with the proprietor’s steward. Rents and teinds were collected at the same time. The first resident missionary was Alexander Buchan, appointed in 1705 to combat the surviving " popish " practises and the general ignorance of the population. Between 1830 and 1844, the missionary and teacher on St Kilda was Neil Mackenzie. Under his care, the islanders became ardent church goers, attending church daily, except for Monday and Saturday, and twice on Sunday. Attendance at every service was compulsory for everyone over the age of 2 years, unless unwell. He also made strenuous efforts to help his people to improve their living conditions, introducing the idea of legs to raise tables from the floor and walls to keep livestock away from crops. The minister remained apart from the people and, as he was the only English speaker, they depended on him to enable them to communicate with the outside world. In 1846, following two years without religious instruction and a visit to the island by a Free Church Deputy, all 103 inhabitants of St Kilda declared their adherence to the Free Church. Between 1865 and 1889, the minister John McKay saw to it that Sundays on St Kilda included three church services, no work and no conversation, only recitation from the bible was permitted. He also established church governance on the island, appointing two elders. His successor, Angus Fiddes, was the last ordained clergyman on St Kilda. He fulfilled the roles of both minister and teacher.
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Tour Scotland photographs and videos from my tours of Scotland. Photography and videography, both old and new, from beautiful Scotland, Scottish castles, seascapes, rivers, islands, landscapes, standing stones, lochs and glens.
Tour Scotland Video Train Ride On The Morayshire Steam Locomotive Bo'ness
Tour Scotland video of a train ride on the Morayshire steam locomotive in Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland. Designed by Gresley and built at the LNER Darlington Works in 1928, Morayshire is the only surviving member of 76 Shires. Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley, born 19 June 1876, died 5 April 1941, was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway. He was the designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives in Britain, including the LNER Class A1 and LNER Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific engines. An A1 pacific, Flying Scotsman, was the first steam locomotive officially recorded over 100 mph in passenger service, and an A4, number 4468 Mallard, still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world at 126 mph.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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Tour Scotland April Video Golfers Golf Course Elie East Neuk of Fife
Tour Scotland April video of golfers on the golf course in Elie, East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. Formed in 1875, only a handful of clubs in Scotland are older than Elie, and the course is a classic example of links golf. James Braid was born and brought up in Earlsferry which adjoins Elie and the golf course and learnt his golf over this course.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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Tour Scotland April Video Golfers 17th Green Old Golf Course St Andrews Fife
Tour Scotland April video of golfers on the windy 17th green of the Old Golf Course in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. The oldest and most iconic golf course in the world. The Swilcan Bridge and Hell Bunker are recognised across the globe, yet the greatest feature of the Old Course is that despite its grand status it remains a public golf course, open to all.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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Tour Scotland April Video Drive Into Anstruther East Neuk Of Fife
Tour Scotland April morning video of a drive into Anstruther in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. This is the town in which I was raised in Scotland. The A917 is the East Fife Coast Road, running round three sides of the rectangle between Largo and St Andrews. The road starts off at the A915 in Kirkton of Largo and heads east towards Elie; through Colinsburgh to Pittenweem and onwards to Anstruther.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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