[1633/6/199]¹

Act regarding the re-edifying of the kirk of Beith

Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, being certainly informed that the kirk of Beith, lying within the presbytery of Irvine and bailiary of Cunninghame, where the same was of old situated and now presently stands, is most remote and far distant from the most part of the whole parishioners and parish of Beith, situated upon the north and north-west parts of the said parish of Beith near approaching to the parish of Lochwinnoch, the parishioners whereof so encroach and take up the places and stalls of the ordinary parishioners of Beith that in the summer season they cannot conveniently come and address themselves to sermons and sacraments to their said parish kirk, and in the winter season there is difficulty of riding upon horse and walking on foot that the most part of the said parishioners of Beith, being distant from their said parish kirk by the space of three or four miles or thereby, cannot goodly address and convene themselves thereto by reason of the storms of weather and of the deep and evil ways adjacent thereto, have therefore statute and ordained and, by the tenor of this present act, statute and ordain that with the special advice and consent of Alexander [Montgomery], earl of Eglinton and Hugh [Montgomery], lord Montgomery, master of Eglinton, his son, chief and principal heritors within the said parish and patrons of the said parish kirk, and of the most part of the heritors, gentry and parishioners of the said parish of Beith, there shall be a new kirk planted, edified and built in as good, ample and sufficient form in all respects as the old kirk is of now upon the most commodious part and ground within, beside and nearest the middle of the said parish of Beith, for the better ease and use of the whole parishioners thereof repairing thereto; and that there be a manse built thereat for the minister serving the cure at the said kirk, with four acres of land near adjacent to the said manse for the glebe and glebe land of the said minister serving the cure at the said kirk as said is, according to the act of parliament made relating thereto; and that the said new kirk, manse and glebe be all edified, built and provided upon the proper charges and expenses of the said parishioners of Beith, exempting the foresaid patrons of the said parish kirk of Beith from all charges and expenses in building of the said new kirk and in building and providing of the said new manse and glebe to the minister, notwithstanding of whatsoever act of parliament made relating thereto. In consideration whereof, our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid, by this act, also statute and ordain that the said heritors, gentry and parishioners of the said parish of Beith, builders and re-edifiers of the said new kirk, shall have power and liberty to cause take down and transport the said old kirk of Beith, whole materials of the same and every part thereof to the place of the situation of the said new kirk for re-edifying and building of the same (the special consents of the said earl of Eglinton and the said Lord Montgomery, his son, patrons foresaid, being chiefly and principally had always thereto as said is), and that the manse, glebe and glebe lands, houses, yards and pertinents of the same planted thereupon and now belonging and possessed by the said minister of Beith and his tenants, shall be applied to the use and utility of the builders and providers of the new manse and glebe foresaid to the said minister of Beith serving the cure thereat; and this to be in no sort prejudicial to the foresaid patrons, their right of presentation of the said kirk and of the titulars and tacksman's right and interest to the teinds of the said parish of Beith.