HISTORY OF NEWPORT AND THE PARISH OF FORGAN ; AND RAMBLES ROUND THE DISTRICT, by J. S. Neish, 1890
PART VII. THE DISRUPTION - HISTORY OF NEWPORT FREE CHURCH
The events which preceded and followed the Disruption in the Church of Scotland in 1843 form one of the most important epochs in the history of the present century. The excitement caused by the struggle between Church and State pervaded all classes, and penetrated to the remotest comers of Scotland. The clergy were divided into two parties, known as 'Moderates' and 'Non-Intrusionists', and the laity, equally interested in the ecclesiastical politics of the time, ranged themselves on the side of one or other of these parties. The main question which led to the secession of a large portion of the ministers and people from the National Church arose out of the system of patronage, under which ministers were sometimes intruded into charges against the wish of the congregations. Several flagrantly notorious cases of 'intrusion' had taken place in the early part of the present century, such as at Strathbogie and Auchterarder, which led to scenes scandalous to the name of religion, and aroused the opposition of a strong party of reformers, who were known by the name of 'Non-Intrusionists'. The 'Moderates' were the Tories of Church politics, who shrunk from all reform, and wished to keep to 'old use and wont' in matters connected with the Church. Party feeling ran high, and for fully ten years the conflict raged with increasing warmth till the crisis was reached in 1843. Forgan played its part in these events as well as other parishes, and the rise and progress of the Free Church in the parish is not the least important event in the history of Forgan and Newport. It is necessary, however, in order to render the narrative more complete, to retrace our steps a little, and return to the affairs of the Parish Church, as the history of the one is closely connected with that of the other.
Although the Rev. Dr. Maule was a warm friend of Dr. Chalmers when the great divine was a young minister in his first charge at Kilmany, yet it cannot be said that the two sympathised with each other in their views on the great question which then agitated the Church. Dr. Maule was a 'Moderate', and continued to adhere to that party to the close of his earthly career. When the General Assembly passed the Veto Act, it is said that at the communion which followed he desired each communicant to bring a line, with their name and address written on it, when they applied for tokens of admission to the Lord's Supper, so that a correct communion roll could be made up, as the Assembly were in future to give the congregation the privilege of objecting to the minister presented by the patron. Strange to say, this was the last communion which the good old clergyman dispensed within the walls of the old church, where, for thirty-five years, his voice had been heard, Sabbath after Sabbath, proclaiming the everlasting Gospel. Not only was it his last communion, but the action sermon that day was the last he was ever privileged to deliver to his congregation. He chose for his text Christ's dying words on the cross, '' 'Tis finished'', from which he preached a very impressive discourse. By a strange coincidence, that day finished the worthy Doctor's labours in his ministry on earth, and on 28th July, 1835, he departed this life and entered on his rest, in the 73rd year of his age.
The Rev. Charles Nairn, then assistant minister at Cupar-Fife, was chosen by the people as successor to Dr. Maule. He was ordained minister of Forgan in 1836, and entered on his labours with great zeal and fervour. Mr. Nairn was a young man, and showed himself an able preacher, and he soon became very popular, not only in the parish, but also in Dundee, where large audiences always assembled when he came to preach in any of the town churches. He also declared himself a partizan of the Non-intrusion side, and entered with spirit into the controversy which was then agitating the whole country.
For several years previous to Mr. Nairn's induction to the Parish Church, the population of Forgan had been increasing rapidly. Maryton had sprung into existence as a village, and gave promise of rapid growth, while the population of Newport was growing larger year by year. The Parish Church was therefore not only too small, but was most inconveniently situated for the great bulk of the people, and Mr. Nairn exerted his influence on the heritors to get them to build a new church in a more convenient locality. The heritors saw the necessity of this appeal, and after much deliberation a site was chosen on the lands of Friarton, on the estate of St. Fort, about one mile and three-quarters from Newport pier, on the Cupar Road. The church, which was designed by Mr. Bryce, architect, Edinburgh, is a fine building in the form of a cross, and is surrounded by a spacious enclosure ornamented with trees and shrubberies. The church is seated for 600. It was built in the years 1841-42, the population of the parish being then estimated at 1200 souls. The new church was partly damaged by fire on Sunday, 13th December, 1846, four years after it was opened ; but it was thoroughly repaired again in the following year.
The Rev. Charles Nairn occupied the pulpit in the new Parish Church of Forgan little more than a year. Mr. Nairn was a member of the Assembly in 1843, and his name appears in the list of ministers who signed the Protest. After the four hundred ministers left the Assembly Hall and constituted themselves into the Free Church Assembly at Canonmills, under the leadership of Dr. Chalmers ; Mr. Nairn returned home, and re- signed his position as parish minister of Forgan. He was followed by nearly the half of the communicants, who immediately took steps to organize themselves into a Free Church congregation. A Provisional Committee was appointed, and their first work was to raise funds and select a site for building a new church. Money flowed in freely, and the hands of the Committee were strengthened by the zeal and fervour which animated the hearts of the friends of the cause. A suitable site was secured on a feu which belonged to the trustees of the late Mr. George Milne, at the moderate feu-duty which the trustees paid themselves. The situation was well chosen, being that which the present Free Church and Hall now occupy, in the centre of the village of Newport. Building operations were at once commenced, and, to facilitate this work, the materials were carted free of charge by members of the congregation. On the evening of Friday, July 7th, 1843, the foundation stone of the new church was laid in presence of a large assembly of deeply-interested spectators. The proceedings, which were of a solemn and impressive nature, were opened with praise and prayer. The Rev. Charles Nairn then delivered an address, which was listened to with breathless attention. A vessel containing copies of the Dundee Warder and Fife Sentinel newspapers, copies of the minutes and correspondence of the Provisional Committee, and a list of the office-bearers and collectors of the Free Church Association in the parish, was then deposited in a cavity of the stone, over which another stone was laid, and the two closely cemented together. The proceedings were then closed with praise and prayer.
This was the first Newport Free Church, and it was occupied by the congregation as a place of worship for about a quarter of a century, when it was superseded by a more costly and handsome edifice. The original church was but a plain building hastily erected to meet the wants of the congregation. It was seated for four hundred persons, but attached to the main building was a large aisle intended for a schoolroom, and which could be added to the church when necessary. The school was separated from the church by a wooden partition, which could be removed at any time, thereby increasing the church accommodation by about one hundred sittings. At the time the foundation stone was laid, the work had been so far advanced that the walls were expected to be ready for roofing in about a fortnight. From first to last the building was pushed forward with all possible speed, and in less than six months after the Disruption the congregation were worshipping in their own church.
The full extent of the sacrifice which the 'Disruption worthies' were called upon to make for conscience sake was not realised till the time came for them to leave their charges, and form new congregations. To many an aged minister this proved a severe and trying ordeal. Their kirks and manses were endeared to them by many sacred and tender associations - the quaint old kirk where for years they had laboured, 'dividing the word of truth' to their flocks, the manse where, with their aged partners, they had experienced all the joys and sorrows of domestic life, where their children had grown up around them and called them blessed - and to leave those scenes behind was like tearing out their very heart-strings that bound them to life. The Rev. Charles Nairn was a young man, but the 'flitting' was none the less a trial to him. He had won for himself the respect and esteem of the heritors, and his pulpit labours had drawn around him a large and attached congregation. A new and handsome church had also been built, mainly through his exertions, and in the manse he and his young wife had 'Seen their happy bridal days'; but, with many a pang, all were left behind. The house which had been built as the Maryton Inn, was then tenantless, and Mr. Nairn and his wife and family removed from the manse and took up their residence there. A large grain loft at Woodhaven was placed at the disposal of the congregation by Mr. Rhynd, and was by them fitted up as a temporary place of worship, pending the erection of the new church. On Sabbath, 16th July, 1843, the first Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was dispensed in the granary to the members of the Free Church of Forgan and Newport. The following paragraph, which graphically describes the event, is quoted from the Dundee Warder of 18th July, 1843 : -
'The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was dispensed in connection with the Free Church of Newport on Sabbath last. As the granary used as a place of worship was unequal to accommodate the audience expected, a large tent or awning, made of old sails, was erected immediately to the west of it, in front of the farm-steading occupied by Mr. Rhynd, and separated from the river by a belt of trees, through which glimpses of the stream were obtained. The day was exceedingly favourable. There was a bright sun overhead, but the temperature was kept delightfully cool by a breeze from the west, which was just sufficient to stir the surface of the broad river, and give a dancing motion to the leafy branches of the trees, while the murmur chimed harmoniously with the voice of the preacher and the song of praise. An immense congregation from all the surrounding parishes assembled in and around the tent, where the 'action sermon' was preached and the tables fenced by the Rev. Mr. Nairn. The ordinance was dispensed in the granary to three hundred communicants, being fully three-fourths of the old parish roll. During the service of the tables, another sermon was preached by Mr. Just, pastor of the Independent congregation, who obligingly came forward to assist the Rev. Mr. Nairn. In the evening the Rev. Mr. Nicholson, Tayport, preached in the tent to a still larger congregation than had assembled throughout the day.'
Though the number of communicants who partook of the Lord's Supper at the first communion was stated as being three-fourths of the parish roll, it must not be understood that the whole of these members left the Parish Church. A large number of adherents of the Free Church came from the Gauldry and other parts of the adjoining parishes, and joined themselves to the Newport congregation. It is a singular fact, in connection with the Disruption in the parish of Forgan, that almost all the farm servants cast in their lot with the Free Church, whilst almost all the landed proprietors and farmers continued to adhere to the Established Church. Time changes everything. At the present time, after the lapse of fully forty years, the farm servants in the parish, with scarcely an exception, are members or adherents of the Parish Church ; while, on the other hand, nearly one-half of the farmers are connected with the Free Church.
The Rev. Mr. Nairn continued to labour zealously and arduously for two years after the Disruption, but the trying nature of the work of organising the church, and the excitement and anxiety of those 'Disruption times', taxed his strength severely. During the summer of 1845 he felt his health giving way, and in the autumn of that year he resigned his charge at Newport, and went to Madeira to recruit his shattered constitution. After a residence of about eighteen months in the island of Madeira, he returned to his native country in May, 1847, refreshed in body and invigorated in mind. Shortly after his return to this country a vacancy occurred in St David's Free Church, Dundee, through the translation of the Rev. Mr. Lewis to the Free Church of Ormiston. Mr. Nairn accepted a call from Free St. David's congregation, and was inducted to the charge in November, 1849. In Dundee he was well known and highly respected by his brethren in the Presbytery and amongst the members of his congregation. He took an active interest in the affairs of his Church, and was a regular attender at the Church Courts. He died rather suddenly at his residence in Westfield Place on 17th March, 1873, in the 70th year of his age and the 39th of his ministry.
He was succeeded at Newport by the Rev. John Nelson, afterwards better known as Dr. Nelson, of Greenock, who was ordained in May, 1846. In the year 1851, Mr. Nelson was translated to the Free North Church, Greenock, where he laboured till his death, which occurred a few years ago. During Mr. Nelson's ministry at Newport a library was founded in connection with the congregation, which, however, was intended for the benefit of all classes in the village and district, the annual subscription being one shilling.
The charge of Newport was thus twice vacated within the first ten years after the Disruption, and that must have distracted the minds of the members, and to a certain extent retarded the growth of the congregation. The second vacancy, however, was speedily filled, and in December, 1851, the Rev. N. Macleod was ordained and inducted to the pastorate of the congregation. The settlement was a very harmonious one, and the young minister entered on his pastoral work with great zeal, and under the most encouraging circumstances. The Rev. Mr. Macleod is still at Newport, having now entered on the 37th year of his ministry.
Since the settlement of the Rev. Mr. Macleod, the history of Newport Free Church has been marked with continued prosperity. In 1861 some alterations and improvements were made on the church. A new vestry and porch were built, the pulpit and precentor's desk were remodelled, and the church enlarged to accommodate about one hundred additional sitters. The whole cost of these alterations, including fitting up gas and painting, amounted to the sum of £174. In 1868 the original church was taken down, with the exception of a few roods of masonry on the east wall, and in its stead an entire new church was built. It is a handsome building in the early Gothic style, with a tasteful spire in front, and, from its commanding situation, it forms a striking object in the village when viewed from a distance. The church is seated for six hundred, but the sitting accommodation can be extended to eight hundred by the erection of galleries, for which provision was made by the architect. The new church was opened on Sunday, 14th March, 1869. The opening services were conducted by the Rev. Dr. Nelson, Greenock, formerly minister, of the congregation, who preached in the forenoon and evening. Dr. Wilson, Free St. Paul's, Dundee, conducting the afternoon service. At all these diets special collections were made in aid of the building fund. The architect of the new church was the late Mr. Mackenzie, and the total cost of the building was £2700.
In the year 1871 the Rev. Dr. Thomas Guthrie preached in the church, when a liberal collection was made to reduce the debt on the new church and manse. This debt was extinguished in 1881. In 1843 a week-day school in connection with the Free Church was opened in a portion of the building attached to the church. The school was, some years later, enlarged and extended, and was conducted with great success by the congregation till the passing of the Education Act in 1873. The Deacons' Court then gave the management of the school into the hands of the School Board, and, for four or five years after, the premises were used as the public school, till the new and more commodious school buildings were erected. The Free Church Schoolroom was the only place in Newport available for holding public meetings till the erection of the Blyth Hall in 1877. The schoolroom is now used solely for congregational purposes.
Prior to the Disruption, Forgan had its parish school, which was efficiently co-worked on the parish school system. The parish school was more adapted from its situation to meet the wants of the landward parts of the parish, and the Free Church, finding that the rapidly-increasing population of Newport demanded additional facilities for education, supplied the want by opening a school in connection with their church, not so much as a rival to the parish school, as an auxiliary to that institution. Both schools were maintained till the Education Act, when their management was taken in hand by the School Board. From 1843 to 1873, a period of thirty years, the Free Church maintained a system of education in Newport involving a total expenditure of about £1000, in addition to the cost of erecting school buildings.
The Newport Free Church is now in a highly prosperous condition. The number of members on the communion roll is a little over 300, and, including adherents and children, there are about 700 persons connected with the congregation. The pastor, the Rev. Mr. Macleod, has for many years conducted a Sabbath evening Bible Class, which has an average membership of about 70. The congregational Sabbath Schools have an average attendance of about 120. The sum annually raised by the Congregation for Sustentation Fund, Church schemes, and congregational purposes, is £650.
Previous Introduction I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII Tayport & Scotscraig Scotscraig (continued) Kilmany Balmerino Leuchars Addenda Name Index Next
Return to: Library Contents