The Highland Archive Service holds minutes and financial records for many Church of Scotland Synods, Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions across the Highlands. Our collections also include Baptismal Registers, Marriage Proclamation Rolls and Communion Rolls. In addition, we hold the records of certain Free Churches which re-joined the Church of Scotland – known as Secession Churches. We do not hold the records of the Free Church.
Date and location coverage
Church records are held in the Highland Archive Centre and Lochaber Archive Centre. Dates vary for each church depending on what records (if any) have survived; for Inverness Presbytery (Church of Scotland) we hold records from 1632 onwards. Records for those Free Churches which subsequently re-joined the Church of Scotland usually date from 1843, the year in which the denomination was established.
What can these records be used for?
- to learn about local, national and social history
- to understand the influence and power of the church in everyday life
- to find details of people called before the church courts for misdemeanours
- to read lists of the poor supported by the church
- to find evidence of building/repair work to the church fabric
The relevant Registers record the details of people married and baptised and can useful for genealogical research.
Access and restrictions
Due to the sensitive information within church records, access is not given to records created less than 30 years ago, except in certain circumstances. If you require access to a closed record, please contact us.
Copies and photography
One of the conditions of these records being held with The Highland Archive Service is that they are not photographed. Digital scans are permitted. Charges may apply.
What next?
If you're researching an someone who received poor relief from the church in the 1800s, why not check the Poor Relief records to see if they feature there too? If your aim is learn more about the history of an area, school log books are another great source of information about life in a community.
