"SAINTS AND SINNERS"



A snapshot of the church in the 17th and 18th century

Records kept by the treasurer and clerk show that the Kirk was involved in saving bodies and souls, with many functions of the modem social services being discharged by the session.

Regular payments were made to the aged ,poor orphaned sick and disabled - but with frequent bills for "removing a cripple to Cockenny " (or Tranent or Seaton) The fee in 1704 was 4s!

One interesting charitable deed is recorded thus in 1705: "May 8 To the releasing John Thomson from the Turks slavery £20.00.00"

Saving souls , to the Kirk Session, meant ensuring attendance at Sunday worship, good behaviour in the street, and at home:
in some respects session minutes read like tabloid journalism, with accounts of slagging-matches between neighbours and "irregular" marriages.