MARCH 2007

EX LIBRIS

THE BARONY CHURCH

A book about the Barony Church is being published by Dunedin Academic Press of Edinburgh in April. The author is Peter Hillis who is Professor of the History of Education, Strathclyde University. The book’s title is ‘The Barony of Glasgow – A Window onto Church and People in Nineteenth Century Scotland’

The Barony Parish was one of the most important parishes in nineteenth century Scotland since it covered almost one third of ‘the second City of the Empire’. The Parish encompassed middle class suburbs to the then West End of Glasgow, the commercial heart of the City, industrial areas around Port Dundas and working class slums in the East End. The Barony Parish Church was located in the centre of the Parish next to Glasgow Cathedral and by the 1880s claimed the largest Presbyterian congregation in Glasgow.

The analysis of the parish congregation moves beyond social class to examine patterns of adherence relating to gender, family ties, households and the links between employer and employee. The picture so revealed is of a complex pattern often cutting across other commitments. The discussion moves beyond the Barony to examine similar features of religious adherence in churches and across Scotland. This builds the first national profile of church and people in nineteenth century Scotland.

This book is a scholarly work which will be of interest to those with a general interest in Scotland’s history; teachers, lectures and students wanting an insight into the religious and social history of Scotland as well as those with a more specific interest in Glasgow’s past. It is in hardback format and is not inexpensive at £35. However, it is offered to us at the special price of £25.

The book is to be launched at a ceremony on Thursday, April 26th, to be held in the Conference Room of St Mungo’s Museum at 6.00pm, when it can be purchased at the above price. Admission to the launching is free but as numbers are limited will be by ticket only. Tickets can be obtained from Mr. Anthony Kinahan of Dunedin Academic Press, Edinburgh, telephone, 01250 870 920.

Iain Macnair
Librarian and Archivist.