Scottish: Beyond the OPRs

COURSE CONTENT
Course Notes

MODULE 1
CHURCH OF SCOTLAND AND REGISTER RECORD GUIDE
Organization of the Church of Scotland
Governing Structure of the Presbyterian Church
Historical Timeline
Background of Church Registers
Effects of the Registration Act of 1854
Roman Catholic Parish Registers
Other Church Registers
Key Factors in the Survival of Records
Imperfect Conditions of the Registers
Stamp Duties Act of 1783
Dissenters and Nonconformists
Illegibility
Mortcloths
Irregular Deaths
Understanding the Contents of Church Registers
Baptisms
Proclamation of Banns and Marriages
Burials and Deaths
Abbreviations and Unusual Words and Phrases
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 1 Course Assignments

MODULE 2
KIRK SESSIONS, PRESBYTERIES, SYNODS, AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Church Court Records
Kirk Session Records
Presbyteries
Synod
General Assembly
Ecclesiastical Parishes
Contents of Kirk Session Records
Heritors’ Records
Illegitimate Births
Seat Rent Registers
Communion Rolls
Testificates
Public Punishments
Stool of Repentance
Poor Relief Accounts
Witchcraft in Kirk Session Records
Locating Kirk Session Records
What is Available Online?
Local Access
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 2 Course Assignments

MODULE 3
NON-CONFORMISTS CHURCHES & OTHER RELIGIONS
History of Session Churches
Patronage
The First Session - The Secession Church
Other Presbyterian Dissenters
Burghers and Antiburghers
The Old and New Lights
Relief Church
United Associate Secession Church
Free Church
United Presbyterian Church & United Free Church
Final Unions
Other Religions
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Methodist Church
Episcopal Church
Secession Churches Record Keeping
What the Records Contain
National Records of Scotland
Parishes and Congregations - Registers in the Index
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 3 Course Assignments

MODULE 4
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Introduction to Catholic Parish Registers
Mission Stations
Catholic Parish Records Contents
Births / Baptisms
Confessions
Confirmations
Communicant Lists
Conversion Lists
Deaths, Burials, and Funerals
Marriages
Sick Call Register
Status Animarum
Roman Catholic Bishopric of the Forces: British Armed Forces Worldwide
Latin in Church Catholic Records
Available Catholic Parish Records
Recommended Reading and Resources
Module 4 Course Assignments

MODULE 5
RESEARCHING ONLINE
Introduction
National Records of Scotland
Record Sets/Groups
NRS Online Catalogue
ScotlandsPeople
How to Search Church Registers
Kirk Session Records
Ancestry
Findmypast
Local Archive Access in Scotland
Record Agents for Remote Researchers
Remember…
Module 5 Course Assignments

APPENDIX
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES