Ecclesiastical History.-The parish of Alva was, long before the Reformation, in the diocese of Dunkeld and under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Bishop of that See. By an extract taken from the chartulary of Cambuskenneth, in the neighbourhood of Stirling, we learn, that the church of Alva was a mensel church, as it is called, (de mensa Episcopi---part of the funds for the Bishop's support,) belonging to that abbacy; and that the monks, who were of the order of St Augustine, performed duty there, from want of a sufficient fund to maintain a resident and regular clergyman in the parish. In the year 1260, Richard, Bishop of Dunkeld, made a donation to the monks of the church of St Mary at Cambuskenneth, of "the church of Alva with all its legal pertinents," and dispensed with their employing a vicar to officiate. The following reason is then assigned, " virorum religiosorum abbatis et conventus de Cambuskenneth, paupertati compatientes,-charitatis intuitu, et propter tenuitatem ecclesiae de Alveth." By another extract from the same chartulary, it appears that Alexander, styled Dominus de Striveling Miles, made a grant of one acre of land to God, the Virgin Mary, to St Servanus, and to the church of St Servanus de Alveth, describing it particularly as lying near the well of St Servanus, "et inter ipsism fontem (St Serf's well) et ecclesiani." This charter bears date A. D. 1276. The well is still within the limits of the minister's globe, and continues to send forth a stream of excellent water; but the course is almost choked up with weeds and rushes; the consecrated name has long been forgotten; and its neglected state calls loudly upon the tutelar saint, or some Catholic devotee, to rescue its name from oblivion, and disclose again its healing virtues. About twenty years after the Reformation, and when Stirling, and a few parishes around it, were provided with stated pastors, the presbytery of Stirling was erected on the 8th day or August 1581, in consequence of an order from the General Assembly to that effect. From 1581, till the year 1632, this parish was united to the neighbouring one of Tillicoultry-the minister of Alva officiating in both. The livings of both hardly afforded a decent subsistence; and the stipend of Alva did not exceed 300 merks Scots, or L. 16, 13s. 4d. Sterling.

The fabric of the present church was built in 1632 by Alexander Bruce, then proprietor of Alva, who afterwards making a small addition to the stipend, procured its disjunction from Tillicoultry. The church stands a little to the east of the village, upon an eminence, commanding a fine view of the valley of Devon. The fabric is in excellent condition, but long after it was built it remained in an unfinished state-the walls and roofs were unplastered -the windows small and ill situated- and the seats in a ruinous condition. In the year 1815, at the expense of James Raymond John-stone, Esq. it was wholly rebuilt, and fitted up properly within, so as to accommodate 586 sitters, estimated at 18 inches for each, and at present it is a comfortable and elegant place of worship.

The pews are allotted by the heritor rent-free to his tenants and feuars, and the remainder, with the communion table seats, are open to the villagers.

The church-yard is beside the church, finely sequestered from the bustle and business of men, and contains some epitaphs of the "rude forefathers of the hamlet," sufficiently curious.

The present manse is near the church, and was built in the year 1792, upon a very neat and commodious plan.

In the year 1765, Lord Alva, then proprietor of the barony, sensible of the smallness of the living, very generously, and without any application from the incumbent, gave an augmentation in victual, to the amount of L. 22 Sterling, at the usual conversion; by which the stipend consisted of L.34, 1s. 0d. Sterling, in money, including the allowance for communion elements, together with 40 bolls of barley, and 32 bolls of meal. The Rev. Mr Duncan, to whom this augmentation was given, gratefully records (in his Statistical Account, to which we are indebted for the fulness of the present report,) that Lord Alva riot only resolved of his own accord to give this grant, but actually executed a summons against himself as sole heritor, in name of the minister,'and without his knowledge, as the first step towards accomplishing his generous resolution. The glebe consists of nearly nine acres.

James Johnstone, Esq. is sole heritor of the parish.

Education.-The present parish school-house, built in 1828, is a fine house situated in the centre of the village, and fitted to accommodate upwards of 100 scholars. The salary of the parochial teacher is L. 29, 18s. 10d. Sterling. The village also contains a subscription school, and there are besides an infant school and a seminary for the education of female children, almost wholly supported by the patronage and bounty of Mrs Johnstone, and the young ladies at Alva House. Besides the other elementary branches of knowledge, the children are taught to knit and sew. Many great improvements have been recently adopted in the intellectual and moral training of children, which it is most desirable should find their way into this district.

The number of individuals, including children, professing to belong to the Established Church, in the year 1836, is 1185, or 262 families. Belonging to the Dissenting congregation.-, there are 272 persons, including children, or 60 families, averaged at 4½ for each family.

Poor and Parochial Funds.-The poor receiving parochial aid are few in number, seldom exceeding a dozen; and occasional supply is given to others not on the poor's roll, as their necessities demand. On a board in the session house, we have recorded the following donation to the poor, A. D. 1764 :-" John Mitchell, farmer in Windlestrawlee, near Leith, bequeathed to the poor of the parish of Alva the sum of L. 50 Sterling. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, ' It is more blessed to give than to receive."

The ordinary collection, with the interest arising from a small fund, and the common dues of the parish mortcloth, without any assessment upon the heritor or inhabitants, has hitherto maintained the poor. Examples are not uncommon of individuals refusing to accept charity from the parish, and, with that patience and honest pride peculiarly Scottish, undergoing privations untold, rather than ask or take relief.

Drawn up in 1836.

Revised April 1841.