PARISH OF BALDERNOCK

PRESBYTERY OF DUMBARTON, SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND AYR.

THE REV. JOHN POLLOCK, MINISTER.

V.-PAROCHIAL ECCONOMY.

Glasgow, the nearest market-town, is seven or eight miles distant, from and to which, there is neither coach, post, nor carrier, which is against the diffusion of useful knowledge and information:

letters, books, newspapers, and other communications being either not received at all, or read at an immense trouble and expense. A new line of road, leading from the Balfron line to Glasgow, through the west end of the parish, has long been talked of, is surveyed, and is soon likely to be formed

There will then be two good turnpike roads, one running the length of the parish from west to east, the other the breadth of it, leading from Balfron road north, to Allander toll south-west, and thence to Glasgow. Owing to the diversified surface or the parish, many other roads are necessary, so many that it is impossible, by the conversion of the statute labour money, to keep them in repair

Ecclesiastical State.-The church, built in 1795, for 406 sitters, and still in good repair, is by no means conveniently situated, standing in the north-west part of the parish, a mile and a half from the centre. This is also the most thinly populated quarter, and about three miles distant from some of the parishioners. The living is 63 bolls of oat-meal, L33 in money, the Government bounty,----a manse, built in 1803, substantial and in good repair, 11 acres of glebe, and 7½ of these arable. The present incumbent, the Rev. John Pollock, was admitted in 1838. His predecessors were, the Rev. H. Moncreiff, admitted 1836; Rev. J. McEwen, 1804; Rev. Dr Cooper, admitted 1783; the Rev. Messrs Taylor, Carrick, Colquhoun, and Wallace, who was admitted at the Revolution, 1688. 72 families, 240 persons of all ages; 174 Communicants, belong to the Established Church; 30 families to Dissenters. There are 3 Episcopalians, 8 Catholics, and 30 families, that go to no place of worship

Education.-The parish schoolmaster has the legal accommodation, and the maximum salary. The school is sufficiently commodious, and within reach of the whole parish, being a mile nearer the centre than the church; but the ill repair and dangerous state of some of the roads, render it unavailable to many. Reading, writing, and a little arithmetic, constitute the whole of the education of the people. Most of the children get little time even for these, and there is no great desire for more. The average number of scholars is 50

The parish contributed L.50 to the Lunatic Asylum in 1813, and previously to the Infirmary of Glasgow, to which they have the common right. The Baldernock Humane Friendly Society was instituted in 1783; approved of by an extraordinary general meeting, March 28, 1809; confirmed according to Act of Parliament, and has a stock of L.500. Late decisions, finding members liable for life, and compelling some, who had withdrawn, to pay up accounts, while they have retained many members contrary to their own inclination, have induced others to keep back; and entrance to the society is now rare. This society has been a blessing to many, and, were it encouraged, would continue to be much more so than it is.

Poor.-The poor's roll has, for some time, been on the increase. The average number of paupers, for the last three years, has been 18; average sum to each, L. 4 per annum. The funds are, L. 20 per annum, being interest on bond of L. 500, accumulated by donations and savings, and average collections per annum, L.16, 10s. 9d.; annual expense, L. 64; annual income, L. 36, 10s. deficiency, L.27, 9s. 3d

Fairs.- Bardowie fair is held 6th June, for sale of milk cows, and showing stallions. It is the only parish fair, and it has almost dwindled to a shadow.

Ale-houses.-There are seven ale-houses in the parish, and a distillery erected some years ago.

Fuel-Fuel is supplied from the coalworks in the parish, with a very few exceptions, where it is got from the neighbourhood of Glasgow by the Canal.

February 1841