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On
the 28th August, 1797, the Rev Dr William Meek, from Glasgow,
was ordained and inducted as Minister of the parish of Torphichen. He
obtained his DD from the University of Glasgow.
We do not know a great deal more about Mr
Meek’s ministry other than some of what took place in connection with
Torphichen Kirk. It was about
this time that the Heritors decided to erect a house at the entrance to the
Kirk yard for the use of the Elders collecting the offering. It was later used as a "Watch
House" at the time of the "Resurrectionists" when a proper
watch house was constructed in the centre of the Kirk Yard, opposite the
south or centre door of the Kirk. At the same time as the gate house was
built, the two gate pillars at the Kirkyard Yett, were erected,
"making an entrance ten feet wide on which a gate was hung." This
would suggest that at this time there was a single leaf gate and not the
double leafed gate as at present. The marks on the pillars confirm this.
Until 1803, the Kirk was divided from the remains
of the Preceptory only by a timber screen which blocked the arch hole at
the east end. Now, this arch was built up and closed with stone. The hood
mouldings were chipped away and all the walls within the Kirk were
plastered. All the passages of
the Kirk were paved with stone from Bogend Quarry, Bathgate.
At this time, The Lord's Supper was observed
once per year. It was a
"Great Festival" to which many people came from far and
wide. It would take place in the
summer in June or July. The
Communion Festival began on Thursday when communion tokens were handed
out. There would be stalls at
which travelling merchants would sell their goods. Those people who had no shelter
would simply sleep under the trees.
Other Ministers would attend and they would preach to groups around
the village. On Saturday there
would be a great outdoor Service at which all would attend and hear the
"preparation sermon".
Again tokens would be handed out. The Sunday Service, which was known
as "The Great Work", began at an early hour and continued until
dark. There would be a large
table across the centre of the Kirk.
Remember, fixed pews were not yet fitted. The minister would stand at
the end of the table to dispense the elements. There would be several services
throughout the day as the Kirk would not hold all who wished to take
Communion.
Mr Meek translated to Hamilton on 6th
November, 1821.
He was succeeded by the Rev Andrew Bell, who
was inducted on 20th March, 1822. Again, we do not know much of Mr.
Bell’s ministry, but he lasted only five years. He translated to
Linlithgow on the 20th June, 1827. He was Moderator of the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1853.
He was followed by the Rev James Scott, who
was inducted on the 29th April, 1827.
He did not stay long! He translated to Dalmeny on the 16th
September, 1829.
The Free Church of
Scotland
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