The Darrochs and the Parish (1834)
- Doug Robertson
- May 28, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: May 21, 2023
After Mary delivered her son, John, she bore six more children. All of them were raised in Clachan where the local parish played a big role in their lives. In September of 1834, Archie and Mary had their eighth child and desired to have her christened. The following fictional story tells how Reverend Macarthur, after christening baby Margaret, calls Archie to become precentor of the Parish.
Today was not a typical Sabbath service in the Kilcalmonell and Kilberry Parish in Clachan--at least not for Archie Darroch and Mary Milloy. Today Reverend Macarthur christened their newborn baby, Margaret.
The christening font in the Kilcalmonell Parish Church in Clachan.
Photo by Doug Robertson, 2011.
After the service, Archie and Mary sought out Reverend Macarthur to thank him. In the background, the two oldest children looked after the two youngest. Thirteen-year-old Kate watched over two-year-old Archie, and eleven-year-old John held baby Margaret. The middle four siblings entertained themselves.
“Reverend, thank you for your service today, especially for christening Margaret.”
“It’s a pleasure, Archie. Always nice to see your growing family.”
Reverend Macarthur glanced around and lowered his voice. “Archie, I need your help.”
Archie leaned in. “What is it Rev’rend? How can I help?”
“It’s our old precentor. He got all muddled up during the Psalms again today. Thirty years at the desk is a long stretch, and it’s time he stepped down. You have a fine tenor voice and know your Psalms. Will you be our new precentor?”
“Me? I…I’m not sure I’m up to it, but if you’d like, I’ll give it a go!”
Mary said, “But Reverend, you want longevity in that office, and we might be moving to Upper Canada. Most of my family is already there.”
“You’re not thinking of abandoning us are you?”
“There’s nothing here for us. Our children are surrounded by drinking and poverty.”
“But it serves the rest of us poorly when the best of us leave.”
Archie jumped in, “No, no, Reverend, don’t you worry. Mary just misses her family, that’s all. We’ll be here plenty long enough for me to fulfill any obligation you see fit to bestow.”
Mary said, “Archie, if you act as precentor, I will be alone in the pew with an infant and seven children.”
Reverend Macarthur said, “Kate and John can help with the others. Kate’s almost like a second mother. And look at young John—sober-minded and thoughtful—watching over baby Margaret.”
Several feet away, John overheard his name and said to Kate, “Do you mind holding the baby for a bit? I want to hear what they’re saying over there.”
When John joined the group, Reverend Macarthur turned to him and asked, “Young man, do you know the origin of the word precentor?”
"Well,..."
The minister decided to answer the question himself. “It’s from Latin. Pre means ‘before,’ and cantor means ‘singer.’ A precentor sings the lines before the congregation does. It is an important role. You need to know your Psalms and your melodies.”
“Yes, sir. I should even like to try it someday.”
“Good for you, young man. Keep up your schooling, and perhaps you will.”
Turning to Archie, Reverend Macarthur said, “Thanks for being willing to try this. Give me a few weeks to arrange it. I still have to break the news to the old gent.”
Archie nodded. They both avoided eye contact with Mary. She was pleased with the honour bestowed on her husband but knew it would be one more reason for him to stay in Clachan.
Now it’s time to separate fact from fiction.
I found the minister's name in a “Poor Law Inquiry” report. Reverend John Macarthur started as an assistant in about 1820. He was promoted to minister in 1823 and served there at least until 1845. That period encompassed each Darroch child’s christening.
When visiting Clachan in 2011, I took a photo of the font (shown above) and later discovered it was obtained and dedicated in 1920, over 85 years after Margaret’s christening. I was disappointed to realize it was not the font used for the Darroch children in the 1820s and 30s (but I am posting the photo anyway, for I travelled too far not to use the photo!)
The Kirk had a large social and political influence on people’s lives. Poverty and alcohol also had a firm grip on the people. Many who attended church on Sunday had a difficult time living the values throughout the week. The minister decried the rampant drinking and bootlegging in his Parish report, declaring "It is impossible to calculate the amount of evil that this unholy and unpatriotic practice is the cause of.”
The Darroch family, however, seemed to rise above these social ills. Perhaps the generations of Darroch ministers had a cumulative effect on Archie's family. Serving as a precentor—a respected ecclesiastical position in the Kirk—says much about his character and reputation in the community.
Next post we will learn more about Archie's veneration for his Darroch ancestors, as we explore “the tradition of the stone.”
Footnotes:
[1] Information about Reverend John Macarthur came from "Volume 2 of Poor Law Inquiry (Scotland): Appendix, Poor Law Inquiry Commission for Scotland," 1844, p. 70.
[2] The Darroch-Milloy Family Group Sheet was printed from FamilySearch.org. See the Genealogy tab for more information on how to access this free site.
[3] The quote about smuggling whiskey comes from “Parish report for Kilcalmonell and Kilberry, County of Argyll” (1834-45)." The New Statistical Account of Scotland. Edinburgh: W. Blackwood and Sons, 1845, volume 7, 410. http://stat-acc-scot.edina.ac.uk/link/1834-45/ (accessed July 13, 2010).
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