Contine and Strathgarve
Contin is a parish in the centre and south-east of Ross-shire. The parish is bounded on the north by Lochbroom, on the east by Urray and Fodderty, on the south by Kilmorack and Urray, and on the west by Gairloch and Lochcarron. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Contin, Coul, Garve, Jameston or Jamestown, Strathconan
Craigdarroch, Scatwell
The parish of Fodderty had two detached parts:
(a) Fodderty detached No. 1 extended to 18,474 acres, and was almost surrounded by the parish of Contin.
(b) Fodderty detached No. 2, extending to 2,720 acres, lay to the south of the main portion of the parish, and was separated from it by a narrow strip to the parish of Dingwall.
Not only had the parish of Urray two detached parts in the county of Ross and Cromarty, but in addition part of the main portion of the parish was situated in the county of Inverness.
(a) Urray detached No. 1, containing 2,463 acres, was almost surrounded by the parish of Contin.
(b) Urray detached No. 2, with 38,561 acres, lay in Glen Orrin west of the main portion of the parish, being separated from it by a strip of Contin and a strip of Fodderty detached No. 1.
In dealing with these two parishes it was found necessary to effect alterations on the boundaries of the parishes of Contin and Dingwall. The only territory taken from Contin is the small portion of the parish lying to the south of the watershed between Strath Conan and Glen Orrin which was transferred to the parish of Urray. On the other hand, Contin received a large accession of territory, for there were transferred to it detached part No. 1 of the parish of Urray, and all of Fodderty detached No. 1 except the portion lying to the south of the above-mentioned watershed. See affected properties and landholders. (1892: Boundary of counties and parishes in Scotland as settled by the Boundary Commissioners under the Local Government Act, 1889, by Hay Shennan)
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The parishes of Contin and Strathgarve were united in the sixteenth century.
Contin. The church of Contin was founded by St Malrubh. Contin was a prebend of the cathedral of Fortrose. Contin church stands on an island in the river Abhuinn Dubh ("Black Water"), called of old the Rasa. St Malrubh's Well was beside the church. A famous tryst called Feill Mhalruibh (St Malrubh's Fair), was long held at Contin. Near Coul, within sight of the church, is the ancient graveyard of Preas Maree (St Malrubh's Grove), now the burial ground of the Mackenzies of Coul.
Strathgarve. The church of Strathgarve was dedicated to St Finn.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Carnoch. A parliamentary church was built in Strathconan in 1830. The parish of Carnoch was disjoined from Contin on 16 March 1864.
Kinlochluichart. In 1825 a parliamentary chapel was built at the upper end of Loch Luichart. On 16 March 1864 the parish of Kinlochluichart was disjoined from Contin, Fodderty, and Urray.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Contin and Strathgarve (QO)
Carnoch (QS)
Kinlochluichart (QS)
(1928: Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, by Hew Scott, D. D.)
Parish registers turned over to the Registrar-General, as a result of the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Scotland) Act of 1854. The letters B. D. and M. indicate Births (or Baptisms), Deaths (or Burials), and Marriages (or Proclamations of Banns) respectively. Numbers indicate separate volumes or books. Note: These records are by no means complete or without damage; consult the Detailed List of the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland (1872) to learn more about the condition of the records.
| OPR and RD Numbers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Range | Name | Number | Type |
| 1778-1854 | Contin | 60 | OPR |
| 1855-1892 | Contin | 60 | RD |
| 1893-1967 | Contin | 60-1 | RD |
| 1893-1967 | Kinlochluichart | 60-2 | RD |
| 1968-1971 | Kinlochluichart | 60 | RD |
| 2009 | (Contin) Highland, Dingwall and Carnoch | 196 | RD |
| 2009 | (Kinlochluichart) Highland, Kinlochluichart | 197 | RD |
| 2026 | (Contin) Highland Council; Contin Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Kinlochluichart) Highland Council; Garve and District Community Council | ||
(2009: Parishes and Registration Districts of Scotland - Old and New, National Records of Scotland)
Local community councils (2026) are provided as a potential source of additional information for settlements within the original boundaries of the parish. (Source)
Statistics from informal and official censuses
Cameron, Fraser, Grant, MacDonald, MacKay, Mackenzie, MacLean, MacLennan, MacRae, Matheson
Note: Names appearing in research materials, other than censuses. Simple names (First name, surname only) have been omitted unless they appear associated with large properties. All women's names, and men's names with occupations, military ranks, or peerage titles are included.
By the Reverend Mr Roderick Mackenzie.
"At present, there are 2000 above the age of seven. There is in the parish one woman aged 101 now living, and has the use of all her faculties. There are a sufficiency of square-wrights, smiths, weavers, tailors, and shoemakers, for carrying on the work of the parish. All the people are of the established Church except 50 or 60 Episcopalians. The population is on the increase, but it is feared will soon decrease, as the gentlemen are encouraging shepherds to come and settle on their properties, which must necessarily remove the present inhabitants, and force them to go in quest of bread to other countries, as there are no manufactures established here to employ them."
(This section contains excerpts, at times restructured or paraphrased, from an article appearing in Statistical Account of Scotland, Sir John Sinclair, 1791-1799)
Primary Sources:
Statistical Account of Scotland (1791-1799), Volume 7, p. 161
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 14, Section II, p. 235
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
