07: Matthew Kirkland

Reverend Matthew Kirkland (b.1800-d.1846)

  • Minister of parish New Cumnock (1835 -1843)
    • Current Parish Church
  • Minister of New Cumnock Free Church (1843-1846)
  • Spouse: Anna Smith (b.1800-d. 1872)
  • Children: Isabella

Minister of Parish of New Cumnock

Matthew Kirkland was born in Carmunnock, Glasgow in 1800 and was presented to New Cumnock parish by John Marquess of Bute in September 1835 and ordained in December that year.

In 1838 the Reverend Kirkland compiled the Statistical Account of the parish of New Cumnock (published in 1845) and summarised the Ecclesiastical State as follows –

matthewkirkland_stataount

matthewkirkland_stataount_02

The following year in 1839 at Glasgow he married Anna Smith, daughter of the late John Smith, hosier and together they had a daughter Isabella Donaldson born on 27th February 1841,  in the manse at New Cumnock.

Within a few years the Kirkland family were looking for a new home. In 1843  a great schism in the Established Church, known as The Disruption, resulted in over 400 ministers, including Matthew Kirkland, seceding from that church and forming the Free Church of Scotland – a church free from civil interference.

REVEREND MATTHEW KIRKLAND 1833-1843

MATTHEW KIRKLAND, born 1799, eldest son of Matthew K., Carmunnock ; educated at Univ. of Glasgow ; licen. by Presb. of Glasgow 7th May 1828 ; pres. by John, Marquess of
Bute, 28th Sept., and ord. 10th Dec. 1835. Joined the Free Church in 1843; min. of New Cumnock Free Church, 1843-6; died 27th July 1846. He marr. 12th Dec. 1839, Ann (died 2nd Aug. 1872), eldest daugh. of John Smith, hosier, Glasgow,and had issue Isabella, born 27th Feb. 1841. Publication Account of the Parish (New Stat. Ace., v.)