Before this discussion gets bogged down, I should point out that there were several groups which broke away from the Church of Scotland in the 18th century and there was one, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, which had its roots in the Covenanters which already existed in the 17th century. It is possible that some members/supporters of this church found their way to Argyll but I cannot tell you whether they had any organisation there. One 'free' church however did exist in Argyll, the Relief Church in Campbeltown, which was founded in the mid 1760's and of which there is a very good list of the original members who took seats in the National Archives of Scotland CH3/1421/5. A baptismal register certainly was in existence a number of years ago but I have not checked whether it has found its way to the National Archives. The church itself which was built in defiance of the Duke of Argyll still stands in the Longrow in Campbeltown but it is now part of the Church of Scotland. Frank Bigwood

----- Original Message ----- From: <Wflbigwood@cs.com> To: <SCT-ARGYLL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 9:08 PM Hi all, I have not read all of this discussion, and I may have the wrong dates, and the wrong end of the straww, if so forgive me, but I would like to quote a passage from the book 'Road to the Isle`s'. There used to be a floating church moored off-shore ( Loch Shiel ) just by Strontian. In 1843 the people of the area were refused permission to erect their own church, and they refused to attend the established church. This was after the Disruption, when the Free church split away. Apart from the theological arguments and political issues. Ministers of the Established church were appointed by the landowners, and only too often they counselled the congregation to eccept in all humility the policy of the clearing people off the land so that sheep could be accomodated to the greater profit of the landowners. This was the case in Strontian, and Sir James RIDDELL, who had recently purchased Ardnamurchan, refused even to permit the building of a Free church so the people raised the sum of £1400 and purchased a floating church. Stuart. http://geocities.com/Heartland/Garden/1311/13300-scottishreference.htm >