It was the attempt by Charles I to force the English Episcopalian system with Bishops and Archbishops on the Scottish Presbyterian church which ultimately cost him his head. The Covenanters (the Scottish Lords and their supporters opposed to the English church being forced on Scotland) sided with Oliver Cromwell initially and decisively against Charles and the Archbishop he imposed on Scotland was murdered. All relevant records in Scotland were in the Parish Records, either the Session Records which tended to deal with matters spiritual and "political" within each parish, the Kirk Session being a recognised Court of Law under Scots Law and family matters like baptisms and marriages were kept in the Old Parochial Registers kept and often lost or accidentally destroyed in each Parish by the Minister or his Session Clerk or even the Congregational Clerk, basically whoever was best able to read and write in English. The non-conformist and other churches do have some records but as many of them faced persecution at various times prior to the 19th century, their records are few and far between. As most list members can testify, even the universal OPR are far from complete and generally have more information missing than included, much to the frustration of the modern genealogist. Cheers Mark Mark Sutherland-Fisher Director Fisher (Holiday Enterprises) Ltd email: [email protected] web site: www.highland-family-heritage.co.uk Tel/Fax: 00 44 (0) 1862 871877 Mobile: 00 44 (0) 7765 272815 Skype call name: john.sutherland.fisher -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 10 August 2006 09:47 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Renfrew] Scottish equivalent of C of E Bishop's Transcripts? In a message dated 09/08/2006 23:49:44 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Does anyone know whether there are Scottish versions of the Bishop's Transcripts of pre 1837 BMBs kept by the Church of England? I imagine the Church of Scotland parishes might have kept these, but did the non - established churches keep them also? There were no Bishops in the Church of Scotland. It was and is Presbyterian. Attempts from over the border to introduce episcopalianism were strongly resisted ...eg Covenanters. So there are no BTs Irene