THE PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH IN SCOTLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 260, 26 April 1878, Page 9

THE PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH IN SCOTLAND.

Feom documents deposited in the Propaganda archives, and from statistics furnished, by the Vicars- Apostolic of Scotland, it would appear that within the last fifty years the Catholic faith in Scotland has made an amazing progress. In the year 1828 the Eastern district contained twelve secular priests, ten churches or places of worship, and a Catholic population of 25,000 souls. In the year 1877 the same district contained 73 priests, of whom 20 were regulars : S7 churches or places of worship, 7 religious houses for men and 8 for women ; fifty-five schools, and a Catholic population of at least 83.500 souls. The Western district contained in 1828 22 secular priests, 17 places of worship, and a Catholic population of 45,000 souls. In 1877 the Western district contained 146 priests, of whom 2G were regulars ; 122 places of worship, G religions houses for men and S for women : 99 schools, and a Catholic population estimated at either 202,000 or 301,930. The Northern district contained in 182S, 16 secular priests, IS churches or places of worship, few schools, and 10,000 Catholic souls. In the year 1877 the Northern district contained 39 priests. 43 places of worship, G convents, 20 schools, and 12,500 Catholic, souls. In short, the number of priests in all Scotland has increased from 50 in 182S, to 25G, in 1877. The Churches, chapels and stations have increased from 45 to 252. Iv 1828 there were no religions houses, whereas m 1577 there were 22 houses of religious women and thirteen of men. The Catholic schools, which were very few in 182 S. are now 174, exclusive of eleven other educational institutes. And the Catholic population, which in 182S was 80,000, is now estimated at 3G0.000 at the lowest calculation. The Catholic population of the~ne\vly created dioceses of Scotland may be thus distributed : Number of Catholics. , St. Andrews and. Edinburgh 50,000 Glasgow 230,000 Aberdeen 14,000 Dunkeld 40,000 Galloway 16,000 Argylc and the Isles 10,000 It may be noted that the Rev. Angus Macdonald, the newlycreated Bishop of Argylc, is brother to the present Laird of Glenaladale, whose ancestor received Prince Charles in his house the first night of his landing in Scotland, in the rising of 1745. In the same mansion, Barrodale House, the Prince slept on the last night he spent in Scotland. — Exchange. • ■ .. '-