The book Arran; - Cook Clan

186 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
(1772), materials were already lying in position for the construction
of a new church at Lamlash. Four years later the
inhabitants of the ' numberous parish ' of Kilmorie also are
petitioning for a new church, for the reason that their old one
was too small by half and past repair. It being conjectured
that it will cost less to build a new one than to adapt the
old, and the tenants having been bound to do all the carrying
of materials, the prayer of the petition at first wins favour.
However, estimates are taken for both reconstruction and
a new building, and it turns out that the new building is
the more expensive. This must have been decisive for the
time, as the new church was not built till 1785.^ The
estimate had provided for the seating of 550 persons ; the
repaired church with galleries is to hold 750. The manse
too is under extensive repair. By 1776 the outlay on the
church of Kilbride amounts to £376, 18s. 4d., including a
bell and belfrey at £5 each, and ' a decent pulpit and
precentor's seat and desk,' £10. The church was to hold
530 people.
Both road and ' rogue ' money were county rates, and,
' as good roads and bridges are the first step to improvement
in all cultivated countries,' the tutors proposed to get the
share of both rates paid by Arran expended on the island
for the future ' in making and repairing the roads and erecting
bridges.' Apparently there were no ' rogues ' needing atten-
tion. The statutory share of the tenants, cottars, etc., in
such public works was to do six days' labour a year, or,
failing that, pay eighteenpence a day. At the meeting
described above, this duty, which everywhere was normally
neglected, was brought under consideration, and the resolution
was in favour of doing the work rather than paying
the money ; the inhabitants of each of the six districts to
see to their own roads. This mode of dealing with a great
public necessity had long proved itself inefficient ; roads.
' Nem Statistical Account.