METHODIST CHURCH
RECORDS HELD BY
ABERDEEN CITY AND
ABERDEENSHIRE
ARCHIVES
A GUIDE
METHODIST CHURCH RECORDS HELD BY ABERDEEN CITY AND
ABERDEENCITY ARCHIVES
PD14/1
CULLEN METHODIST CHURCH ..................................................1
PD14/2/
PORTESSIE METHODIST CHURCH ............................................3
PD14/3
FINDOCHTY METHODIST CHURCH............................................7
PD/14/4
WHITEHILLS METHODIST CHURCH.........................................12
PD/14/5
NORTH OF SCOTLAND CIRCUIT RECORDS ...........................14
PD62
PETERHEAD METHODIST CHURCH RECORDS .........................16
PD14/1
CULLEN METHODIST CHURCH
1/
Church Trustees’ and Society & Leaders’ Records
1
Minutes of Church Trustees’ meetings.
Includes minutes of annual meetings held.
21 March 1907 - 30 October 1965
(1 volume)
2
Minutes of Society Meetings and Leaders’ meetings
Meetings held annually. Book begins with the society
meetings and then becomes minute book for leaders’
meetings.
21 January 1939 - 25 February 1967
(1 volume)
2
Minutes of Leaders’ and Church Council meetings
26 August 1967 - 6 November 1988
(1 volume)
3
Church Quarterly Accounts
September 1938 - December 1960
(1 volume)
4
Leaders’ Class Books [for Bible Classes?] giving names and
addresses of class members and details of collections paid.
Various years:
1954 (2 volumes)
1955 (1 volume)
1959 (1 volume)
1967 (8 volumes)
1970 (2 volumes)
1971 (1 volumes)
1981 (2 volumes)
2/
Women’s Wesley and Inters Guild Records
1
Wesley Guild Minutes
6 March 1952 - 21 April 1960
(1 volume)
2
Wesley Guild Cash Book
28 March 1924 - September 1933
(1 volume)
3
Wesley Guild Cash Book
13 March 1952 - 21 April 1960
(1 volume)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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4
Cullen Inters Guild Minutes
September 1960 - 13 May 1974
(1 volume)
5
Cullen Inters Guild Accounts
12 October 1955 - 22 April 1958
(1 volume)
6
Cullen Inters Guild Accounts
1 November 1960 - 26 June 1971
(1 volume)
3/
Sunday School Records
1
Minutes of Sunday School Teachers’ meetings. Includes list
of teachers at back, 1937 - 1973.
January 1937 - 11 September 1975
(1 volume)
2
Sunday School Attendance Register
1907 - 1911
(1 volume)
3
Sunday School Attendance Register
1961-1969
(1 volume)
4/
Miscellaneous Church Records
1
Church Collection Journal
15 November 1914 - 18 November 1923
(1 volume)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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PD14/2/ PORTESSIE METHODIST CHURCH
1/
Portessie Church Trustees’ and Leaders’ Records
1
Portessie Methodist Church Minutes of Annual Trustees’
meetings.
April 1902 - 7 October 1966
(1 volume)
2
Minutes of Annual Church Trustees’ meetings.
29 October 1966 - 1 October 1986
(1 volume)
3
Minutes of Manse Trustees’ meetings.
Concerned with maintenance of Manse.
4 April 1902 - 24 September 1965
(1 volume)
4
Church Trustees’ Account Book.
Includes financial summaries at back, 1915 - 1936.
March 1914 - 20 December 1953
(1 volume)
5
Minutes of Church Leaders’ meetings.
1 December 1902 - 15 December 1925
(1 volume)
6
Minutes of Church Leaders’ meetings.
16 March 1926 - 5 March 1953
(1 volume)
7
Minutes of Church Leaders’ meetings.
6 September 1956 - 5 March 1971
(1 volume)
8
Accounts of Church Leaders’ meetings.
27 September 1910 - March 1953
(1 volume)
9
Notes of Church Leaders’ meetings
14 February 1969 – 1973
(1 folder)
2/
General Correspondence and papers
1
Property Committee
c. 1954 – c. 1958
(1 folder)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
-3-
2
Miscellaneous Correspondence
1963 – 1986
(1 folder)
3
Youth Council
c. 1971 – c. 1976
(1 folder)
4
Papers relating to Church Organ
1977 – 1985
(1 folder)
3/
Church Collection Journals
Giving details of collections at weekly services.
1
25 January 1903 - 24 March 1912
(1 volume)
2
3 March 1912 - 15 June 1919
(1 volume)
3
22 June 1919 - 14 September 1930
(1 volume)
4
21 September 1930 - 28 June 1942
(1 volume)
5
2 August 1942 - 29 August 1954
(1 volume)
6
5 September 1954 - 20 February 1966
(1 volume)
7
27 February 1966 - 21 November 1976
(1 volume)
4/
Bank Account Deposit Books
Account details for Organ Fund, Reserve Funds and
Bequests etc.
1
1967 – 1994
(16 booklets)
2
Account Balance Sheets
1966 – 1986
(1 folder)
3
Treasurer’s Account Book
1956 – 1974
(1 notebook)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
-4-
4
Church Accounts Schedules
1969 – 1978
(1 folder)
5
Bank Statements
31 January 1980 – 31 December 1990
(1 folder)
6
Home Missions Accounts Book
1956 – 1979
(1 Notebook)
7
Collections Register
1971 - 1975
(1 volume)
8
Collections Register
1975 – 1979
(1 volume)
9
Collections Registers
1980 – 1988
(1 folder)
5/
Pulpit Notice Books
Giving lists of weekly intimations at church services.
1
16 September 1956 - 31 August 1958
(1 volume)
2
7 September 1958 - 14 August 1960
(1 volume)
3
4 September 1960 - 26 August 1962
(1 volume)
4
2 September 1962 - 23 August 1964
(1 volume)
5
30 August 1964 - 21 August 1966
(1 volume)
6
11 September 1966 - 13 October 1968
(1 volume)
7
20 October 1968 - 29 October 1972
(1 volume)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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6/
Women’s Guild Records
1
2
7/
Minutes of Portessie Methodist Church Ladies’ Fellowship
meetings
September 1981 - April 1987
(1 volume)
Wesley Women’s Guild Accounts
14 January 1914 - June 1968 (1 volume)
Portessie Circuit Records
1
Minutes of Portessie Circuit giving details of quarterly
meetings.
2 October 1900 - 13 September 1922
(1 volume)
2
Quarterly Accounts of Portessie Circuit.
December 1875 - June 1895
(1 volume)
8/
Miscellaneous Church Records
1
Minutes of Building Committee [for new Church].
11 July 1911 - 22 April 1913
(1 volume)
2
Copies of plans and elevations for proposed alterations for
Manse for Portessie Church.
July 1973
(1 volume)
9/
Registers of Baptisms
1
Register of Baptisms
13 November 1864 – 11 November 1883
(1 volume)
2
Register of Baptisms
December 1883 – 24 December 1905
(1 volume)
3
Register of Baptisms
23 January 1906 – 28 February 1993
(1 volume)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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PD14/3
FINDOCHTY METHODIST CHURCH
1/
Findochty Church Trustees’, Society & Leaders’ Records
1
Minutes of Findochty Church Trustees’ meetings.
2 March 1925 - 2 May 1970
(1 volume)
2
Minutes of Findochty Church Trustees’ meetings.
24 October 1970 - 23 October 1976
(1 volume)
3
Accounts of Findochty Church Trustees.
1934 - 25 August 1977
(1 volume)
4
Loose accounts relating to the building of Findochty
Methodist Church.
1916-1917
(1 envelope)
5
Minutes of Society meetings
12 October 1963 - 26 April 1968
Includes Minutes of Annual Church meetings.
5 June 1982 - 6 March 1986
(1 volume)
6
Minutes of Leaders’ meetings.
5 December 1964 - 4 March 1972
(1 volume)
7
Minutes of Leaders’ Meetings/Church Council meetings.
10 June 1972 - September 1982
(1 volume)
8
Class Books of various class Leaders giving them directions
and recording class members, dues paid etc.
Various dates from 1945 - 1964
(8 booklets)
9
Miscellaneous papers relating to Findochty Methodist Church
Trust. Includes correspondence and bills relating to work on
Church property, Methodist Church schedule, copy of
minutes relating to appointment of new Trustees, 1956 etc.
1940 - 1974
(1 file)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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2/
Reports and Correspondence
1
Property Correspondence
1981 – 1993
(1 folder)
2
Reports and Minutes
c. 1982 – c. 1990
3
Property Correspondence
1981 – 1983
(1 folder)
3/
Church Collection Journals
Giving details of collections at weekly services.
1
19 March 1923 - March 1925
(1 volume)
2
13 September 1925 - 27 December 1936
(1 volume)
3
3 January 1937 - 12 December 1938
(1 volume)
4
2 January 1949 - 19 February 1961
(1 volume)
5
26 February 1961 - 11 March 1984
(1 volume)
4/
Accounts and Bank Statements
1
Circuit Account Statements
1983 – 1989
(1 envelope)
2
Bank Account Books
1954 – 1987
(4 booklets)
3
Circuit Assessments
1968 – 1991
(1 folder)
4
Summary Accounts
1981 – 1989
(1 folder)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
-8-
5/
Pulpit Notices
Giving lists of weekly intimations at church services.
1
3 May 1964 - May 1966
(1 volume)
2
3 July 1966 - 25 August 1968
(1 volume)
3
1 September 1968 - 31 August 1969
(1 volume)
4
7 September 1969 - August 1970
(1 volume)
5
12 September 1971 - August 1972
(1 volume)
6
3 September 1972 - September 1973
(1 volume)
7
September 1973 - August 1974
(1 volume)
8
September 1974 - September 1975
(1 volume)
9
21 September 1975 - September 1976
(1 volume)
10
October 1976 - October 1977
(1 volume)
11
22 March 1981 - March 1982
(1 volume)
12
30 December 1980 - 7 December 1980
(1 booklet)
13
20 May 1984 - 3 April 1988
(1 booklet)
14
14 March 1982 - 20 March 1983
(1 booklet)
15
April 1983 - 13 May 1985
(1 booklet)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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6/
Findochty Young Wives’ Group
1
Minutes of Young Wives’ Group Meetings.
15 November 1978 - June 1985
(1 volume)
2
Cash Book of Young Wives’ Group.
December 1978 - August 1985
(1 volume)
7/
Findochty Circuit
1
8/
Account Book.
1959 - 1972
(1 volume)
Miscellaneous
1
Pamphlet entitled “Guidelines for Young Wives”.
Not dated. [1970]
(1 booklet)
2
Pamphlet entitled “Planning Your Programme” (Young Wives’
Group series).
Not dated. [1970]
(1 booklet)
3
Booklet entitled “Acts of Worship”, (Young Wives’ Group
series).
Not dated. [1970]
(1 booklet)
4
Booklet entitled “Christian Festivals around the Year”.
(Young Wives’ Group series).
Not dated. [1970]
(1 volume)
5
Booklet entitled “Making a Collage”. By Margaret Bacon.
(Practical Leaflet No. 1)
Not dated
(1 booklet)
6
Booklet entitled “Making your Own Epilogues”. By Margaret
Horner & June Lunn. (Practical Leaflet No. 3).
Not dated
(1 booklet)
7
Booklet entitled “Praying in Public”. By Muriel Taylor and
Katharine Doley. (Practical Leaflet No. 4).
(1 booklet)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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8
Women’s Fellowship booklet entitled “Ideas for
Programmes”.
Not dated. [1970]
(1 file)
9
The Methodist Church Division of Ministries booklet entitled
“Women’s Fellowship”.
Spring Bulletin, 1980.
(1 booklet)
10
The Methodist Church Division of Ministries booklet
“Women’s Fellowship”.
Summer Bulletin, 1981.
(1 booklet)
9/ Miscellaneous
1
Accounts relating to building of church
1926 – 1917
(1 envelope)
2
Plan of proposed dyke
1950
(1 envelope)
3
Papers relating to electricity supply
c. 1960
(1 envelope)
4
Miscellaneous Papers
c. 1965 – c. 1984
(1 folder)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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PD/14/4 WHITEHILLS METHODIST CHURCH
1/
Leaders’ Records
1
Minutes of Leaders’ Meetings.
13 June 1969 - 2 September 1977
(1 volume)
2
Quarterly Collection Book for Leaders’ Classes.
1968 - 1969
(1 booklet)
3
Class Book giving directions for leaders and details of dues
paid.
1950 - 1968
(1 booklet)
2/
Bank Account Deposit Books
1
Pool fund
1951 – 1984
(1 booklet)
2
Account Book
1980 – 1984
(1 booklet)
3/
Offertory and Collection Registers
1
Offertory Book
1888 – 1912
(1 volume)
2
Collection Journal
1912 – 1941
(1 volume)
3
Collection Journal
1941 – 1957
(1 volume)
4
Collection Journal
1958 – 1975
(1 volume)
5
Collection Journal
1975 – 1988
(1 volume)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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6
Collection Journal
1988 – 2000
(1 volume)
4/
Register of Baptisms
1
Baptism Register
1970 – 1998
(1 volume)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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PD/14/5 NORTH OF SCOTLAND CIRCUIT RECORDS
1/
Minute Books of Circuit Meetings
1
Minutes of Building Committee Meetings
1890 –1891
(1 notebook)
2
Minutes of Trustees’ Meetings
1927 – 1966
(1 volume)
3
Minutes of Trustees’ Meetings
1968 – 2000
(1 volume)
2/
Financial Records
1
3/
Yearly Accounts Book
1969 – 1996
(1 volume)
Offertory Books and Collection Registers
1
Collection Register
1934 – 1993
(1 volume)
2
Collection Register
1971 – 1985
(1 volume)
3
Collection Register
1986 – 2000
(1 notebook)
4/
1
2
Miscellaneous
Schedule Book for Circuit Sunday Schools.
Includes Aberdeen Sunday Schools and those in Peterhead,
Banff, Cullen, Findochty, Portessie, Buckie and Portgordon
and gives details on number of teachers, average
attendances, church members etc
1938 - 1942
(1 booklet)
Sunday School Register (unidentified)
1952 – 1963
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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(1 notebook)
3
Sermon notes (unidentified)
n.d.
(1 notebook)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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PD62
PETERHEAD METHODIST CHURCH
RECORDS
Although Methodists first visited Peterhead in 1759, by 1815 methodism had
become an almost extinct force, but the cause was revived in 1845. The
present Wesley Methodist Church was erected in 1866 in Queen Street,
Peterhead.
1/
2/
Minutes of Quarterly and Leader's Meetings.
1
Minutes of Quarterly Meetings. Includes Bond between Charles
Christie Junior and others for Methodist Church and William
Alexander, Solicitor, 19 June 1878.
29 June 1851 - 28 June 1883.
(1 volume)
2
Minutes of Local Preacher's Meetings. Later becomes minutes
of Quarterly Meetings from June 1904 - January 1925.
20 March 1882 - January 1925.
(1 volume)
3
Minutes of Quarterly Meetings.
11 March 1925 - June 1939.
(1 volume)
4
Minutes of Quarterly Leader's Meetings. Includes minutes of
annual society meetings at back.
7 September 1939 - 3 September 1963.
29 January 1957 - 322 January 1963.
(1 volume)
5
Minutes of Quarterly Leader's Meetings. Also contains minutes
of annual Society Meetings at back.
3 December 1963 - 6 June 1973
3 March 1964 - 15 January 1972.
(1 volume)
6
Draft Minute book of Leaders Meetings
13 June 1932 - 5 June 1936.
(1 booklet)
Miscellaneous Minutes
1
Peterhead Chapel Trust Minutes.
16 September 1864 - 28 March 1977.
(1 volume)
2
Manse Trust Minutes.
November 1906 - 27 May 1977.
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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(1 volume)
3
3/
Finance Committee Minutes.
25 March 1924 - December 1947.
(1 volume)
Financial records
1
Circuit Cash Book. Includes Minutes of Trustees at back, May
1845 - May 1859.
October 1815 - May 1834.
(1 volume)
2
Circuit Cash Book.
March 1853 - 1879.
(1 volume)
3
Circuit Cash Book.
20 March 1881 - 14 September 1904.
(1 volume)
4
Cash Book.
September 1904 - December 1919.
(1 volume)
5
Cash Book for Quarterly Meetings.
March 1920 - September 1943
(1 volume)
6
Cash book of Quarterly Meetings.
December 1943 - December 1965.
(1 volume)
7
Quarterly Financial Statements.
June 1976 - June 1985.
(1 volume)
8
Cash Book.
July 1980 - April 1985.
(1 volume)
9
Circuit Cash Book giving accounts for Quarterly
meetings.[Minister's copy]
March 1933 - March 1952.
(1 volume)
10
Wesleyan Society Cash Book.
December 1857 - December 1880.
(1 volume)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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11
4/
Papers relating to Peterhead Methodist Church Development
Fund. Includes leaflets on Deed of Covenants and report by
Property Division entitled "Fund Raising For Building Schemes,
1984.
Not dated. [1980 - 1984]
(1 file)
Deeds
1
Feu Charter by the Governors of the Merchant Maiden Hospital
in favour of the Trustees for a Methodist Chapel, Peterhead.
1866.
(1 parchment)
2
Declaration by Rev. James Gaskell and Other as Trustees of the
Methodist Chapel, Peterhead of the adoption of New Model
Deed.
June 1961.
(1 paper)
3
Extract Registered Deed of Assumption and Conveyance by
James Gaskell as the Trustees of the Peterhead Methodist
Church in favour of himself and others.
January 1961.
(1 paper)
4
Extract Registered Will of Maggie Ann Buchan.
June 1922.
(1 paper)
5
Discharge of Bond and Disposition by James G. A. Stephen in
favour of Mary Jane Winter or Buchan.
1947.
(1 paper)
6
Discharge of Bond and Disposition by Mrs Annie Dustin Still or
Pressley in favour of Mrs Flora McDonald or Pressley.
1926.
(1 paper)
7
Discharge and Assignation of Bond and Disposition by the
Trustees of the deceased Miss C. A. Robertson to the Trustees
of the late William Daniel and John Smith, respectively.
1893.
(1 paper)
8
Discharge of balance of loan by John Smith to Mrs Anne Mutch
or Daniel.
1900.
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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(1 paper)
5/
9
Discharge of Bond and Disposition by James Hutcheson and
others and Trustees of the late Miss C. A. Robertson in favour of
Alexander Taylor.
1872.
(2 papers)
10
Bond and Disposition in security by Mrs Maggie Ann Buchan in
favour of James George Alexander Stephen.
Miscellaneous
1
Baptism Register.
1870 - October 1897.
(1 volume)
2
Stubs from Baptism Certificates giving name of child, date of
baptism, and address.
1978 - 1984, 1987 - 1992.
(1 booklet)
3
Abstainer's Roll Cards and Register. Three cards are filled and
rest are blank.
1959.
(1 volume and cards)
4
Papers and Correspondence of Trustees. Includes list of
Trustees at October 1974.
1972 - 1974.
(1 file)
5
Papers relating to valuation of Church Hall and rating exemption.
1973 - 1974.
(1 bundle)
6
Memorandum relating to Relief and Extension Fund for
Methodism in Scotland granting one hundred pounds to church.
May 1972.
(1 paper)
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/archives
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