Parochial Economy
Ecclesiastical History and State
First Chapel and Parish Church. --As early as the reign of David I., we have notices of the existence of a chapel attached to the manor of Corstorphine and subordinate to the kirk of St. Cuthberts. In a charter by that monarch, to the Abbey of Holyroodhouse, dated in 1128, he bestows on the canons of the abbey, the kirk of St. Cuthberts, along with the Chapel of
Crostorfin,(i) and two bovates and six acres of land. This chapel is also noticed in the reign of Alexander II., when David le Mareschall acquired two acres of ground belonging to it, which lay adjoining to his estate of Crostorfin. It was afterwards converted into, or superseded by, a parish church.
In the register of the Great Seal, the following donations to this church are mentioned and confirmed by royal charters, viz. 1st, a donation in November 1465, by John Marshall, one of the chaplains of the Collegiate Church of Corstorphine, of certain tenements under the Castle wall of Edinburgh, for the maintenance of a chaplain to serve at the altar of the Holy Trinity in the parish church; and, 2d, a donation, in September 1475, by William de Camera, Vicar of Kirkurd, of property in the village of Corstorphine, and annual rents, amounting to 11 merks 13s. 4d. Scots, payable from several tenements in Edinburgh, for the support of a secular chaplain to serve at the altar of St. Ann in the parish church. The duty of this secular chaplain, as described in the Crown charter, is very characteristic of the times. He was to attend the altar, and perform daily masses there, for the safety of the soul of the late King James II.,--for the healthful state of King James III.--for the safety of the souls of their royal predecessors and successors, and of Sir Alexander Forrester of Corstorphine,--for the healthful state of Archibald Forrester of Corstorphine, and for the safety of the souls of his predecessors and successors--for the safety of the souls of the father and mother of the donor, William de Camera, and his ancestors and successors,--also of all to whom he was indebted, or from whom he had ever received any thing while in this world, --and lastly, for the souls of all the faithful dead. The patronage of this chaplainry after the founder's death is declared to belong to the proprietor of Corstorphine and his heirs (ii).
Second Chapel.--Towards the close of the fourteenth century, Sir Adam Forrester of Corstorphine erected in the vicinity of the parish church, another chapel, which was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and he founded three chaplainries in it, and paid to the chaplains during his life L. 24 Scots yearly. After his death, this foundation was confirmed by a charter of King James I., dated 25th February 1425, which gives to Sir John Forrester and his heirs, the right to present fit persons as chaplains to the Bishop of St. Andrews, who was to be bound to admit them to the benefice. And in order to provide for their personal residence, which by the charter is declared imperative, Sir John assigned to the chaplains three acres of ground in the village of Corstorphine, for manses, with pasturage for three horses, and three cows with their followers of one year old.
Other two chaplainries were founded by Dame Margaret Forrester, relict of Sir Adam Forrester, in the same chapel, and annual rents, amounting to L. 28, 13s. 4d. Scots, payable from property in Edinburgh, Leith, and Corstorphine, were mortified for the support of the chaplains.
i. Chalmer's Caledonia, Vol. ii, p.787, and Cart. Of Holyroodhouse.
ii. M.S. Reg. Mag. Sigil.
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