Towns > Helensburgh > 1875 - Battrum's guide and directory to Helensburgh and neighbourhood

TO ROW. '41
its fresh, beauties before you in all the attraction of nature.
Passing througb the moor for about a mile, the road diverges
again, and joins the new Luss road, whence the route north-
wards may be prosecuted, or the pedestrian can return thus
homewards.
TO ROW.
Learned Gaelic commentators have long ago found out
that the original name of this district was "Khue," or, Point
of Land ; and failing any more plausible theory, we are will-
ing to admit the corruption of the text. Parishes were
anciently often named from the localities selected for the
kirk. This appears to have been the case here.* The name
* It appears from ecclesiastical records that the kirk of Row was at
first an ease, or subordinate, place of worship for local accommoda-
tion, served by the minister of Roseneath. An act of General Assem-
bly, of date 27th August 1639, empowered the Presbytery to take
measures for settling both parishes of Roseneath and Cardross, with
Ease. When the Presbytery began their proceedings, on 4th Feb. ,
1640, the " kirk upon the Row of Connel" existed, and M'Aulay of
Ardencaple required the ease to be there. At another meeting, held
the same month, Mr. George Lindsay, minister of Roseneath, offered
security to maintain a helper ; but Mr. Robert Walton, minister of
Cardross, rather than that any part of his parish should be united ta
Roseneath, made a large offer for building a church and maintaining a
helper in Glenf ruin. There ensued a long and keen conflict between
contending parties. The minister of Roseneath instead of being dis-
burdened of the part of his charge east of Gareloch, was charged with
having to preach every second Sabbath at the kirk of Row. At length
(3d July 1643) the Lords Commissioners for the plantation of Kirks
decreed the disjunction so long contended for. As much of Rosensath
lying to the east of Kirkmichael was annexed to Cardross as was dis-
joined from Cardross to be annexed to the kirk of Row. The part of
Cardross taken to make up the new parish embraced the Bannachras,
Glenfruin, and lands about Gareloch-head. The compensation re-
ceived by Cardross, from Roseneath, lay between Kirkmichael and
the present church. Till then, that church stood on Cardross Point,
at the influx of the Leven with Clyde. Row continued to be without
a settled ministry till the presbytery, on 27th September 1648, ap-
pointed the admission of Mr. Archibald MacLeane, of Kingarth, aa
its first minister.