pears that
Strageath, Muthill, and Strowane were combined under the ministry of
Alexander Gaw at a stipend of L60 Scots and kirk-lands, while Andro
Drummond was reader at Strageath at a stipend of L20.

In 1617, the Parish Church was changed to Blackford by Act of
Parliament:--

"Our Soveraine Lord and Estaittis of this present Parliament
understanding that ye kirk of the parochin of Strageth wes of auld
situat and biggit upoun the newk and utmost pairt of the said parochin
of Strageath, and the parochiners thereof found it nowayes to be meit
to be the paroche kirk of the said parochin in respect of the wyidnes
and gryit bonndis of the said parochin, they thairefore be the space of
twentye-four yeiris or thairby biggit and foundit within the town of
Blackfurde qlk lyis and is within ye middis of the said parochin, ane
new kirk for the gryit ease of the parochoneris ... thairefore ...
ordanis the samen kirk, now biggit within the said town of Blackfurde,
to be ye principal kirk of ye said parochin of Strageath in all tyme
cuming, and ordanis the haill parochoneris thairoff to resort thairto
and ressave the benefit of ye kirk thairat."[9]

The year 1689 brought the Revolution, and the minister, Mr David Moray,
A.M., refusing to conform with the new state of things, was deprived of
his living by the Privy Council. He retired to Edinburgh, carrying
with him the kirk bible as a memento of his ministry. When the
Kirk-Session met in 1697 "it was recommended to the minister to use his
endeavours to get the kirk bible from Mr Murray," and early in 1699
there appears the item--"To James Brown, the carrier, for bringing home
the kirk bible out of Edenburgh from Mr David Murray, 9. 4."; and a
fortnight later--"Twopence to James Brown for compleeting his payt. for
bringing home of ye kirk bible."

The first minister after the Revolution was Mr Archibald Moncrieff, an
admirable and faithful pastor, whose conscience forbade him to ask a
manse from the heritors for several years, during which he lived at
Stirling, and travelled to and from his work. He was succeeded in 1738
by his son, who became Sir William Moncrieff Wellwood. In that year
the old kirk was burned in rather curious circumstances. The kirk was
being used as the parish school, and was heated by a peat fire. In the
master's absence one day the boys amused themselves by throwing about
the lighted peats. The kirk caught fire, and was burned to the ground.
Sir