The Protestant Clergy and Poor Relief, 1560-1660

As testified by this volume, historians have developed an increasingly strong awareness of the many complex roles played in society by parish clergy.¹ This chapter explores the clergy’s work in the area of poor relief and charity, a part of the Scottish Reformed Church’s mission which has only recently begun to receive significant attention. It is now suggested that the poor relief provided by the Church – and in particular the parochial kirk session – was more significant, responsive, and sensitive than had been suggested by the traditional emphasis on the failure to implement poor laws on a widespread basis.