A manse (/ˈmæns/) is a clergy house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of Presbyterian, Methodist, United church, Baptist and other traditions.
Ultimately derived from the Latin mansus, "dwelling", from manere, "to remain", by the 16th century the term meant both a dwelling and, in ecclesiastical contexts, the amount of land needed to support a single family.
Many notable Scots have been called "sons (or daughters) of the manse", and the term is a recurring point of reference within Scottish media and culture.
When selling a former manse, the Church of Scotland always requires that the property should not be called "The Manse" by the new owners, but "The Old Manse" or some other acceptable variation. The intended result is that "The Manse" refers to a working building rather than simply applying as a name.
The term "son (or daughter) of the manse" refers to the son or daughter of a Presbyterian minister, who therefore was brought up in a manse.
Among those to whom the epithet has been applied are:
Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International DevelopmentWendy Alexander (sister of Douglas), Labour MSP; former leader of the Labour Party group in the Scottish Parliament (2007–2008); former minister in the Scottish Executive (1999–2002)John Logie Baird, engineer and inventor of the world's first working television systemRichard Baker MSP, Shadow Justice Minister in the Scottish ParliamentLord Beaverbrook, press baronGordon Brown, former Chancellor of the Exchequer (1997–2007) and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2007–2010)John Buchan, novelist and Unionist MP, served as Governor General of CanadaPeter Fraser, advocate; former Lord Advocate (1989–1992); former Conservative and Unionist MPDavid Frost, interviewer and broadcasterJames Gray, Conservative MPWilliam "Captain" Kidd, pirate, was reputed to have been a "son of the manse", but this has been discounted.Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1928 to 1942Andrew Bonar Law, former Prime Minister (1922–1923)Eric Liddell, athlete and rugby internationalist, winner of the 400 metres at the 1924 Olympic Games; missionary to China; portrayed in the film Chariots of FireAngus MacVicar, Scottish author and playwrightSheena McDonald, broadcasterHugh Mercer, Jacobite physician and general of the American RevolutionMichael Moore, Liberal Democrat MPRab C. Nesbitt, fictional layaboutGeorge Reid, fourth Prime Minister of AustraliaJohn Reith, founder of the BBCWilliam Ritchie Sorley, philosopherDavid Steel, former leader of the Liberal Party and the Social and Liberal Democrats; former Presiding Officer of the Scottish ParliamentDavid Tennant (stage name of David McDonald), actorWilliam Montgomery Watt, Islamic studies scholar and OrientalistWoodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States of AmericaJohn Witherspoon, signatory of the United States Declaration of IndependenceDavid Goy QC, Tax barristerJosiah Dennis, First minister of the East Yarmouth Parish, as the town of Dennis, Massachusetts was known in 1736.
