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 Development
Wendy 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 system
Richard Baker MSP, Shadow Justice Minister in the Scottish Parliament
Lord Beaverbrook, press baron
Gordon 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 Canada
Peter Fraser, advocate; former Lord Advocate (1989–1992); former Conservative and Unionist MP
David Frost, interviewer and broadcaster
James Gray, Conservative MP
William "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 1942
Andrew 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 Fire
Angus MacVicar, Scottish author and playwright
Sheena McDonald, broadcaster
Hugh Mercer, Jacobite physician and general of the American Revolution
Michael Moore, Liberal Democrat MP
Rab C. Nesbitt, fictional layabout
George Reid, fourth Prime Minister of Australia
John Reith, founder of the BBC
William Ritchie Sorley, philosopher
David Steel, former leader of the Liberal Party and the Social and Liberal Democrats; former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
David Tennant (stage name of David McDonald), actor
William Montgomery Watt, Islamic studies scholar and Orientalist
Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States of America
John Witherspoon, signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence
David Goy QC, Tax barrister
Josiah Dennis, First minister of the East Yarmouth Parish, as the town of Dennis, Massachusetts was known in 1736.
