In Scotland the 'manse' has always been more than just a building. It has been an educational force. 'Sons of the manse' formed the backbone of the Scottish Enlightenment in the 18th century and are still prominent in the life of the nation to this day, viz. David Steel and Gordon Brown, to name but two recent examples. Tony Blair was a regular visitor here when Selby Wright was minister of the Canongate Kirk. Link
"Who have written the best histories, ancient and modern? It has been a clergyman of this church. Who has written the clearest delineation of the human understanding and all its powers? A clergyman of this church. Who has written the best system of rhetoric, and exemplified it by his own orations? A clergyman of this church. Who wrote a tragedy that has been deemed perfect? A clergyman of this church. Who was the most profound mathematician of the age he lived in? A clergyman of this church. Who is his successor in reputation as in office? Who wrote the best treatise on agriculture? Let us not complain of poverty for it is a splendid poverty indeed!"
-- Alexander Carlyle, minister at Inveresk from 1748 to 1805
NT2673 : Holyrood Why not just look at the clock I hear someone asking. ;)
A. Because it was traditionally kept five minutes fast to encourage travellers to be on time for their (North British) trains at nearby Waverley station.