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Introduction

Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland is a mainstream Protestant Christian church, but like all churches it has developed its own authentic and individual character.

Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh ©

The history of Christianity in Scotland goes back to 400 CE, although the institution itself did not become the established Church of Scotland until 1560, following the Reformation, and the work of John Knox and others.

Despite schisms that led to the formation of the Free Church of Scotland, the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland, loyalty to the Church has remained strong.

In 2000 Church membership was estimated at 607,714. This figure only represents those officially listed as members. The number of people who consider themselves part of the Church in a more informal way is significantly higher.

History

The early church

The history of Christianity in Scotland goes back to Saint Ninian in 400 CE. He is said to have led a mission to Scotland which resulted in many conversions.

In the 5th Century another influential figure, Saint Columba, arrived on the Scottish island of Iona where he established a monastic community. This worked to spread the Christian gospel in both Scotland and Northern England.

In the 7th Century, the celtic branch of the church gave way to the more widespread Roman tradition, and the church in Scotland became more unified.

The mediaeval church in Scotland was highly influential and its clergy held great secular power. Education was run by the church, and by the time of the Reformation the Church owned half of Scotland.

Political disputes, corruption within the church and new religious ideas from the continent led to discontent with the church. Some church leaders shared this discontent and tried to take action, but were not able to bring about change.

The church was determined to maintain its power, and people who would not conform were sometimes killed. One of those was the scholar George Wishart, a scholar who was condemned for teaching New Testament Greek, preaching Protestant Christianity and denouncing the practices of Rome.

Wishart influenced the thinking of many Scots, among them John Knox, the pivotal figure of the Scottish Reformation.

John Knox

John Knox began his preaching career at St. Andrews Castle following the death of Wishart. He didn't stay there long, because the French navy attacked the castle on the instructions of the Queen Mother, Mary of Guise.

Knox was captured and imprisoned in the French galleys. On his release he went to England where he became a priest in the Anglican Church, and gained a position of authority under the Protestant King, Edward VI.

John Knox ©

But Knox's bad luck had not ended. King Edward was soon succeeded by Mary I who became notorious for her brutal treatment of Protestants. Mary's reign of terror led Knox to flee to the continent, where he eventually settled in Geneva.

It was there that Knox began working with John Calvin, the founder of Calvinism, an influential form of Protestant teaching.

In 1559 John Knox returned permanently to Scotland where his preaching and direction played a crucial role at the beginnings of the Scottish Reformation.

The Reformation

Throughout the 16th Century the Reformation was taking effect in Western Europe. It came to Scotland in 1560, where it soon gathered momentum.

John Knox was a fierce campaigner for Protestant principles. He was famous for arguing with Mary Queen of Scots, a devout Catholic, over Roman beliefs and practices that he believed were idolatrous.

Knox and his colleagues wrote an important declaration of faith, known as The Scots Confession. The document was accepted by the Scottish Parliament in 1560.

Attempts were made to impose the same episcopal form of church government that was used in England on the Church of Scotland during the reigns of both Charles I and Charles II, but these were successfully resisted.

In 1690, under William of Orange who had supported and promoted the Reformation on the continent of Europe, Presbyterianism was recognised as the official form of government in the Scottish Church.

Subgroups and schisms

Subgroups/schisms

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the Church suffered major internal disruption and schism which led to the formation of new Scottish churches.

In 1732, some who objected to ministers being appointed by patrons rather than by congregations broke away to form the Original Secession Church. This ultimately became a four-way split as members disagreed over such matters as the taking of oaths and whether secular magistrates could have any say in the affairs of the church.

In 1761 further disputes about patronage led to the formation of the Relief Church. In 1847 these two groups came together to form the United Presbyterian Church.

Free Church of Scotland

The Free Church of Scotland was an evangelical Presbyterian Church which was formed in 1843, when approximately one third of the Church of Scotland's congregations broke away.

The disagreement that resulted in this schism centered round the appointment of ministers.

Many felt that because the Church of Scotland was an 'established' church, political and legislative interference could take place. This showed itself for example in the appointment of ministers where the rights of a congregation to choose a minister could be over-ridden by the patron of the parish.

Today's Free Church of Scotland is a continuation of this denomination after a major union in 1900, taking a more conservative position. It is found mainly in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Procession out of the Assembly following the formation of the Free Church of Scotland ©

The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

This denomination split from the Free Church in 1893 because of changing attitudes to the Westminster Confession of Faith.

The Westminster Confession had been adopted in 1647 by the Churches of Scotland and England together as a 'subordinate standard', helping to interpret Holy Scripture.

It enshrined Puritan beliefs of the time and not all felt they could affirm it completely. The 1893 Assembly was being asked to make allowance for 'diversity of opinion'.

The denomination is most active in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

The Westminster Confession remains the 'subordinate standard' of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church, together with the allowance for 'liberty of opinion' where a belief is not any more seen as agreeing with the Bible.

The United Free Church of Scotland

The United Free Church of Scotland was formed in 1900, when members of the Free Church of Scotland amalgamated with the United Presbyterian Church.

Today's United Free Church is a continuation of the former denomination when the majority of its members united with the Church of Scotland in 1929. It is Presbyterian and evangelical.

The United Free Church remains opposed to the idea of an established church. They believe this promotes inequality between churches and damages inter-church relationships.

Although 'established', the Church of Scotland today emphasises the place of other churches in Scotland and seeks to co-operate with them.

Structure

Structure

The Church of Scotland is Presbyterian in its structure, governed by a system of local, regional and national 'courts' or councils.

'Presbyterian' government refers to the sharing of authority in the church by an equal number of 'elders' (elected from the membership of the church) and ministers. Both are ordained for their special tasks.

The local council is the Kirk Session, consisting of elders and the minister.

The regional council is the Presbytery, which looks after all the churches in the area.

The national council is known as the General Assembly and convenes each year in Edinburgh. This meeting establishes the laws which govern the church and the priorities for the coming year.

The Assembly represents all presbyteries. In between meetings its work is carried out by several councils covering such areas as mission, education, social services, worship, doctrine and finance.

The most public position in the Church of Scotland is that of Moderator who chairs the General Assembly. It is an honorary (which means unpaid) and elected role held for a year.

The Moderator makes local and international visits during the ensuing year, encouraging the church and representing the church to wider society.

Elders ©

Church and State

The General Assembly used to be known as the 'nearest thing to a Scottish parliament'. Now that the Scottish Parliament is re-established, the Church, along with other churches, keeps in close touch with parliamentarians and contributes to the discussion on the issues of the day.

Unlike the Church of England, the Church of Scotland does not have to take orders from Parliament. Following the Church of Scotland Act of 1921, the Church was given freedom from interference in spiritual matters.

The same Act acknowledged the Church as 'a national church' with a responsibility for providing a parochial ministry to the people throughout the whole country.

The reigning monarch is not seen as head of the Church as in England. Nevertheless, he or she is given a special place in that he or she attends or is represented at each General Assembly.

Beliefs

The Church of Scotland is one of the Reformation churches. It believes that this means that it must continue to reform as new insights are gained about the church and how it can meet the needs of the times.

The main beliefs of the Church of Scotland are found within the Bible, in the New and Old Testaments together.

Like all mainstream churches, it accepts the doctrine of the Holy Trinity; that God is experienced as Father, Son (in Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit.

It sees Jesus Christ as the only head of the church and teaches that the church is his "body".

The Church of Scotland believes that God demonstrated his love for humanity through his son Jesus Christ and offers to reconcile people to each other and to God.

The Church believes God wants the world to be a just place where people show concern for others and treat each other with equality and respect.

The Church believes God exists alongside people in a spiritual form. The Holy Spirit provides strength, security and peace, yet also challenges pride, hostility, dishonesty and other faults.

Carrying the Bible ©

The Church believes that the Holy Spirit is present in today's world, challenging human pride and aggression which cause conflict, and offering strength, security and peace to those who become followers of Jesus Christ.

Holy Books

The Bible has a central place in the life and worship of the Church. It is usually read and preached from at services.

The Church of Scotland does not have a prayer book which has to be followed but does have a book of resources and models for worship.

The singing of hymns is an important feature of services and most members possess their own hymn book.

Customs and practices

Customs and practices

As a 'national' church, the Church of Scotland sees its duty as being to relate to all citizens and institutions, providing opportunities for learning about the Christian faith, and for worship and pastoral care for all. As well as service to local communities and other social programs, it provides a comprehensive structure of institutional care.

Worshipping ©

Worship

Anyone is welcome to worship in the Church of Scotland irrespective of belief, age, and nationality.

Worship is led by a minister but may also be prepared and led by deacons, 'readers' and elders.

Services are held every Sunday (and at other times during the week) and contain periods of preaching, prayer and singing.

Outreach

There are also weekday groups for prayer, study and spiritual exploration.

Holy Communion

Along with the reading and preaching of the Word, Holy Communion is central to the worship and life of the Church. Along with Baptism, Communion is seen as a sacrament.

Clergy in the Church of Scotland are known as 'Ministers of Word and Sacrament'. A Church of Scotland Communion is open to any member of any branch of the world-wide church. Its own members are generally welcomed to Communion after a ceremony of public declaration of faith and admission but, increasingly, children who are baptised are taking a full part.

Taking Communion ©

It has been the custom that Communion is celebrated with great ceremony only infrequently, but now more Communion services are held, especially at special festivals.

At one time, people sat round a table to share the bread and the wine. More commonly today, people remain in their pews (with cloths to show that they are 'part of a table') while elders serve them.

Communion is often a very dignified occasion, with processions and the singing of Psalm 24, "Ye gates, lift up your heads on high", to the ceremonious tune of "St. George's, Edinburgh".

Baptism

Baptism is regarded as sacrament by the Church of Scotland in common with other mainstream churches.

Baptism is the point at which adults or children become members of the Church.

In the case of children, it is expected that close members of the family will be attached to the church and able to involve the child in the life of the church. They take a vow to do this.

Baptism ©

The ceremony usually takes place as part of the Sunday service, in front of the congregation.

Where parents who have no connection with the church wish a ceremony to celebrate the birth of their baby, a service of thanksgiving can be performed.

Marriage

Church of Scotland ministers are authorised to conduct legal marriages, under Scots law, and in any location.

Marriage is not perceived as a sacrament.

Non-members of the church are free to be married within the Church of Scotland if the minister agrees.

Divorced people may be married in the Church of Scotland if the minister agrees.

Death

Ministers of the Church of Scotland carry out funerals of people in their parish, whether or not they are members of the church.