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Christian Churches / Traditions in Scotland Today
The Church of Scotland: A Brief Overview
Rev. Professor David Fergusson of New College, Edinburgh
History
- In 1560, the Reformers believed that they were renewing the national Kirk in accordance with the Word of God and the traditions of the apostolic church. Hence the Church of Scotland claims to be both catholic and reformed.
- The Reformation brought about changes in ministry, church government and society at large. Eventually Presbyterianism emerged as the preferred model. This comprises a hierarchical system of church courts (General Assembly, Presbytery and Kirk Session). The struggles of the 17th century created a deep suspicion of the office of the bishop within the Scottish church.
- The Church of Scotland became the established church of Scotland in 1690 following the accession of William of Orange. A condition of the Treaty of Union (1707) was that Scotland retain its distinctive Presbyterian church, although the Scottish model of establishment was different from the English. The monarch and parliament exercised no role within the courts of the church.
- The Church of Scotland was fractured by the secessions of 1733 and 1761, but the largest split occurred in 1843 following the Disruption and the birth of the Free Church of Scotland. The issue at stake was ‘patronage’ versus the right of a congregation to call its minister. This led to a multiplicity of church steeples in every town and city. New College on the Mound was built as the leading educational institution of the Free Church.
- Presbyterian reunion was achieved in two stages: the United Free Church was formed in 1900 following the union of the United Presbyterian Church and the Free Church. In 1929, the United Free Church united with the Church of Scotland to recreate one national church.
- The adult communicant membership of the Church of Scotland peaked in the mid-1950s at around 1.25m. Today it is about 600,000 and declining. It has experienced the steady secularisation that has beset most European countries.
Doctrine
- The Church of Scotland is catholic in its affirmation of the ancient creeds of the church, especially the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed. It has sought to contribute significantly to the modern ecumenical movement.
- The Church of Scotland is a Protestant church in its commitment to the principles of the 16th century Reformation. These include the doctrine of justification by grace alone, the sole authority of Scripture, and a commitment to two sacraments only (baptism and the Lord’s Supper).
- The Church of Scotland belongs to the Reformed stream of Protestantism (as opposed to the Lutheran stream). The Reformed tradition is marked by an emphasis upon the sovereignty of God, the doctrine of predestination, and a commitment to personal and social transformation under the Word of God.
- The subordinate standard of faith is the Westminster Confession (1647). All elders and ministers must subscribe to the Confession, although its teaching is widely ignored and neglected today.
- The scholars of the Kirk have made an important contribution not only to the study of the Bible, church history and theology, but also to the arts and the sciences. The Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century was largely a Presbyterian movement, built upon one of the strongest educational systems in early modern Europe.
Practice
- The Church of Scotland has historically emphasised the centrality of the sermon and the participation of the whole people of God in worship. Examples of this include the metrical psalms, the paraphrases and the manner in which communion is celebrated. This is accompanied by an emphasis upon the necessity of an educated ministry.
- The reforms of the late 19th century introduced pipe organs, stained glass windows, hymns and responsive prayers. More frequent celebration of communion was advocated though seldom implemented.
- Church and society were closely integrated in Scotland for many centuries. This was reflected in the parish system, the disciplinary function of the Kirk Session, the wide observance of the Sabbath, the involvement of the church in the educational system, and the practice of ‘kirking’ councils and other civic bodies. Today this is less marked with the desire to achieve a more pluralist, tolerant society that is equally accommodating of different faith traditions and none. How does the Kirk maintain its identity in the Scotland of the 21st century?
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