Christian Churches / Traditions in Scotland Today

The Free Church of Scotland

Rev. David Robertson of St. Peter's Free Church in Dundee  

[By way of introduction: Rev David Robertson touched on what one may call the independent churches, sometimes referred to as free churches, e.g. in Scotland: Congregationalist, Baptist, Methodist, Brethren.  But Free Church of Scotland people may prefer to see themselves not so much as independent, but as Church of Scotland, Free – a fine point.]

History   The Free Church of Scotland came into being in 1843, claiming to be the Church of Scotland, Free.  About one third of the ministers and people left the C of S over the issue of patronage.  It was the most significant event in 19th century Scotland. In 1893 – two ministers and several thousand people left to form the Free Presbyterian Church. (This church split in the late 20th century over the Lord Mackay Case and the new group was called the Associated Presbyterian Church).In 1900 – the United Presbyterians (an amalgamation of several secession churches) joined with the majority of the Free Church to form the United Free Church.  A small number of ministers and about 50,000 people stayed out of this new mega church (it was the largest denomination in Scotland) and won a famous court case allowing them to continue as the Free Church of Scotland.  Most of them were in the Highlands and Islands.  In 1929 – the vast majority of the United Free rejoined the Church of Scotland – although again a small minority stayed out. The Free Church of Scotland split again in 2000.  With a small group leaving over the Prof. Donald Macleod case to form a new group called the ‘Free Church Continuing’.

Current Situation The Free Church has 12,000 members and adherents, about 100 congregations, a theological college in Edinburgh, overseas missionary work. The Free Church Continuing has about 1,000 members and adherents.  I do not have good figures for the Free Presbyterian, the APC or the United Free.  All are small with only the United Free running into thousands.

What do we believe?

The core of the Christian faith is the Bible.  We believe that both Old and New Testaments point to Jesus Christ.  Our understanding of what the bible teaches is summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith – which all office bearers in the Church subscribe to.   We would affirm wholeheartedly the major ecumenical creeds such as the Apostles, the Nicene etc.  We do not believe that one becomes a Christian by being born into the church or even by joining it.  Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is impossible without the aid of the Holy Spirit.   In order to become a Christian one needs faith in Jesus Christ, repentance and recognition of Jesus as Lord.

We share in common with other Christian traditions the basic teachings and doctrines of Christianity. The main unique features of our tradition in Scotland today would be the emphasis on the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture, the acceptance of ‘Reformed’ doctrine especially the teaching that God is sovereign,  the commitment to simplicity of worship and the belief in collective church discipline, church planting and social aid.  

Why would anyone who is not brought up in the Free Church want to come to what appears to be an austere and outdated Scottish church tradition?  Because the image is not necessarily the substance.  In some areas the Free Church is growing.  And it is growing because of new people coming in.  Why do they come?  Because of the contemporary bible teaching, the sense of community and the fact that we are evangelical without being either ‘happy clappy’ or ‘legalistic’ [David said he did not mean those terms in any derogatory way.]   The Free Church has many weaknesses and faults but we believe there is still a part for us to play in the wider Scottish church and community.

The best way to find out about the Free Church is to visit.  In Edinburgh we have congregations on the Royal Mile (St Columba’s), George Square (Buccleuch and Greyfriars) and Leith.  For more information visit our website – www.freechurch.org

Notes on The Orthodox Church

Notes on The Roman Catholic Church

Notes on The Scottish Episcopal Church

Notes on The Church of Scotland

Notes on The Pentecostal and "new" Churches

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