Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
Encyclopedia
The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: "An Eaglais Shaor Chlèireach") was formed in 1893 and claims to be the spiritual descendant of the Scottish Reformation
. It is sometimes colloquially known as the Wee Wee Frees (not to be confused with the "Wee Frees" which is the colloquial name for another offshoot of the Church of Scotland
, the Free Church of Scotland
).
The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland claims to be "Reformed
in doctrine, worship and practice," and says that all its actions are based on the Word of God: the Bible. The "subordinate standard" of the church is the Westminster Confession of Faith
.
In 1892 the Free Church of Scotland
, following the example of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland
and the Church of Scotland
(1889), passed a Declaratory Act relaxing the stringency of subscription to the confession
, which was widely perceived as paving the way for unification with the United Presbyterian Church. This was met by a protest from the minister from the island of Raasay
, who was later joined by one other minister. The result was that a small number of ministers and congregations, mostly in the Highlands
, severed their connection with the Free Church of Scotland and formed the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, along lines they considered to be more orthodox. By 1907 this body had twenty congregations and twelve ministers.
A few years after the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (FPC Church) was formed, the Free Church of Scotland united with the United Presbyterian Church to form the United Free Church of Scotland
, with a somewhat larger minority remaining outside the union and retaining the name Free Church of Scotland
. Initially, some wondered if the two churches would merge, but this did not happen.
The two denominations are sometimes confused, as the differences between them are not great. However, the Free Presbyterian Church considers it a sin
to use public transport to go to church on the Sabbath, while the Free Church does not. The Free Church permits the use of modern Bible
translations, while the Free Presbyterian Church prescribes the exclusive use of the Authorized Version in public worship (by resolution of the Synod in 1961 ).
at the Catholic
funeral of Judge John Wheatley, Baron Wheatley. Although Lord Mackay attended the funeral in his role as Lord Advocate
, the church leaders reacted to what they considered a grave offence by an elder in the church by suspending Mackay from office. This action, combined with previously existing controversies over the nature of liberty of conscience, led to a split resulting in the formation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches
by those opposed to the reprimand given to Lord Mackay.
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
. It is sometimes colloquially known as the Wee Wee Frees (not to be confused with the "Wee Frees" which is the colloquial name for another offshoot of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
, the Free Church of Scotland
Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)
Free Church of Scotland is that part of the original Free Church of Scotland that remained outside of the union with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1900...
).
The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland claims to be "Reformed
Reformed churches
The Reformed churches are a group of Protestant denominations characterized by Calvinist doctrines. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli but developed more coherently by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin...
in doctrine, worship and practice," and says that all its actions are based on the Word of God: the Bible. The "subordinate standard" of the church is the Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
.
History
In 1892 the Free Church of Scotland
Free Church of Scotland (1843-1900)
The Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish denomination which was formed in 1843 by a large withdrawal from the established Church of Scotland in a schism known as the "Disruption of 1843"...
, following the example of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland
United Presbyterian Church of Scotland
The United Presbyterian Church of Scotland was a Scottish Presbyterian denomination. It was formed in 1847 by the union of the United Secession Church and the Relief Church, and in 1900 merged with the Free Church of Scotland to form the United Free Church of Scotland, which in turn united with...
and the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
(1889), passed a Declaratory Act relaxing the stringency of subscription to the confession
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
, which was widely perceived as paving the way for unification with the United Presbyterian Church. This was met by a protest from the minister from the island of Raasay
Raasay
Raasay is an island between the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland. It is separated from Skye by the Sound of Raasay and from Applecross by the Inner Sound. It is most famous for being the birthplace of the poet Sorley MacLean, an important figure in the Scottish literary renaissance...
, who was later joined by one other minister. The result was that a small number of ministers and congregations, mostly in the Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
, severed their connection with the Free Church of Scotland and formed the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, along lines they considered to be more orthodox. By 1907 this body had twenty congregations and twelve ministers.
A few years after the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (FPC Church) was formed, the Free Church of Scotland united with the United Presbyterian Church to form the United Free Church of Scotland
United Free Church of Scotland
The United Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland...
, with a somewhat larger minority remaining outside the union and retaining the name Free Church of Scotland
Free Church of Scotland (post 1900)
Free Church of Scotland is that part of the original Free Church of Scotland that remained outside of the union with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1900...
. Initially, some wondered if the two churches would merge, but this did not happen.
The two denominations are sometimes confused, as the differences between them are not great. However, the Free Presbyterian Church considers it a sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
to use public transport to go to church on the Sabbath, while the Free Church does not. The Free Church permits the use of modern Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
translations, while the Free Presbyterian Church prescribes the exclusive use of the Authorized Version in public worship (by resolution of the Synod in 1961 ).
Split
In 1989 it experienced controversy when Lord Mackay of Clashfern, an elder in the Free Presbyterian Church, attended the celebration of a MassMass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
at the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
funeral of Judge John Wheatley, Baron Wheatley. Although Lord Mackay attended the funeral in his role as Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
, the church leaders reacted to what they considered a grave offence by an elder in the church by suspending Mackay from office. This action, combined with previously existing controversies over the nature of liberty of conscience, led to a split resulting in the formation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches
Associated Presbyterian Churches
The Associated Presbyterian Churches is a Scottish Christian denomination , formed in 1989 from part of the community of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland....
by those opposed to the reprimand given to Lord Mackay.