Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
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| Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland | |
| Classification | Protestant |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Calvinist |
| Polity | Presbyterian polity |
| Origin | 1893 |
| Separated from | Free Church of Scotland (1843-1900) |
| Separations | Associated Presbyterian Churches (separated 1989) |
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.
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[edit] History
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 [1]).
[edit] Split
In 1989 it experienced controversy when Lord Mackay of Clashfern, an elder in the Free Presbyterian Church, attended the celebration of a Mass at the Roman Catholic funeral of Judge John Wheatley, Baron Wheatley. Although Lord Mackay attended the funeral in his role as Lord Advocate, the church 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.[2]
[edit] Churches
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Free Presbyterian church of Evelix
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Free Presbyterian church of Glendale
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Free Presbyterian church of Laide
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Free Presbyterian church of Struan
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Free Presbyterian church of Stornoway
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Free Presbyterian church of Shieldaig
