Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland was formed in 1893 and claims to be the spiritual descendant of the 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).
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, on strictly orthodox lines. In 1907 this body had twenty congregations and twelve ministers.
A few years after the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (FP Church) was formed, the Free Church of Scotland actually did unify with the United Presbyterian Church to form the United Free Church of Scotland, but this time a fairly large minority stayed out, to form the "Wee Frees", retaining the original name "Free Church of Scotland". Initially, some wondered if the two churches (FP and ("wee") Free Church) would merge, but this did not happen. The two churches are sometimes confused, and the differences between them are not great. However, the FP Church opposes using public transport to get to church on the Sabbath, which the "Wee Frees" do not, and the "Wee Frees" have been prepared to use modern translations of the Bible, but the FP Church sticks to the King James Bible.
Although, in a Scottish context, the FP Church is a tiny body, because it is largely based in the Highlands, there are some areas where it is a significant presence. There are even a few small pockets where it is the main denomination, e.g. the island of Raasay. It experienced some controversy when one of its members, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, was present during the celebration of mass at a Catholic funeral, which, combined with previously existing controversies over the nature of liberty of conscience, led to a split and the formation of the Associated Presbyterian Churches in 1989. It has a small bookshop in Woodlands Road in Glasgow, which contains a large amount of material condemning the Roman Catholic Church and the theory of evolution.
The FP Church is Reformed in Doctrine, Worship and Practice, basing all its actions on the Word of God: the Bible. The "subordinate standard" of the church is the Westminster Confession of Faith. The FP Church has done some serious missionary work, and is represented in around a dozen nations, found in Europe, North America, Australasia, Africa and Asia. It has a relatively large sister church in Zimbabwe.
The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has no official connection with the more recent Free Presbyterian Church founded by Ian Paisley in Northern Ireland. Similarities between the two denominations include the use of the King James Bible, opposition to Roman Catholicism (though this is perhaps voiced in a different style), the wearing of head-coverings by women in public worship, and conservatism in theology. Differences include what is sung in church (the Ulster denomination sings hymns while the Scottish one uses only psalms in public worship), and a different emphasis with regard to evangelism and revivalism. Confusingly the FP Church (Ulster) has several congregations in Scotland, while the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has one congregation in Northern Ireland. Other countries where both churches have a presence include England, USA, and Canada.
See also
- Religion in the United Kingdom
- Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster - a different denomination, associated with Ian Paisley, started in Northern Ireland in 1951.
- Presbyterian Reformed Church
- Associated Presbyterian Churches