Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)
Scottish Presbyterian denomination
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The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (FC(C); Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Shaor Leantainneach) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination which was formed in January 2000. It claims to be the true continuation of the Free Church of Scotland, hence its name.[1]
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| Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) | |
|---|---|
| An Eaglais Shaor Leantainneach | |
The FC(C) church building in Staffin | |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Theology | Calvinistic |
| Polity | Presbyterian |
| Associations | International Conference of Reformed Churches, Affinity |
| Origin | 2000 |
| Separated from | Free Church of Scotland |
| Congregations | 25 active congregations in Scotland, 1 in Canada, 1 in Northern Ireland, and 5 overseas in the United States |
| Ministers | 25 Ministers in post, plus 5 others not in a post. |
| Official website | www |
Formation
In 1996, Professor Donald Macleod, later to be principal of the Free Church College in Edinburgh, was acquitted of charges of sexual assault when a sheriff ruled there had been a conspiracy against him.[2] However, within the church, there were many that believed he was guilty, and that the courts of the church should conduct a full investigation of the matter. It divided the church massively: some called from Professor MacLeod to be suspended until further notice, others for all the papers relating to his alleged misconduct to be destroyed.[3] An organisation called the Free Church Defence Association believed that "it was wrong not to put Professor Macleod on trial in the General Assembly, and that the majority has therefore departed from the principle that allegations of misconduct must be investigated, not by a Committee of the General Assembly, but by the whole General Assembly."[4] The FCDA's chairman, Rev Maurice Roberts, was suspended for contumacy in June 1999 for refusing to withdraw his claim that General Assembly in May of that year was characterised by "gross and irremediable wickedness and hypocrisy".[2]
In August 1999, the FCDA's magazine, Free Church Foundations, referred to "the evil of Mr. Roberts' suspension".[2][5] Following this, a deadline was set for 30 November 1999 for the FCDA to disband, which it did not.[6] Libels were drawn up against 22 ministers who refused to comply, and in a hearing by the Commission of Assembly on 19–20 January 2000 those libels were declared to be relevant.[7] The 22 ministers were suspended, and they responded by leaving the commission.
On 20 January 2000 the 'Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)' was formed when those ministers and a number of others adopted a "Declaration of Reconstitution of the historic Free Church of Scotland".[8] Johnston McKay suggests that although on the surface the split was about Donald Macleod, in reality it was about theology, with the FCDA "composed of people who adhere much more firmly to the Westminster Confession of Faith".[4] It is reasonable to assume that both reasons played a significant part.
List of Ministers suspended by the Free Church of Scotland
Below are the list of the 22 Ministers of the Free Church of Scotland who were suspended on 20 January 2000, and became the first ministers of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing).[9]
- Rev. B. H. Baxter
- Rev. Graeme Craig - Lochalsh & Glenshiel
- Rev. H. M. Ferrier
- Rev. J. A. Gillies
- Rev. James I. Gracie - North Uist & Grimsay
- Rev. John W. Keddie - Minister of Bracadale
- Rev. Donald M. Macdonald
- Rev. Kenneth Macdonald - Minister of Snizort[10]
- Rev. Allan I. M. Maciver - Minister of Broadford
- Rev. Malcolm Maclean (retired from North Tolsta)[11]
- Rev. Donald N. MacLeod (retired from Glasgow-Duke Street)[12]
- Rev. John MacLeod - Minister of Tarbat
- Rev. John MacLeod - Minister of Duthil-Dores
- Rev. Murdo A. N. Macleod - Minister of Harris
- Rev. William Macleod - Minister of Portree
- Rev. John Morrison - Minister of Kilmuir & Stenscholl
- Rev. Allan Murray - Minister of Eddrachillis linked with Rogart
- Rev. David P. Murray
- Rev. John J. Murray - Minister of Lochcarron
- Rev. H. R. M. Radcliffe
- Rev. Maurice J. Roberts - Minister of Inverness Greyfriars [had been suspended by the Commission of Assembly on 24 June 1999]
- Rev. Henry J. T. Woods - Minister of Paisley
Furthermore, four other Ministers were suspended separately and became part of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing).[13]
- Rev. James Frew [Suspended on 14 February]
- Rev. John J. Harding [Suspended on 24 June 1999]
- Rev. Daniel Mackinnon [Suspended on 14 February] - Minister of Kilmorack & Strathglass
- Rev. William B. Scott [Suspended on 29 February] - Minister of Dumfries
Legal issues
Following their departure, the FC(C) sought a declarator from the Court of Session as to ownership of the central funds and certain Continuing-affiliated properties of the Church. When the appeal was sent to the Outer House of the Court of Session, Lady Paton dismissed their action without granting absolvitor.[7] In March 2007 the Free Church of Scotland proceeded to take legal action at Broadford, on the island of Skye, seeking to reclaim the church manse. The Free Church (Continuing) lost the action at first instance on the decision of Lord Uist,[14] and also lost their appeal to the Inner House of the Court of Session.[15]
The FC(C) expressed its intention to appeal both the above decisions, but in 2009, the International Conference of Reformed Churches noted that the FC(C) had "withdrawn its appeal of the civil matter that was pending".[16]
Recognition
The denomination is a member of the International Conference of Reformed Churches[17] and of Affinity.[18]
Congregations
The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) presently has 25 functioning congregations in Scotland, as well as others overseas.[19] These churches belong to six presbyteries: the Northern Presbytery, the Presbytery of Skye and Lochcarron, the Presbytery of United States of America, the Presbytery of Navarre & Aragon, the Outer Hebrides Presbyteery and the Southern Presbytery.[20] There are seven congregations and preaching stations in the United States: Atlanta metropolitan area; Washington Metro; Upstate South Carolina; Mebane, North Carolina; St. Louis, Missouri; Opelika, Alabama; Greenville, Texas; and Fredericksburg, Virginia.[21] There is also a congregation and a preaching station in Canada, a congregation in Northern Ireland, and a seminars and demonstration farm in Zambia.[22][23]
| Church | Location | Presbytery | Minister | Active | Web | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross (Ness) FCSC | North Dell, Na h-Eileanan Siar | Outer Hebrides | Rev. Greg MacDonald | 2000 | ||
| Harris FCSC | Northton, Na h-Eileanan Siar | Outer Hebrides | Rev. James Clark | 2000 | ||
| Knock and Point FCSC | Garrabost, Na h-Eileanan Siar | Outer Hebrides | Vacant | 2000 | ||
| North Uist and Grimsay FCSC | Bayhead, Na h-Eileanan Siar | Outer Hebrides | Rev. David M Blunt | 2000 | ||
| Scalpay Harris FCSC | Scalpay, Na h-Eileanan Siar | Outer Hebrides | Rev. Raymond A Kemp | 2000 | ||
| Shawbost (Bragar) | Shawbost | Outer Hebrides | Vacant | No services. Linked with Stornoway. | 2000 | |
| Stornoway FCSC | Stornoway, Na h-Eileanan Siar & Bragar | Outer Hebrides | Vacant | 2000 | ||
| Assynt and Eddrachillis FCSC | Scourie and Lochinver, Highland | Northern | Vacant | 2000 | ||
| Brora FCSC | Brora, Highland | Northern | Rev. Thomas J Buchanan | 2000 | ||
| Duthil-Dores FCSC | Dores, Highland | Northern | Rev. Davide Ratti | Archived 20 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine | 2000 | |
| Grace Reformed Church, Aberdeen | Aberdeen, Aberdeen | Northern | Rev. Timothy J McGlynn | 2000 | ||
| Inverness-Greyfriars FCSC | Inverness, Highland | Northern | Rev. Murdo MacIver | Archived 20 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine | 2000 | |
| Kilmorack and Strathglass FCSC | Beauly, Highland | Northern | Vacant | 2000 | ||
| Kiltearn FCSC | Evanton, Highland | Northern | Vacant | No services. | 2000 | |
| Poolewe and Aultbea FCSC | Aultbea, Highland | Northern | Vacant | 2000 | ||
| Tarbat FCSC | Portmahomack and Inver, Highland | Northern | Vacant | 2000 | ||
| Bracadale & Duirinish (Struan & Waternish) FCSC | Struan and Carbost, Highland | Skye and Lochcarron | Vacant | 2000 | ||
| Broadford | Broadford, Skye | Skye and Lochcarron | Rev. A James MacInnes | No services. | 2000 | |
| Lochalsh & Strath FCSC | Ardelve, Highland | Skye and Lochcarron | Rev. A James MacInnes | 2000 | ||
| Snizort FCSC | Skeabost, Highland | Skye and Lochcarron | Rev. Murdo A N Macleod | 2000 | ||
| Kilmuir and Stenscholl FCSC | Staffin, Highland | Skye and Lochcarron | Vacant | 2000 | ||
| Portree FCSC | Portree, Highland | Skye and Lochcarron | Rev. Richard R Ross | 2000 | ||
| Arran (Brodick) FCSC | Brodick, North Ayrshire | Southern | Vacant | No services held. Remaining members worship with local FC. | 2000 | |
| Bethel Free Church, Ayr | Ayr, South Ayrshire | Southern | Rev. Graeme Craig | 2000 | ||
| St Columba's FCSC, Edinburgh | Edinburgh & Galashiels, Borders | Southern | Rev. James I Gracie | Has an outreach in Galashiels. | 2000 | |
| Knightswood FCSC | Knightswood, Glasgow | Southern | Rev. Calum Smith | 2000 | ||
| Partick FCSC | Partick, Glasgow | Southern | Rev. Andrew R Allan | Archived 20 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine | 2000 | |
| Shettleston FCSC | Shettleston, Glasgow | Southern | Vacant | 2000 | ||
| Rothesay | Rothesay, Argyll and Bute | Southern | Vacant | 2000 | ||
| Ballyclare and Doagh FCSC | Doagh, Antrim & Portavogie, Down [Northern Ireland] | Southern | Rev. E Trevor Kirkland | Free Church (Continuing) website | 2014 (began in 1989 as Templepatrick Reformed Church, before a group within chose to withdraw from it in November 2013 ) | |
| Cornerstone Presbyterian Church | Burlington, North Carolina | United States | Rev. Gavin Beers | 2016 | ||
| Dallas Presbyterian Church | Dallas | United States | Vacant | 2015 as RPCNA (joined FCC in 2024) | ||
| Greenville Presbyterian Church | Greenville, South Carolina | United States | Rev. Robert D McCurley | 2007 | ||
| Metropolitan Presbyterian Church, Washington | Washington, D. C. | United States | Vacant | No services at present | 2003 | |
| Providence Presbyterian Church | Opelika, Alabama | United States | Rev. J Logan Shelton | 2023 | ||
| Reformation Presbyterian Church | Atlanta, Georgia | United States | Rev. Brent C Evans | 2006 | ||
| Sovereign Grace Presbyterian Church, St Louis | St Louis, Missouri | United States | Rev. Jonathan Mattull | 2008 | ||
| Zion Presbyterian Church | Fredericksburg, Virginia | United States | Rev. Rom Prakashpalan | 2024 | ||
| Iglesia Reformada Continuada | Rubí, Spain | Navarre & Aragon | Rev. Jorge Ruiz Ortiz | 2015 | ||
| Igreja Presbiteriana de Braga | Braga, Portugal | Navarre & Aragon | Vacant | 2017 (joined FCC in 2022) | ||
| Pau | Pau, France | Navarre & Aragon | Rev. Hughes Pierre | 2021 |
Preaching Stations and Missions
| Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada de Nuevo Laredo | Nuevo Laredo, Mexico | United States | Vacant | |||
| Nobleford Presbyterian Church | Nobleford, Canada | United States | Vacant | 2022 | ||
| Reformed Presbyterian Mission | Vavuniya, Sri Lanka | Home & Foreign Missions Committee | Rev. Shanmugam N.V. Partheepan | 2012 | ||
| Westminster Presbyterian Church | Greenville, Texas | United States | Rev. Craig J. Scott | 2022 | ||
| Philadelphia Presbyterian Church | Blue Bell, Pennsylvania | United States | Vacant | 2025 |
Seminary
The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) maintains a seminary on the outskirts of Inverness for the training of its ministers, which has been the location since 2008.[24][1] Most classes are online, but the library and some classrooms are based at The Inverness-Greyfriars (Westhill) Church in Inverness.[25] In October 2002, the Commission of Assembly appointed the relevant lecturers for the new seminary. The first students began in 2003.[1] The degree program usually takes three years of full time study. The denomination, since its formation, has a new minister starting roughly once a year. The 2018 directory listed seven ministers who were serving who were ordained between 2000 and 2009. There were 10 ministers serving who were ordained in the following decade (2010 to 2019)[1] Furthermore, the website lists five further ministers ordained from 2020 - 2025 (although, some have been received from other denominations).[26]
Music
The Free Church Continuing continues to hold to the exclusive use of metrical Psalms sung without instrumental accompaniment in worship, a position which the Free Church of Scotland has ceased to hold.[27]
See also
- John MacLeod, Principal Clerk of Assembly, Moderator of 2006 General Assembly
