Journal of the Scottish Church History Society. Covering all periods and denominations within Scottish church history.
The medieval church held immense power, yet wasn’t immune from criticism. If one refused to obey, imprisonment or even death could follow; such was the case with George Wishart, an influential person who eventually helped lead John Knox towards reformation and began it himself.
Columba was a Celtic Christian saint, the founder of Iona in modern Scotland and one of the apostles to whom Christianity spread to Europe from Spain. While legend has obscured much of what we can know about him, Bruce Ritchie unravels what information exists to bring the saint alive – making for an engaging historical monograph with strong scholarly credentials as well as being highly accessible for its readership.
One of the great strengths of Iona is how it does not treat its saint as just another figure in legend; rather, its history and missionaries are given ample attention, providing an ideal context for understanding its growth as a church. A remarkable accomplishment.
Columba was an extraordinary missionary whose story is captivating. Born into an open-air race of worshippers who believed in many gods, but firmly committed to spreading Christianity among Celts – especially in Britain.
Soon, Bede had won over the support of Ireland’s powerful Ui Neill dynasty and had an enormously positive effect on Dal Riata and Strathclyde, Scotland. Although Bede exaggerated some of his miracles attributed to him, Bede remains undeniable proof that Bede was indeed an influential force during these troubled times.
At 41 years of age, he left Iona in AD 563 for good and took part in the Cul Dreimhne battle resulting from a disagreement over a manuscript he was copying at Movilla Abbey – this caused him to sail back home before rejoining Britain in 567.
This book seeks to explore and assess the nature of Reformation in Scotland during its early 16th Century stages, with special regard for covenanters who opposed patronage (civil servants attempting to select ministers through patronage networks) as early supporters of Voluntary views of Church and State; yet its treatment has its critics as well.
Churches were an influential presence throughout Scotland’s history. Led by leaders who often demonstrated courage in upholding the faith, and who contributed significantly to social changes across Europe. Their resilience under persecution and violence inspired people from diverse backgrounds to find strength in God; churches allowed them to publicly declare this belief.
By the sixteenth century, Scottish Christianity had established an influential identity, founded upon Jesus’ love for humanity and desire to reconcile people with themselves, each other, and God. They saw in Christ an agent of reconciliation who encouraged humility while seeing in God a source of strength that could overpower prideful hostility or dishonesty in society. Through its long and varied history, Church of Scotland promoted religious tolerance with its doctrine emphasizing Jesus as its sole head while teaching that all humans were equally beloved by Him.
The Reformation was an eventful time in Scottish Church history. Many members, led by John Knox and others, held to the conviction that only God could decide church affairs – including George Wishart who later wrote up a confession of faith that excluded Rome, condemned doctrines and practices contrary to Calvinist beliefs, and outlawed Mass attendance.
By the seventeenth century, however, the Church of Scotland began to disintegrate over issues of government and patronage. Ministers left over what they saw as its acceptance of patronage arrangements that allowed landowners and town councils to select candidates without consulting congregations for vacant parishes. In 1733 and 1761 ministers seceded from what they perceived to be its acceptance of such practices – seceders seceding in 1733 and 1761 respectively.
The Church of Scotland’s dedication to its mission and values was evidenced in the work of its scholars, while its theological ideas spread worldwide. With a long and storied history stretching back hundreds of years, its influence can still be felt today in churches that follow Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Congregational or Baptist traditions; while notable members have made names for themselves abroad. Additionally, it boasts a longstanding tradition of publishing Scottish Church History which has been edited by leading academics.
At their height in medieval Europe, Vikings were attracted to places of wealth, like monasteries that contained precious metals and items. When raiding these ecclesiastical centers they saw no moral barrier in sacking them – in addition, Vikings tend to be talented writers, leaving behind accounts of their travels – something French or German counterparts at this same time failed to do – this explains why we know more about them than them!
After the 11th century, Vikings began to settle and focus on building their kingdoms rather than simply raiding other countries. Being seafarers themselves, they needed ports from which to trade as well as secure agricultural areas for food production. This shift gave rise to Churches in Scotland that served as focal points of community activities and played an essential role within local society.
As soon as the Stewart dynasty took power in Scotland, they faced fierce opposition from Covenanters who believed only God should govern both Church and State. This resulted in a split within the Church of Scotland that led to a separate church known as Secession Church (later Constitutional Associate Presbytery).
One of the main factors behind this schism was an ongoing disagreement between fundamentalist Calvinists and theological liberals; this difference in view has caused much division within Scottish church history as well as led to numerous new denominations emerging throughout time.
John Aiton and Alexander Henderson’s books provide an excellent starting point for studying Scottish church history, both Covenanters under Charles I’s reign. Henderson wrote his biography while Aiton provided more of an overall overview. Other useful general histories of the church are Fleming’s Critical Reviews Relating Chiefly to Scotland (1812) and Mitchell’s The Scottish Reformation: Handbooks for Senior Classes Buy (1903), both providing comprehensive overviews that can assist when researching church records in Scotland.
The Reformation was an event that brought dramatic transformation to both Scottish culture and national identity on all fronts. Its roots could be found in Martin Luther’s printed and manuscript works. These books convinced people of the benefits of Protestantism over Catholicism while denouncing its hierarchical forms of organisation.
This led to numerous disputes and divisions within the church, particularly regarding authority issues. While Catholicism had an established system with bishops at the top and priests below them, Knox wanted his new congregation to avoid this type of structure in its structure.
Knox studied under Calvin, and brought his orderly Protestant theology into Scotland by way of Geneva. Knox’s version of church included presbyterian church government, strict morality, sermon-centered unceremonial worship services and nonviolent resistance against ungodly rulers or immoral laws while upholding individual responsibility of Christians for their lives.
Another pillar of Christianity was a strong sense of localised congregationalism rather than centralisation of church hierarchy. At first this served to keep church closer to ordinary people; later it was seen as part of maintaining godliness while maintaining accountability to monarchs.
Early seventeenth-century culture led to the formation of several secessionist churches, especially around 1733 and in late eighteenth-century. This phenomenon resulted from tensions between evangelicals and moderate party members as well as increasing influence of evangelical churches outside of church walls.
An important source for this period is Hew Scott’s Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae published at Edinburgh from 1915-1928 (7 volumes), with four more volumes subsequently appearing up until 1999 (four of these being available online through David Walker’s Scottish Ministers Pages as Vol II). John Aiton’s biography of Knox also provides useful details.