Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)

This article is about the Free Church of Scotland since 1900. For the 19th century Free Church, see Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900).

Free Church of Scotland
ClassificationChristian
OrientationProtestant
TheologyCalvinism
PolityPresbyterian
ModeratorRev. Callum Macleod
Associations
RegionScotland and North America
HeadquartersEdinburgh
Origin1843
Branched fromChurch of Scotland
SeparationsFree Church of Scotland (Continuing) (separated 2000)
Congregationscirca 111 (details)
Members(Average attendance:) 8,000[2]
5,400 communicant members[3]
Ministerscirca 60
Official websitefreechurch.org

The Free Church of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: An Eaglais Shaor;[4] Scots: Free Kirk o Scotland) is a conservative evangelical Calvinist denomination in Scotland. It is the continuation of the original Free Church of Scotland that remained outside the union with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1900, and remains a distinct Presbyterian denomination in Scotland.

From 1900, when the majority of the Free Church joined the United Presbyterians to form the United Free Church, The Free Church became known, pejoratively, as "The Wee Frees",[5][6] even though, in 21st century Scotland, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination after the Church of Scotland.[7] As this term was originally used in comparing the Free Church unfavourably with the United Free Church, the Free Church of Scotland now deprecates its use.[8][9]

  1. ^ "Denominational Members of the World Reformed Fellowship (as of January 9, 2017)". World Reformed Fellowship. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Free Church of Scotland". Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  3. ^ Figure from reports of the International Conference of Reformed Churches.
  4. ^ "Sabhal Mòr Ostaig". Scots Gaelic translator.
  5. ^ Parsons, Gerald (1988). "Church and State in Victorian Scotland: Disruption and Reunion". Religion in Victorian Britain: Controversies. Manchester University Press. p. 119. ISBN 9780719025136. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  6. ^ Seenan, Gerard (10 April 2006). "Fury at ferry crossing on Sabbath". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Religion (detailed) It is the largest evangelical and confessional presbyterian denomination in Europe. largest" (PDF). Scotland's Census 2011. National Records of Scotland. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Media enquiries". Free Church of Scotland. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Free Church in plea over nickname 'Wee Frees'". BBC News. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.