Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)

Free Church of Scotland
ClassificationProtestant
TheologyReformed theology
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.

The Free Church was and still is sometimes colloquially known by the term "The Wee Frees",[5][6] even though, in 21st century Scotland, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination after the Church of Scotland.[7] Since this term was originally used in comparing the Free Church with the United Free Church (which is now a much smaller denomination), the Free Church of Scotland now deprecates the use of the term.[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.

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