Religion in Scotland

Church of Scotland Roman Catholic Church Free Church of Scotland Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) United Free Church of Scotland Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Associated Presbyterian Churches Scottish Episcopal Church Baptist Union of Scotland Action of Churches Together in Scotland Scottish Reformation Hinduism Islam Judaism

Scotland, in common with the rest of the European Union, is traditionally a Christian state with around 70% claiming to be Christian. The Church of Scotland, also known as The Kirk, is recognised in law as the national church of Scotland, but is not an established church and is independent of state control in matters spiritual. The other major denomination is the Roman Catholic Church, which claims around 20 per cent of the population^[1] and is especially important in west central Scotland. There are also around 15,000 each of Baptists, Episcopalians and conservative Presbyterians, with smaller numbers of Quakers, Pentecostal, Gospel Hall and a growing number of independent churches. Judaism has been established in Scotland since at least the High Middle Ages.

In recent years other religions have established a presence in Scotland, mainly through immigration, though also partly through the attraction of converts. Those with the most adherents are Islam (mainly among immigrants from South Asia), Buddhism, Sikhism and Hinduism. Other minority faiths include the Baha'i Faith, Rasta and small Neopagan groups. There are also various organizations which actively promote humanism, rationalism and secularism, reflecting the 25% who claim to have no religious beliefs.

History

Early Pictish religion is presumed to have resembled Celtic polytheism in general. The date at which Pictish kings converted to Christianity is uncertain, but there are traditions which place Saint Palladius in Pictland after leaving Ireland, and link Abernethy with Saints Brigid and Darlugdach of Kildare.^[2] Saint Patrick refers to "apostate Picts", while the poem Y Gododdin does not remark on the Picts as pagans.^[3] Conversion of the Pictish élite seems likely to have run over a considerable period, beginning in the 5th century and not complete until the 7th. Recent archaeological work at Portmahomack places the foundation of the monastery there, an area once assumed to be among the last converted, in the late 6th century.^[4] This is contemporary with Bridei mac Maelchon and Columba. The process of establishing Christianity throughout Pictland will have extended over a much longer period. Pictland was not solely influenced by Iona and Ireland. It also had ties to churches in England, as seen in the reign of Nechtan mac Der Ilei. The reported expulsion of Ionan monks and clergy by Nechtan in 717 may have been related to the controversy over the dating of Easter, and the manner of tonsure, where Nechtan appears to have supported the Roman usages, but may equally have been intended to increase royal power over the church.^[5] Nonetheless, the evidence of place names suggests a wide area of Ionan influence in Pictland.^[6] Likewise, the Cáin Adomnáin (Law of Adomnán, Lex Innocentium) counts Nechtan's brother Bridei among its guarantors.

Christianity probably came to Scotland around the second century, and was firmly established by the sixth and seventh centuries. However, until the eleventh century, the relationship between the Church in Scotland and the Papacy is ambiguous. The Scottish 'Celtic' Church had marked liturgical and ecclesiastic differences from the rest of Western Christendom. Some of these were resolved at the end of the seventh century following the Synod of Whitby and St Columba's withdrawal to Iona, however, it was not until the ecclesiastical reforms of the eleventh century that the Scottish Church became an integral part of the Roman communion.

The importance of monastic centres in Pictland was not perhaps as great as in Ireland. In areas which had been studied, such as Strathspey and Perthshire, it appears that the parochial structure of the High Middle Ages existed in early medieval times. Among the major religious sites of eastern Pictland were Portmahomack, Cennrígmonaid (later St Andrews), Dunkeld, Abernethy and Rosemarkie. It appears that these are associated with Pictish kings, which argues for a considerable degree of royal patronage and control of the church.^[7]

The Stone of Scone in the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey, 1855.

The Stone of Destiny (Lia Fáil) is also supposed to be the pillow stone said to have been used by the Biblical Jacob. In 1297 the Stone was captured by Edward I as spoils of war and taken from Scone to Westminster Abbey, where it was fitted into the old wooden chair, known as St. Edward's Chair, on which English sovereigns were crowned.

The cult of Saints was, as throughout Christian lands, of great importance in later Pictland. While kings might patronise great Saints, such as Saint Peter in the case of Nechtan, and perhaps Saint Andrew in the case of the second Óengus mac Fergusa, many lesser Saints, some now obscure, were important. The Pictish Saint Drostan appears to have had a wide following in the north in earlier times, although all but forgotten by the 12th century. Saint Serf of Culross was associated with Nechtan's brother Bridei. ^[8] It appears, as is well known in later times, that noble kin groups had their own patron saints, and their own churches or abbeys.^[9]

That remained the picture until the Scottish Reformation was initiated in 1560 by John Knox, who was a Calvinist and the Church in Scotland broke with the papacy, and adopted a Calvinist confession. At that point the celebration of the Roman Mass was outlawed. When Mary Queen of Scots returned from France to rule, she found herself as a Roman Catholic in a largely Protestant state and Protestant court. For more information on the history of the Reformation in Scotland, see also Scottish Reformation, John Knox, Jenny Geddes, Book of Common Order, and Bishops' Wars

Modern Christianity

The Church of Scotland, also known as The Kirk, is recognised in law (by the Church of Scotland Act 1921) as the national church of Scotland, but is not an established church and is independent of state control in matters spiritual. The Church of Scotland is a Reformed church, with a Presbyterian system of ecclesiastical polity as determined in 1690. Prior to this date, Episcopalian and Presbyterian parties vied for control of the church (see Bishop's Wars). Throughout the 18th century, the Church of Scotland maintained its reformed theology and kept a tight control over the morality of much of the population. The Kirk had a significant influence on the cultural development of Scotland in early modern times.

The monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II) is an ordinary member of the Church of Scotland, and is represented at the General Assembly by their Lord High Commissioner.

Following political turmoil in 1688 and 1689 (see Glorious Revolution) those adhering to an Episcopal form of church government left or were expelled from Church of Scotland congregations, leading to the formation of the Scottish Episcopal Church, which now forms part of the Anglican Communion.

Divisions within Presbyterianism (see Disruption of 1843) in Scotland led to the setting up of other denominations including the Free Church of Scotland, an off-shoot from the Church of Scotland adhering to a more conservative style of Calvinism.

Other denominations in Scotland include the Jehovah's Witnesses, Methodists, the Congregationalists, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The second largest church in Scotland in terms of membership is the Roman Catholic Church which survived the Reformation, especially on islands like Uist and Barra, despite the suppression of the 16th to the late 18th centuries. Roman Catholicism in Scotland was strengthened particularly in the west of Scotland during the 19th century by immigration from Ireland. This continued for much of the 20th century, during which significant numbers of Catholics from Italy and Poland also migrated to Scotland. Some parts of Scotland (particularly the West Central Belt around Glasgow) have experienced problems caused by sectarianism, particularly football rivalry between the traditionally Roman Catholic team, Celtic, and the traditionally Protestant team, Rangers.

Other faiths

Glasgow Central Mosque, the largest mosque in Scotland.

Scotland has a relatively high proportion of persons, 28% of the population, who regard themselves as belonging to 'no religion'. Indeed, this was the second most common response in the 2001 census after The Kirk, outnumbering even Roman Catholics.^[10]

Islam is the next religious viewpoint after Christianity and Atheism in Scotland, although it accounts for less than 1% of the population (estimated 50,000)^[10]. See Islam in Scotland.

According to the 2001 census, approximately 6,400 practicing Jews live in Scotland, most of whom are centralised in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and to a lesser extent Dundee. Scotland's Jewish population continues to be predominantly urban. Despite the small numbers, Judaism in Scotland has a long history. While England during the Middle Ages had state persecution of the Jews, culminating in the expulsion of 1290 (it has been suggested that Jews may have arrived in Scotland after this date), there was never a corresponding expulsion from Scotland. Evidence of Jews in medieval Scotland is fairly scanty, but in 1190, the Bishop of Glasgow forbade churchmen to "ledge their benefices for money borrowed from Jews". [1] This was around the time of the Anti-Jewish riots in England so it is possible Jewish refugees lived in Scotland for a brief time, or it may refer to English Jews' interests in Scotland. Like many Christian nations, medieval Scots believed themselves to have a Biblical connection. The Declaration of Arbroath (6 April, 1320), which was sent as an appeal to Pope John XXII, confirmed Scotland's status as an independent, sovereign state and asserted its right to use military action when considered unjustly attacked. It was sealed by fifty-one magnates and nobles. It is still periodically referenced by British Israelitists. The text asserts that in the eyes of God:

cum non sit Pondus nec distinccio Judei et Greci, Scoti aut Anglici

("there is neither bias nor difference between Jew or Greek, Scot or English")

The majority of Jewish immigration appears to have occurred post-industrialisation, and post-1707, meaning that Jews in Scotland were subject to various anti-Jewish British laws. Scotland was under the jurisdiction of the Jew Bill, enacted in 1753, but repealed the next year.

Modern Neopagan religions inspired by pre-Christian British and Celtic beliefs, such as Wicca, Neo-druidism and Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism have some adherents. While the culturally-based Neopagan traditions (such as Celtic Reconstructionism) may be quite comfortable with Christianity and open about their practices and beliefs, some members of traditions that place more emphasis on occult practices (such as Wicca and Ceremonial magic) tend to fear persecution and practice more discreetly.

Religious leaders

• The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland convenes the annual Assembly, but does not "lead", the Church of Scotland. The current (since May 2006) Moderator is Alan McDonald, the Minister of the joint parishes of Cameron and St Leonards, in St Andrews, Fife. Moderators are limited to serving 1 year in office. The Moderator-designate is nominated in October and takes office in the following May; the Moderator-designate for 2007 is the Rev Sheilagh M. Kesting.
• The de facto head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland is the most senior archbishop (there are two archdiocese in Scotland: the Archdiocese of Glasgow and the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh), currently Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien, Archbishop and Metropolitan of St Andrews and Edinburgh (see Bishops' Conference of Scotland).
• The presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church is called the Primus. The current (since 18 May 2006) Primus is Idris Jones, Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway.
• The current (2006) Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland is Donnie Smith, Rector of Lima Evangelical Seminary, Lima, Peru.
• The current (2006) Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) is John MacLeod, Minister of Tarbat Free Church, Portmahomack.

Statistics

Religious affiliation in Scotland[10]
Religion/Denomination	Current religion	%	Religion of upbringing	%
Church of Scotland	2,146,251	42.4	2,392,601	47.3
No Religion	1,394,460	27.5	887,221	17.5
Roman Catholic	803,732	15.9	859,503	17.5
Other Christian	344,562	6.8	424,221	8.4
Religion not stated	278,061	5.5	422,862	8.4
Islam	42,557	0.8	42,264	0.8
Other Religion	26,974	0.5	8,447	0.2
Buddhism	6,830	0.1	4,704	0.1
Sikhism	6,572	0.1	6,821	0.1
Judaism	6,448	0.1	7,446	0.1
Hinduism	5,564	0.1	5,921	0.1
Base/Total	5,062,011	100	5,062,011	100

Notes and references

References

• Clancy, Thomas Owen, "Church institutions: early medieval" in Lynch (2001).
• Clancy, Thomas Owen, "Scotland, the 'Nennian' Recension of the Historia Brittonum and the Libor Bretnach in Simon Taylor (ed.), Kings, clerics and chronicles in Scotland 500–1297. Fourt Courts, Dublin, 2000. ISBN 1-85182-516-9
• Clancy, Thomas Owen, "Nechtan son of Derile" in Lynch (2001).
• Clancy, Thomas Owen, "Columba, Adomnán and th Cult of Saints in Scotland" in Broun & Clancy (1999).
• Cross, F.L. and Livingstone, E.A. (eds), Scotland, Christianity in in "The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church", pp.1471-1473. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1997. ISBN 0-19-211655-X
• Foster, Sally M., Picts, Gaels, and Scots: Early Historic Scotland. Batsford, London, 2004. ISBN 0-7134-8874-3
• Markus, Fr. Gilbert, O.P., "Religious life: early medieval" in Lynch (2001).
• Markus, Fr. Gilbert, O.P., "Conversion to Christianity" in Lynch (2001).
• Taylor, Simon, "Seventh-century Iona abbots in Scottish place-names" in Broun & Clancy (1999).

External links

• Church of Scotland
• Roman Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland
• Free Church of Scotland
• Scottish Baptist Union
• Scottish Episcopal Church
• Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)
• Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
• United Free Church of Scotland
• Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Scotland
• The Virtual Jewish History Tour - Scotland
• Jewish Encyclopedia on Scotland
• Tarbat Discovery Programme with reports on excavations at Portmahomack.

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See also