Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)

The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (Scottish Gaelic:

Free Church of Scotland
An Eaglais Shaor Leantainneach) is a Scottish Presbyterian
denomination which was formed in January 2000. It claims to (Continuing)
be the true continuation of the Free Church of Scotland, hence
its name.

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 The FCC church building in Staffin
conspiracy against him.[1] An organisation called the Free
Classification Protestant
Church Defence Association believed that "it was wrong not
to put Professor Macleod on trial in the General Assembly and Theology Calvinistic
that the majority has therefore departed from the principle that Polity Presbyterian
allegations of misconduct must be investigated not by a
Associations International
Committee of the General Assembly but by the whole General
Conference of
Assembly."[2] The FCDA's chairman, Rev Maurice Roberts,
was suspended for contumacy in June 1999 for refusing to Reformed Churches,
withdraw his claim that General Assembly in May of that year Affinity
was characterised by "gross and irremediable wickedness and Origin 2000
hypocrisy".[1]
Separated from Free Church of
In August 1999, the FCDA's magazine, Free Church Scotland
Foundations, referred to "the evil of Mr Roberts' Congregations 29 active
suspension."[1][3] A deadline was set for 30 November 1999 congregations in
for the FCDA to disband, which it did not.[4] Libels were Scotland, 1 in
drawn up against 22 ministers who refused to comply, and in a Canada and 5
hearing by the Commission of Assembly on 19–20 January overseas in the
2000 those libels were declared to be relevant.[5] The 22 United States
ministers were suspended, and they responded by leaving the
commission. Members ~1,000 in Scotland,
250 in North America
On 20 January 2000 the 'Free Church of Scotland Official website www
(Continuing)' was formed when those ministers and a number
.freechurchcontinuing
of others adopted a "Declaration of Reconstitution of the
.org (http://www.freec
historic Free Church of Scotland."[6] Johnston McKay
hurchcontinuing.org)
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."[2]

Legal issues
Following their departure, FCC sought a declarator from the Court of Session as to ownership of the central
funds and 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.[5] 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,[7] and
also lost their appeal to the Inner House of the Court of Session.[8]

The FCC expressed its intention to appeal both the above decisions, but in 2009, the International
Conference of Reformed Churches noted that the FCC had "withdrawn its appeal of the civil matter that
was pending."[9]

Recognition
The denomination is a member of the International Conference of Reformed Churches[10] and of
Affinity.[11]

Congregations
The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) presently has 34 functioning congregations, of which seven are
in North America.[12] These churches belong to six presbyteries: the Northern, the Skye and Lochcarron,
the Inverness, the United States of America, the Outer Hebrides and the Southern Presbyteries.[13] There
are six congregations and preaching stations in the Atlanta metropolitan area, Washington Metro, Upstate
South Carolina, Mebane, North Carolina and St. Louis, Missouri in the United States,[14] a congregation in
Canada, Northern Ireland, and a seminary and demonstration farm in Zambia.[15][16]
 Church Location Presbytery Web Founded

North Dell, Na h- Outer

Ness FCSC [1] (https://nesschurch.wordpress.com/) 2000
Eileanan Siar Hebrides

Northton, Na h- Outer
Harris FCSC 2000
Eileanan Siar Hebrides
Knock and Point Garrabost, Na h- Outer
[2] (http://www.knockfreechurch.org.uk/) 2000
FCSC Eileanan Siar Hebrides

North Uist and Bayhead, Na h- Outer [3] (http://www.northuistandgrimsayfcc.

2000
Grimsay FCSC Eileanan Siar Hebrides org/)

Scalpay Harris Scalpay, Na h- Outer

2000
FCSC Eileanan Siar Hebrides
Shawbost Bragar, Na h- Outer
2000
Preaching Station Eileanan Siar Hebrides

Stornoway, Na h- Outer
Stornoway FCSC 2000
Eileanan Siar Hebrides

Assynt and Scourie and

Northern 2000
Eddrachillis FCSC Lochinver, Highland
Brora FCSC Brora, Highland Northern 2000

Kiltearn FCSC Evanton, Highland Northern 2000

Portmahomack and [4] (http://www.highlander.zetnet.co.uk/t

Tarbat FCSC Northern 2000
Inver, Highland fc/)
Struan and Carbost, Skye and
Bracadale FCSC [5] (http://bracadalefcc.wordpress.com/) 2000
Highland Lochcarron

Skye and
Duirinish FCSC Duirinish, Highland [6] (http://bracadalefcc.wordpress.com/) 2000
Lochcarron

Lochalsh & Strath Ardelve, Corran and Skye and

2000
FCSC Broadford, Highland Lochcarron
Skye and
Snizort FCSC Skeabost, Highland [7] (https://www.snizort.co.uk/) 2000
Lochcarron

Kilmuir and Skye and

Staffin, Highland 2000
Stenscholl FCSC Lochcarron
Skye and
Portree FCSC Portree, Highland 2000
Lochcarron

Grace Reformed Aberdeen,

Inverness [8] (https://www.grcaberdeen.org.uk/) 2000
Church, Aberdeen Aberdeen

[9] (http://www.dores-church.org.uk/)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2
Dores FCSC Dores, Highland Inverness 0190220063210/http://www.dores-churc 2000
h.org.uk/) 20 February 2019 at the
Wayback Machine
[10] (http://www.invernesswesthillfcc.or
g/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/we
Westhill Inverness
Inverness, Highland Inverness b/20190220063104/http://www.invernes 2000
FCSC
swesthillfcc.org/) 20 February 2019 at
the Wayback Machine

Kilmorack and
Beauly, Highland Inverness 2000
Strathglass FCSC

Poolewe and Aultbea, Highland Inverness [11] (https://www.pooleweandaultbeafc 2000

Aultbea FCSC c.org/)

Brodick, North
Arran FCSC Southern 2000
Ayrshire
Bethel Free [12] (http://www.ayrfreechurchcontinuin
Ayr, South Ayrshire Southern 2000
Church, Ayr g.co.uk/)

Lockerbie, Dumfries
Dumfries FCSC Southern 2000
and Galloway

Edinburgh,
St Columba's [13] (http://edinburghfreechurchcontinui
Edinburgh & Southern 2000
FCSC, Edinburgh ng.com/)
Galashiels, Borders
Knightswood Knightswood,
Southern [14] (https://knightswoodchurch.org/) 2000
FCSC Glasgow

[15] (http://partick.freechurchcont.org/)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2
Partick FCSC Partick, Glasgow Southern 0190220065601/http://partick.freechurc 2000
hcont.org/) 20 February 2019 at the
Wayback Machine

Shettleston, [16] (https://www.shettlestonfreechurch.

Shettleston FCSC Southern 2000
Glasgow org/)
London Preaching
Ham, London Southern
Station

Rothesay, Argyll
Rothesay Southern 2000
and Bute

Home & Free Church (Continuing) website (http

Ballyclare and
Doagh, Antrim Foreign s://www.freechurchcontinuing.org/congr 2013
Doagh FCSC
Missions egations/ballyclare-doagh/)
Home & Free Church (Continuing) website (http
Portavogie
Portavogie, Down Foreign s://www.freechurchcontinuing.org/congr
Preaching Station
Missions egations/portavogie/)

Home &
Smiths Falls Smiths Falls, [17] (http://www.smithsfallsreformedchu
Foreign 2002
Reformed Church Ontario rch.org/)
Missions

Reformation
Presbyterian Atlanta, Georgia United States 2004
Church, Atlanta
Greenville
Greenville, South [18] (https://www.greenvillepresbyterian.
Presbyterian United States 2006
Carolina com/)
Church

Cornerstone
Mebane, North [19] (https://cornerstone-presbyterian.c
Presbyterian United States 2012
Carolina om/)
Church, Mebane

Metropolitan
Presbyterian
Washington, D. C. United States 2003
Church,
Washington
Sovereign Grace
Presbyterian St Louis, Missouri United States [20] (https://www.stlpresbyterian.org/) 2008
Church, St Louis

Seminary
The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) maintains a seminary on the outskirts of Inverness for the
training of its ministers.

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.[17]

See also
John MacLeod, Principal Clerk of Assembly, Moderator of 2006 General Assembly

References
1. Templeton, Sarah-Kate (2 October 1999). "Free Church in crisis as two ministers face
suspension" (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_19991003/ai_n13944613/).
Sunday Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
2. McKay, Johnston (21 January 2000). "A church born out of division" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/
hi/uk_news/scotland/613198.stm). BBC News. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
3. Notices (http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/theword/foundations/notices.html) Archived (https://web.ar
chive.org/web/20121017150153/http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/theword/foundations/notices.html)
2012-10-17 at the Wayback Machine, Free Church Foundations. Accessed 24 January
2011.
4. McNeil, Robert (1 December 1999). "Rebels warn Free Church of their plan to break away".
The Scotsman.
5. Opinion of Lady Paton (http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/2005CSOH46.html), retrieved
16 June 2007
6. Act XVIII, General Assembly Acts 2000-2008 (http://www.freekirkcontinuing.co.uk/FCC/Chur
ch_Documents/Entries/2008/10/4_General_Assembly_Acts_2000-2008_files/Acts%20200
0%20-%202008.pdf) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110725181137/http://www.free
kirkcontinuing.co.uk/FCC/Church_Documents/Entries/2008/10/4_General_Assembly_Acts_
2000-2008_files/Acts%202000%20-%202008.pdf) 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine.
7. "(First) Reverend Donald Smith, As Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church
of Scotland + (Second) Reverend James MacIver as the Principal Clerk of the Said General
Assembly v. (First) Reverend John Morrison + (Second) Peter MaCaskill + (Third) Roderick
MacKay + (Fourth) Peter Matheson, 31 July 2009, Lord Uist" (http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/o
pinions/2009CSOH113.html). scotcourts.gov.uk.
8. "The Reverend Donald Smith as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free church of
Scotland and Others v. The Reverend John Morrison and Others, 12 August 2011, Lord
Bonomy + Lord Drummond Young + Lord Osborne" (http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/2
011CSIH52.html). scotcourts.gov.uk.
9. "2009 Conference Minutes" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110527163529/http://www.icrcon
line.com/documents/ICRC_Minutes_2009.pdf) (PDF). International Conference of Reformed
Churches. Archived from the original (http://www.icrconline.com/documents/ICRC_Minutes_
2009.pdf) (PDF) on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
10. "Press Release" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110527163503/http://www.icrconline.com/pr
ess_releases.html). International Conference of Reformed Churches. Archived from the
original (http://www.icrconline.com/press_releases.html) on 27 May 2011. Retrieved
24 January 2011.
11. "Affinity Partners" (https://web.archive.org/web/20060822032841/http://www.affinity.org.uk/b
elonging/article/affinity_partners/). Affinity. Archived from the original (http://www.affinity.org.u
k/belonging/article/affinity_partners/) on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
12. "Congregations" (http://www.freechurchcontinuing.org/find-us/congregations).
freechurchcontinuing.org.
13. "Presbyteries" (http://www.freechurchcontinuing.org/find-us/presbyteries).
freechurchcontinuing.org.
14. David Blunt. "Presbytery of United States of America" (http://www.freechurchcontinuing.org/fi
nd-us/presbyteries/item/presbytery-of-united-states-of-america). freechurchcontinuing.org.
15. "Free Church of Scotland" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090403160221/http://www.freekirk
continuing.co.uk/FCC/Map.html). freekirkcontinuing.co.uk. Archived from the original (http://w
ww.freekirkcontinuing.co.uk/FCC/Map.html) on 3 April 2009.
16. "Free Church of Scotland" (https://web.archive.org/web/20081120074849/http://www.freekirk
continuing.co.uk/FCC/Overseas.html). freekirkcontinuing.co.uk. Archived from the original (ht
tp://www.freekirkcontinuing.co.uk/FCC/Overseas.html) on 20 November 2008.
17. "Free Church to allow music and hymns -- BBC News 19 Nov 2010 retrieved 15 April 2016"
(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11795996).

External links
The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) (http://www.freechurchcontinuing.org)

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