United Free Church of Scotland

The United Free Church of Scotland (UF Church; Scottish

United Free Church of
Gaelic: An Eaglais Shaor Aonaichte, Scots: The Unitit Free Kirk o
Scotland) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 Scotland
by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland (or Classification Protestant
UP) and the majority of the 19th-century Free Church of Scotland. Orientation Calvinist
The majority of the United Free Church of Scotland united with
the Church of Scotland in 1929. Polity Presbyterian
Associations majority
Origins incorporated into
the Church of
The Free Church of Scotland seceded from the Church of Scotland Scotland in 1929
in the Disruption of 1843. The United Presbyterian Church was Region Scotland
formed in 1847 by a union of the United Secession and Relief
Origin 1900
Churches, both of which had split from the Church of Scotland.
The two denominations united in 1900 to form the United Free Merger of The United
Church (except for a small section of the Free Church who Presbyterian
rejected the union and continued independently under the name of Church of
the Free Church). Scotland and
most of the Free
Legal dispute:The Free Church Case Church of
Scotland
The minority of the Free Church, which had refused to join the Congregations 51[1]
union, quickly tested its legality. They issued a summons, claiming
Members 1988
that in altering the principles of the Free Church, the majority had
(Communicant)
ceased to be the Free Church of Scotland and therefore forfeited [1]
the right to its assets – which should belong to the remaining
minority, who were the true 'Free Church'. However, the case was Official website ufcos.org.uk (htt
lost in the Court of Session, where Lord Low (upheld by the p://ufcos.org.uk)
second division) held
that the Assembly of
original Free Church
had a right, within
limits, to change its
position.

Timeline showing the evolution of the churches of Scotland from 1560

An appeal to House of Lords, (not delivered until 1 August 1904 due to a judicial death), reversed the
Court of Session's decision (by a majority of 5–2), and found the minority entitled to the assets of the Free
Church. It was held that, by adopting new standards of doctrine (and particularly by abandoning its
commitment to 'the establishment principle' – which was held to be fundamental to the Free Church), the
majority had violated the conditions on which the property of the Free Church was held.

The judgement had huge implications; seemingly it deprived the Free Church element of the UF Church of
all assets—churches, manses, colleges, missions, and even provision for elderly clergy. It handed large
amounts of property to the remnant; more than it could make effective use of. A conference, held in
September 1904, between representatives of the UF and the (now distinct) Free Church, to come to some
working arrangement, found that no basis for agreement could be found. A convocation of the UF Church,
held on 15 December, decided that the union should proceed, and resolved to pursue every lawful means to
restore their assets. As a result, the intervention of Parliament was sought.

A parliamentary commission was appointed, consisting of Lords Elgin, Kinnear and Anstruther. The
question of interim possession was referred to Sir John Cheyne. The commission sat in public, and after
hearing both sides, issued their report in April 1905. They stated that the feelings of both parties towards the
other had made their work difficult. They concluded, however, that the Free Church was in many respects
unable to carry out the purposes of the trusts, which, under the ruling of the House of Lords, was a
condition of their holding the property. They recommended that an executive commission should be set up
by act of parliament, in which the whole property of the Free Church, as at the date of the union, should be
vested, and which should allocate it to the United Free Church, where the Free Church was unable to carry
out the trust purposes.

The Churches (Scotland) Act 1905,[2] which gave effect to these recommendations, was passed in August.
The commissioners appointed were those on whose report the act was formed, plus two others. The
allocation of churches and manses was a slow business, but by 1908 over 100 churches had been assigned
to the Free Church. Some of the dispossessed UF Church congregations, most of them in the Highlands,
found shelter for a time in the parish churches; but it was early decided that in spite of the objection against
the erection of more church buildings in districts where many were now standing empty, 60 new churches
and manses should at once be built at a cost of about £150,000. In October 1906 the commission intimated
that the Assembly Hall, and the New College Buildings, were to belong to the UF Church, while the Free
Church received the offices in Edinburgh, and a tenement to be converted into a college, while the library
was to be vested in the UF Church, but open to members of both. After having held its Assembly in
university class-rooms for two years, and in another hall in 1905, in 1906 the UF Church again occupied
the historic buildings of the Free Church. All the foreign missions and all the continental stations were also
adjudged to the United Free Church. (Incidentally, the same act also contained provided for the relaxation
of subscription in the Church of Scotland, thus Parliament had involved itself in the affairs of all
Presbyterian churches.)

Existence 1900–1929
The United Free Church was during its relatively short existence the second largest Presbyterian church in
Scotland. The Free Church brought into the union 1,068 congregations, the United Presbyterians 593.
Combined they had a membership of some half a million Scots. The revenue of the former amounted to
£706,546, of the latter to £361,743. The missionaries of both churches joined the union, and the united
Church was then equipped with missions in various parts of India, in Manchuria, in Africa (Lovedale,
Livingstonia, etc.), in Palestine, in Melanesia and in the West Indies.

The UFC was broadly liberal Evangelical in its approach to theology and practical issues. It combined an
acceptance of the findings of contemporary science, and the more moderate results of higher criticism with
commitment to evangelism and missions. The UFC's approach to doctrinal conformity was fairly liberal for
a Presbyterian denomination at the time. In its 1906 Act Anent Spiritual Independence of the Church, its
General Assembly asserted the power to modify or define its Subordinate standard (the Westminster
Confession) and its laws. Although its subordinate standard remained, ministers and elders were asked to
state their belief in "the doctrine of this Church, set forth in the Confession of Faith". Thus the Church's
interpretation of doctrine was prioritised over the confession.

The UFC had three divinity halls, at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, served by 17 professors and five
lecturers. The first moderator was Robert Rainy. Its theologians and scholars have included H.R.
Mackintosh, James Moffatt as well as John and Donald Baillie. British Prime Minister Bonar Law was
raised in a Canadian Free Church manse and was a member of the United Free Church in Helensburgh.[3]

Union with the Church of Scotland

As its early days were preoccupied with the aftermath of union, so its later days were with the coming
union with the Church of Scotland. The problem was the CofS's position as an established church
conflicted with the Voluntaryism of the UFC. Discussions began in 1909, but were complex. The Very Rev
William Paterson Paterson, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland made much
progress during his period in office 1919/20.[4]

The main hurdles were overcome by two parliamentary statutes, firstly the Church of Scotland Act 1921,
which recognised the Church of Scotland's independence in spiritual matters (a right asserted by its Articles
Declaratory of 1919). The second was the Church of Scotland (Properties and Endowments) Act 1925,
which transferred the secular endowment of the church to a new body called the General Trustees. These
measures satisfied the majority of the UFC that the Church-state entanglement of the Church of Scotland,
which had been the cause of the Disruption of 1843 had at last ended. In 1929, the merger with the Church
of Scotland largely reversed the Disruption of 1843 and reunited much of Scottish Presbyterianism. On 2
October 1929, at an assembly at the Industrial Hall on Annandale Street off Leith Walk in Edinburgh, the
two churches merged.[5] The Hall is now the central bus depot for Lothian Region Transport.

A relatively small minority stayed out of the union, and retained the name of U.F. Church.

The continuing UFC, 1929–present

Voluntaryism led some to oppose the union (the United Free Church Association, led by James Barr –
minister of Govan and Labour MP for Motherwell). When it came, 13,000 UFC members remained
outside, calling themselves the United Free Church (Continuing).[6] The phrase 'continuing' was used for
five years to avoid confusion between the remaining United Free Church and the pre-union Church. It was
dropped from the title in 1934. An agreement between the parties avoided the property disputes of the 1900
union. UFC members increased slightly during the 1930s, to a peak of 23, 000 by 1939, but it never
regained anywhere near the numbers it had had prior to the union with the Church of Scotland.[6]

The ongoing UFC continues in the 'broad evangelical' tradition.

The continuing UFC agreed to permit the ordination of female ministers in 1929.[7] The church elected a
woman as its moderator in 1960,[7] when Elizabeth Barr became the first female moderator of a general
assembly of a Scottish church.[8]

In 2016, the UFC had 53 congregations in its three presbyteries.[9] These three presbyteries are 'The East',
'The West' and 'The North'.
 The East: meets in Bo'ness and covers central Scotland, South Fife and the Lothians. It has
13 congregations.
The West which meets in Glasgow and covers Strathclyde, and has 26 congregations within
its bounds.
The North meets in Aberdeen and Perth covering Tayside, The Highlands, Grampian and
the Northern Isles. It has 14 congregations.

The General Assembly of the United Free Church of Scotland meets annually, beginning on the
Wednesday after the first Sunday in June, and lasting until the Friday. Since 2008, they have committed to
having the General Assembly in a central location, meeting in the Salutation Hotel, Perth.[9]

In 2016, they had 60 ordained ministers, including retired and those serving part-time. There were three
students, and a further three probationer ministers. The denomination has 388 Elders, and 255 Deacons,
Managers or board members who are not Elders.

Ecumenical relations

The modern UFC is involved in the ecumenical movement in Scotland and is a member of Action of
Churches Together in Scotland.[10] Internationally, it is a member of the World Council of Churches,[11]

Churches

The denomination currently has 53 congregations.

 Church Location Web Founded Notes

Canonbie United Parish Canonbie, Dumfries and [1] (https://canonbiec Joint CoS / UFCS
Church Galloway hurch.org.uk/) congregation

Ardeer UFC Ardeer, North Ayrshire

Largs UFC Largs, North Ayrshire

[2] (https://maxwellch
Maxwell UFC, Kilmaurs Kilmaurs, East Ayrshire
urch.com/)

[3] (https://www.cumn
St Andrew's UFC,
Cumnock, East Ayrshire ockunitedfreechurch.
Cumnock
co.uk/)
Ayr UFC Ayr, South Ayrshire

Calder UFC, Lochwinnoch, [4] (https://www.calde

1791
Lochwinnoch Renfrewshire rchurch.com/)

Candlish Wynd UFC,

Govanhill, Glasgow
Govanhill
[5] (https://www.cathc
Cathcart UFC Cathcart, Glasgow 1929
artuf.org.uk/)

[6] (http://www.croftfo
Croftfoot UFC Croftfoot, Glasgow
otuf.org/)

[7] (https://darnleychu
Darnley UFC Darnley, Glasgow 1977
rch.com//)
[8] (https://drumchap
Drumchapel UFC Drumchapel, Glasgow 1958
elufchurch.org/)

Knightswood UFC Knightswood, Glasgow

[9] (http://www.millers
Millerston UFC Millerston, Glasgow
tonchurch.org.uk/)
Shieldhall and Drumoyne
Shieldhall, Glasgow
UFC

Dalreoch, West
Dalreoch UFC
Dunbartonshire
Milngavie, East [10] (https://www.miln
Milngavie UFC
Dunbartonshire gavie.church/)

Bargeddie, North
Bargeddie UFC
Lanarkshire

St Andrew's UFC, Bellshill, North [11] (http://standrews

1762
Bellshill Lanarkshire ufchurch.co.uk/)
Chryston, North
Chryston UFC
Lanarkshire

Wishaw, North
Wishaw UFC
Lanarkshire

Uddingston, South [12] (http://parkchurc Left Church of

Park Church, Uddingston 1863
Lanarkshire h.co.uk/) Scotland in 2007
Paterson UFC, Stonehouse, South
Stonehouse Lanarkshire

Broxburn UFC Broxburn, West Lothian

Craigmailen UFC,
Bo'ness, West Lothian
Bo'ness
Limefield UFC, West West Calder, West
Calder Lothian

Corstorphine Community [13] (http://www.corst

Corstorphine, Edinburgh 1929
Church orphinefaith.org.uk/)

Ebenezer UFC, Leith Leith, Edinburgh

Wilson Memorial Church, [14] (https://wilsonme
Craigentinny, Edinburgh 1933
Edinburgh morial.org.uk/)

Murrayfield UFC,
Bannockburn, Stirling
Bannockburn

[15] (http://www.ufco
St Ninians UFC, Stirling Stirling, Stirling 1773
s.org.uk/stirling/)
Menstrie,
Menstrie UFC
Clackmannanshire

Alloa,
Moncrieff UFC, Alloa
Clackmannanshire

[16] (https://www.sau
Sauchie and Fishcross Sauchie,
chieuf.org.uk/welcom 1913
UFC Clackmannanshire
e.htm)
Erskine:Burntisland UFC Burntisland, Fife

Cornerstone St Andrews
St Andrews, Fife
UFC

Tayport UFC Tayport, Fife

Auchterarder, Perth and
Auchterarder UFC
Kinross

Balbeggie, Perth and

Balbeggie UFC
Kinross

Trinity Church, Crook of Crook of Devon, Perth [17] (http://www.trinity

Devon and Kinross -church.co.uk/)
[18] (http://carnoustie
Erskine UFC, Carnoustie Carnoustie, Angus
-erskine.org.uk/)

Knox's UFC, Montrose Montrose, Angus

[19] (http://dundeeuf.
Dundee UFC Dundee, Dundee
co.uk/)
Northfield UFC Northfield, Aberdeen

[20] (https://www.torry
Torry UFC Torry, Aberdeen uf.co.uk/welcome.ht 1929
m)

[21] (https://lossieufc
Lossiemouth UFC Lossiemouth, Moray 1930
hurch.org/)
Balintore UFC Balintore, Highland

Cunningsburgh,
Cunningsburgh UFC
Shetland

Moderators of the General Assembly of the United Free Church

1900 - 1929

Robert Rainy (1900)

Robert Laws (1908)
John Young (1910)
George Reith (1914)[12]
Dugald Mackichan (1917)
Robert James Drummond (1918)
Adam Philip (1921)
Donald Fraser (1922)

1929-

1929 James Barr BD

1930 Rev Charles Robson MA BD
1931 Rev J Sommerville Smith MA
1932 Rev David M Forrester DD
1933 Rev Adam Johnston Millar
1934 Rev Bruce B Blackwood BD LRAM
1935 Rev James Sneddon
1936 Rev Alfred M Merriweather
1937 Rev Samuel W Wilson MA
1938 Rev David G Young
1939 Rev Prof Allan Barr DD
1940 Rev Prof Allan Barr DD
1941 Mr James Goldie FEIS
1942 Rev Andrew McNab MA
1943 James Barr BD
1944 Rev Colin MacDonald
1945 Rev Peter M Shepherd OBE MD
1946 Rev Thomas F Crow
1947 Rev H Taylor Cape
1948 Rev George A Hardie
1949 Rev Frank Gardner FRGS
1950 Rev Peter MacLeod MA
1951 Rev Bruce B Blackwood BD LRAM
1952 Rev Alfred M Merriweather
1953 Rev Peter C MacIntosh
1954 Mr John Forrester-Paton CBE
1955 Rev J Howie Haldane
1956 Rev David W Roy
1957 Rev John A Paterson
1958 Rev James Porter MA
1959 Rev Francis Cougan
1960 Rev Elizabeth Barr BD
1961 Rev Alexander Innes MA
1962 Rev Ninian A P Bisset MA
1963 Rev Henry G McCall
1964 Rev Robert K MacDonald
1965 Rev Robertson Taylor BD
1966 Rev James Cassels MA
1967 Rev Alexander Ross
1968 Rev Colin MacDonald
1969 Rev Albert Petrie
1970 Rev Ernest Watson MA
1971 Rev Duncan S Mitchell
1972 Rev Henry L Brownlie
1973 Rev Robert Buchan
1974 Mr Robert S Clark
1975 Rev A Douglas Scrimgeour MA BD ThM
1976 Rev James P Young MA
1977 Rev Archibald A Small
1978 Rev Gregor Cameron MA
1979 Rev Dr A M Merriweather CBE PH
1980 Rev Joseph G McPhee
1981 Mr John Gray
1982 Rev David W Roy
1983 Mr Edward S Nicoll DFC
1984 Mr Andrew K M Rankin
1985 Rev William Johnston
1986 Rev James H Alexander
1987 Rev Thomas A B Patterson
1988 Rev Arthur M Lawless
1989 Rev James Cassels MA
1990 Rev Graeme B Bruce LTh
1991 Rev Andrew McG Begg
1992 Mr J Fergus Henderson
1993 Rev John A M McFie
1994 Rev John Billows
1995 Rev Joseph Creelman
1996 Rev Gordon L Cowan
1997 Rev James D Neil BD
1998 Rev John C Allan BD
1999 Rev A Douglas Scrimgeour MA BD ThM
2000 Rev John O Fulton BSc BD
2001 Rev Archie M Ford BSc
2002 Rev Colin C Brown BD
2003 Rev Donald Mackenzie
2004 Rev Stephen J W Matthews BD
2005 Rev James G Marshall CA BD
2006 Rev Andrew McMillan BD BA
 2007 Rev David Cartledge BA
2008 Dr Donald Macdonald BSc MRSC
2009 Rev Martin C Keane BA BD
2010 Rev Robert Owens BA
2011 Mr George H McRobb
2112 Rev Iain F R Lloyd BSc BD
2013 Rev Graham G Brown BSc BD
2014 Rev Gary J A Barclay BD
2015 Mr Andrew Scott
2016 Rev Alexander Ritchie MA LLM BD MTh
2017 Rev I A Boa BSc BD
2018 Mr John Cross
2019 Rev J O Fulton BSc BD
2020 No Assembly
2021 Rev Dr I D Miller BA BD MTh PhD
2022 Rev A M Ford BSc

In literature and popular culture

The dispute over assets between the Free Church and the United Free Church was satirised by Neil Munro
in his Erchie MacPherson story "Erchie and the Free Church", first published in the Glasgow Evening
News on 8th August 1904.[13]

See also
History of Scotland
United and uniting churches

References
1. https://www.ufcos.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/General%20Assembly/2022/Gov22.pdf
2. Churches (Scotland) Act 1905. (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Edw7/5/12/contents)
3. Noble, Stewart. "History of Helensburgh Parish Church" (http://www.helensburgh-heritage.c
o.uk/index.php?option=com_content&amp%3Bview=article&amp%3Bid=1335:history-of-hel
ensburgh-parish-church&amp%3Bcatid=91:religion-&amp%3BItemid=492). Helensburgh
Heritage. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
4. "William Paterson Paterson" (https://www.giffordlectures.org/lecturers/william-paterson-pater
son). The Gifford Lectures. 18 August 2014.
5. Edinburgh and District: Ward Lock Travel Guide 1939
6. Thorpe, Andrew (1994). The Longman companion to Britain in the era of the two world wars,
1914-45 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27186234). London: Longman. ISBN 0-582-07771-0.
OCLC 27186234 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27186234).
7. Jacqueline Field-Bibb, Women Towards Priesthood: Ministerial Politics and Feminist Praxis
(Cambridge University Press, 1991), p. 117.
8. Keith Robbins, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales: The Christian Church 1900–2000 (Oxford
University Press, 2008), pp. 387–88.
 9. Report of the Administration and Finance Committee General Assembly 2017 (https://www.uf
cos.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/General%20Assembly/2017/AF-GA17.pdf) (PDF). 2017. p. 9.
Retrieved 4 April 2017.
10. "Who we are: Member Churches" (http://www.acts-scotland.org/about-us/about-acts/item/15
8-who-we-are-member-churches). acts-scotland.org/. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
11. "Member churches" (https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches). World Council of
Churches. January 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
12. "Looking Back: The Western Isles, 1914 In Pictures" (https://www.lifeandwork.org/features/lo
oking-back-western-isles-1914). Life and Work: the Magazine of the Church of Scotland.
Church of Scotland. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
13. Munro, Neil, "Erchie and the Free Church", in Osborne. Brian D. and Armstrong, Ronald
(eds.) (2002), Erchie, My Droll Friend, Birlinn Limited, Edinburgh, pp. 255 - 258, ISBN 978-1-
84158202-3

Sources
Cameron, N. et al. (eds.) Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology, Edinburgh:
T&T Clark, 1993.

External links
Official website (http://www.ufcos.org.uk)

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