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Based on the reformed or Calvinist tradition, Congregationalism originated in late 16th century splits within the Established Church of England. Separatists left to form their own independent congregations, which were sometimes known as Brownists after one of their principle thinkers Robert Browne. The spread of Congregationalism to Scotland seems to have come from England. In 1647 the Church of Scotland barred people holding independent views from taking communion in the kirk. The years 1650 to 1790 saw an increase in the numbers of Congregational churches in Scotland. Some were formed by those fleeing persecution for their beliefs in England. Between 1797 and 1808 brothers, Robert and James Haldane encouraged the growth of Congregationalism in Scotland. The Haldanes' family seat was at Airthrey near Stirling (now part of Stirling University). They constituted their first Tabernacle in Edinburgh in 1799. Their system of church government was inspired by Greville Ewing, who left the Church of Scotland and became associated with the Haldanes. Ewing became pastor of the Glasgow Tabernacle. A split developed in 1808 between Ewing and James Haldane which led to many fledgling congregations being dispossessed and a weakening of the movement.
In 1811 the Glasgow Theological Academy came into being largely due to Greville Ewing's vision. But many churches remained poor and unable to financially to support training for ministers. In 1812 the Congregational Union was formed with the idea of providing mutual support.
After 1843 and the Disruption in the Church of Scotland, the Evangelical Union was founded by James Morrison. This united with the Congregational Union in 1896 bringing the Presbyterian system of two courts - one for deacons and one for elders into Congregationalism. Churches were also able to style themselves Evangelical Union Congregational (EU Congregational).
In 1993, the Congregational Union changed its constitution to become the Congregational Church in Scotland. On 1 April 2000, the Congregational Church and the United Reform Church merged to become the United Reformed Church. There remained a body of about 30 churches holding true to their Congregational principles and these joined the Congregational Federation in 1994. There are in 2002 about 39 churches in the Scottish area of the Congregational Federation. |