Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland

Reformed in Doctrine, Worship, and Practice

“Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” Psalm 60:4

  • Contact Us
  • Español
  • 中文
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • What We Contend For
    • What We Believe
    • How We Worship
    • How We Are Organised
    • Important Documents
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • BKonline Course
    • Scripture and Catechism Exercises 2025-26
  • Publications
    • Free Presbyterian Magazine
    • Young People’s Magazine
    • Gaelic Supplement – An Earrann Ghàidhlig
    • Synod Reports
    • Religion and Morals Committee Reports
    • Tracts
  • Audio
    • Sermons
    • Theological Conferences
    • Youth Conferences
    • Psalmody
  • Congregations
    • Places of Worship
    • Current Ministers
    • Galleries of FP Churches
  • International
    • Zimbabwe Mission
    • Other International Congregations
    • Translation Work
    • Metrical Psalms in Various Languages
    • Chinese website (中文)
    • Spanish (español) website
  • History
    • History of the FP Church
    • Congregational Histories
    • Deceased Ministers and Probationers
    • Obituaries and Synod Tributes
    • Moderators of Synod etc.
    • Timeline of Scottish Church History
  • Spiritual Help
    • How to Find Spiritual Help
    • How may a sinner be saved?
    • How may someone know if they are truly saved?
    • Spiritual Mindedness
  • Bookshop
Home » Publications » Free Presbyterian Magazine » 1959 » January 1959 » Glasgow Committee Opposed to Bishops

Glasgow Committee Opposed to Bishops

A special committee of the Glasgow Presbytery of the Church of Scotland presented its Report on the Bishop question to the Presbytery at the end of last November. Apart from some statements indicating the wider outlook of the Church of Scotland on Church relations, the committee made some very clear and acceptable statements on the Presbyterian side of the matter. They asserted: “Statements in the Lambeth Report of 1938 offered clear evidence that real unity between the Church of England and the Church of Scotland, involving effective intercommunion, was ‘impossible’ from the Anglican point of view, except on the basis of episcopacy. The recognition of the pre-eminence of the Bishop appeared to constitute the radical difficulty in the attainment of any effective unity between the two Churches.” It seems that the Church of Scotland men are only now aware of the completely one-sided nature of these Inter Church discussions and as to their real purpose from the Anglican point of view. The Committee also stated, that what exactly was meant by “Apostolic succession” in the Church of England had never been made clear in the Joint Report. Even if unbroken historic continuity could be proved, which was very debatable, that would not in itself be a guarantee that an Episcopate was truly apostolic, said the Committee. Another part of their special Report is worth quoting as follows:—”Whatever the precise theory, the implication was that only those on whom a bishop’s hands were laid in confirmation were full members of the Church Catholic, and only men on whom his hands were laid in ordination were valid and regular ministers within the Church’s apostolic ministry.” The Committee also stated that “they could not agree to any adaptation or plan of Church Union which in any degree explicitly or implicitly, invalidated or cast any doubt on the full, apostolic validity of the ordination they had already received at the hands of the Presbytery.” This Committee recommended to the Glasgow Presbytery, (the largest in the Church of Scotland) the rejection of the proposals in the Joint Report on Inter-Church Relations. The fact is that if Church of Scotland Ministers and elders knew what has been going on in the Church of England for years, as to Romish Trends and practices, this would have been more than enough for any sensible and sincere Presbyterian to have nothing to do officially with the Church of England, not to speak of suggested bishops for the Church in Scotland. The Glasgow Presbytery on 25th November last discussed their Committees’ Report, and by a large majority supported the Committees’ proposals, and thus rejected the proposals contained in what is sometimes called the “Bishop’s Report.” It was again emphasised at the Presbytery: that they could not accept the imputation that they were not full members of the Church Catholic and that their ministry was not valid and regular without episcopacy. Although these notes refer to the Church of Scotland and their defence of Presbyterianism, as to the ministry and government thereof etc.,; yet the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland is deeply interested in these matters also, even from the point of view that the Church of England and Episcopal Church of Scotland consider our ministry, administration of the sacraments, and so on, invalid.

Upcoming Events (DV)

Jul 23
23 Jul - 27 Jul

Communions: Cameron, Struan

Jul 30
30 Jul - 3 Aug

Communion: Dingwall

Aug 6
6 Aug - 10 Aug

Communions: New Canaan, Somakantana

Aug 27
27 Aug - 31 Aug

Communion: Stornoway, Zenka

Sep 10
10 Sep - 14 Sep

Communions: Halkirk, Munaka, Portree

View Calendar

Latest Articles

  • Youth Conference in Australia
  • June 2026 Magazines online
  • Valuing the Gospel Ministry
  • UK Youth Conference 2026
  • Asia Pacific Youth Conference Lectures

Recently Added Audio

  • Jesus and His resurrection 21 Jun 2026
  • Jesus and His death 21 Jun 2026
  • “Many believed” 14 Jun 2026
  • Christ as a surety for strangers 14 Jun 2026
  • A vain cry in a time of trouble 7 Jun 2026
  • Redemption through the precious blood of Christ 7 Jun 2026
  • Waiting for the Lord 13 Jun 2026
  • Coming to yourself 12 Jun 2026
  • Throwing away an inheritance 11 Jun 2026
  • He will come to the feast 10 Jun 2026

View All Sermons

Download Latest Issues:
The Free Presbyterian Magazine
Young People’s Magazine

Free Presbyterian Places of Worship

Browse the Church Bookshop

Back to top

Website Contact

Rev Caleb J Hembd
caleb.hembd@gmail.com

Moderator of Synod

Rev K D Macleod BSc
11 Auldcastle Road
Inverness, IV2 3PZ
United Kingdom
E-mail: kdmacleod@gmail.com

Clerk of Synod

Rev Keith M Watkins
Free Presbyterian Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA, UK.
kmwatkins@fpchurch.org.uk

General Treasurer

Mr William Campbell
133 Woodlands Road, Glasgow,
G3 6LE, UK.
william.campbell@fpcoffice.org

Copyright © 2026 Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland · Log in · Subscribe via RSS · Privacy Notice