Further Debasement for Scotland
The glory of Scotland was the Reformation of the sixteenth century and the high degree of purity to which her national Church was raised at that time, in doctrine, worship, and in the establishment of true religion in the land. The Reformation was a mighty deliverance from the Romanism which had long destroyed souls and corrupted morality in Scotland. Scotland attained to an even greater height during the “Second Reformation” of the seventeenth century, with the Westminster Confession of Faith and the National Covenant (1638) and the Solemn League and Covenant (1643).
Since then, sad to say, the national Church of Scotland has debased herself – and, through her, the whole nation – in many different ways. She has evacuated her doctrine of almost all substance; she has corrupted her worship with innovations and frivolities; she has admitted manifest unbelievers to her ordinances; and she has ordained heretics, women and sodomites as office-bearers. She still has a little life, with true believers in her midst, but in common with several other national Churches and denominations, she has become a disgrace to the true Christian Church, and a reef and a snare to the irreligious world.
Now, alas, a further debasement is proposed. The Lord High Commissioner is the monarch’s representative at the Church’s General Assembly, and hitherto this position has not been open to Roman Catholics. This is for historic reasons, but these reasons are obvious enough and they retain their validity. How can anyone who professes a religion antagonistic to Protestantism occupy an honourable role at the General Assembly of a Protestant Church? And is it honourable even to propose or to accept such a thing?
But with the doctrine of the Church of Scotland reduced almost to nothing, and the doctrine of liberal Romanism likewise, our religious and irreligious leaders in Britain can see no obstacle to appointing a Romanist as Lord High Commissioner. In December, this was done, and the “Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Act 2025” is now before Parliament to revoke previous legislation and to “make provision for persons of the Roman Catholic faith” to occupy the role of Lord High Commissioner. This is hailed as a “significant gesture of unity, goodwill and collaboration” between the Kirk and the “Catholic Church” in Scotland.
In reality, it is the Church of Scotland leaders giving away what does not belong to them – namely, another part of the heritage and attainments of Christ’s Church and people in Scotland, in which they have “neither part nor lot” (Acts 8:21). All the people involved in this step – the Church of Scotland leaders, the politicians and the proposed Lord High Commissioner – know that they are striking a blow against Protestantism, and we believe Christ will challenge them for this at the Day of Judgement. If they do not repent, they will wish that they had never meddled in this matter. “Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm” (Ps 105:15). DWBS
Further Comment on the Lord High Commissioner
In a historic and unprecedented move a practising Roman Catholic, Lady Elish Angiolini, has been appointed as Lord High Commissioner to the 2025 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. She will be the first individual of her faith to hold this esteemed position.
As the monarch’s personal representative to the General Assembly, the Lord High Commissioner reflects the Church’s role as the national Church in Scotland, and the Monarch’s role as protector of the Church. The person appointed serves for one year and normally has a distinguished record of public service in Scotland. The role involves delivering opening and closing addresses at the Assembly and undertaking various official duties throughout Assembly Week. At the Assembly, the Commissioner sits on a throne in the Royal Gallery, which is technically “outside” the Assembly Hall, symbolising the independence of the Church from state interference in matters spiritual. The Commissioner has no vote and may not intervene in debates. Historically, the position has been inaccessible to Roman Catholics due to provisions in the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, which allowed Roman Catholics to hold public positions with some exceptions, of which the Lord High Commissioner was one.
Lady Angiolini has undoubtedly had a distinguished career which includes serving as Scotland’s first female Lord Advocate From 2006 to 2011 and as the first non-political Solicitor General for Scotland from 2001 to 2006. She has been the Principal of Saint Hugh’s College, Oxford, since 2012.
To facilitate Lady Angiolini’s Appointment, the UK Government introduced the Church of Scotland Lord High Commissioner Bill in February 2025, to remove the legal barrier in the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. The Government described her appointment as “a significant gesture of unity, goodwill and collaboration” between the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland.
Elish Angiolini said, “Being appointed to represent the King was a fabulously significant gesture”. And also, “I am a Catholic, but I don’t see a conflict at all in taking up the role, it is really important that people of all religions and faiths come together. The world is a scary place these days and it is important that people of all faiths meet, share and promote peace and harmony. This is a good example of that.”
Rev Fiona Smith, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly, said, “We are honoured that His Majesty has appointed Lady Elish Angiolini as Lord High Commissioner. We very much look forward to welcoming her in 2025 to the General Assembly, endorsing a historic friendship pact with the Catholic Church”. Rev Alexander Horsburgh, Convener of the Ecumenical Relations Committee at the Kirk said, “By saying out loud that the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland are friends, we contributed to changing not only the narrative of our Churches but the narrative of our country too. There is no going back”.
Lady Angiolini will, no doubt, do a well-intentioned job of representing the King as Lord High Commissioner but her appointment is extraordinary. In 1923 a report was presented to the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly which spoke of “the menace” of Roman Catholic immigrants, and now, 100 years later, an Act of Parliament has been passed to allow the King to appoint a Roman Catholic to be his representative to the Kirk’s supreme court. It is deeper than Lady Angiolini’s good intentions. The Church of Scotland left the Roman Catholic Church at the Reformation out of a desire for purity of worship. The Covenanters were slaughtered out of hand in their fight for the crown rights of Christ and for resisting the Stuart kings’ determination to foist Prelacy and the Papacy on the Reformed Church. Now the Church of Scotland feels “honoured” that a Roman Catholic has been appointed as the King’s representative to their General Assembly – all of this in the name of ecumenism. The Church of Rome does not change, but a law has been changed to accommodate them. The Protestant King has a Roman Catholic representative in the national, Protestant, Presbyterian Church of Scotland General Assembly. What next?
“Return, we beseech Thee, O God of Hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine” (Ps 80:14). FRD