History
The division occurred because of a continuing difference over liberty of conscience (as defined in the Westminster Confession of Faith), which came to a head over the attendance of Lord Mackay of Clashfern at a Requiem Mass which formed part of the funeral of a colleague, former Lord Justice Clerk Lord Wheatley. As Mackay was Lord Advocate for Scotland, it was expected that he attend the funeral of a deceased member of the judiciary; Wheatley was also a friend of Mackay. However, Mackay was also an elder in the Edinburgh congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church, and some within the leadership of the denomination (but not within the Edinburgh congregation) found his attendance intolerable, as it regards the Roman Catholic Church as spurious and the Mass as idolatrous. As a result, Mackay was suspended from office as an elder. In addition, the Rev. Alexander Murray (Lairg) was suspended on the same day as Lord Mackay for asking a Roman Catholic priest to say a prayer at a meeting. [2]
Some in the church disagreed with this punishment and a split ensued on 25th May 1989, not only over the Mackay affair (and Alexander Murray) but also the ongoing issue of freedom of conscience. [3] Those who formed the APC believed that liberty of conscience was not being given sufficient place in the Free Presbyterian Church, and that the disciplinary action taken by the Free Presbyterian authorities against Lord Mackay was inappropriate. [4]
They also asserted that the Free Presbyterian Church failed to put into practice the Westminster Confession of Faith's teaching on Communion of the Saints. "The APC seeks to re-assert this communion as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith itself." The APC made various unsuccessful attempts at encouraging unity among similar churches in Scotland (Free Church of Scotland, International Presbyterian Church, Free Church (Continuing), Reformed Presbyterian Church). Since 1989, the majority of its congregations have merged with Free Church of Scotland congregations.
In the months and years after the split, there were legal issues, as the departing ministers often were still residing in the manse, and using disputed buildings for worship, as often the majority of the original congregation departed the denomination alongside their minister. [2]
Rev. Alexander Murray was the inaugural moderator of the Associated Presbyterian Church. [2]
Founding Ministers
Around 13 serving ministers left the Free Presbyterian Church to form the APC denomination, as well as two others who were retired and Alexander Murray who had been suspended. These ministers include: [5] [6] [3] [2]
- Rev. Douglas Beattie (Vancouver) [5] [7]
- Rev. Donald Macaskill (Dundee) [5] [6] [3]
- Rev. George Macaskill (Dumbarton) [5] [6] [3]
- Rev. Donald A. Macdonald (retired) [7]
- Rev. Angus F. MacKay (retired) [6]
- Rev. Hamish Mackinnon (Oban) [5] [6] [3]
- Rev. Archie MacPhail (Lochinver) [3]
- Rev. Malcolm (or Calum) [2] MacInnes (Toronto) [5] [6] [3]
- Rev. Angus Morrison (Edinburgh) [5] [6]
- Rev. Alexander Murray (Lairg) [2] [7] [Had been recently suspended by the FPC, so had to be reinstated by the APC]. [5] [6]
- Rev. P. Lloyd Roberts (Applecross) [6]
- Rev. John Walter Ross (Lochcarron) [3] [2] [7]
- Rev. John Ross (Tain) [3] [6]
- Rev. Robert Ross Sinclair (Wick) [6] [3] [7]
- Rev. Fraser Tallach (Kinlochbervie) [6] [3]
- Rev. John A. Tallach (Aberdeen) [5] [6] [3]
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