Getting to the Roots of Your Family - RootsWeb - Ancestry.com

FAMILY HISTORY PATRON HANDOUT – RESEARCH SERIES
LIBRARY Scottish Nonconformist Church Records
Not all the citizens of Scotland belonged to the Established Church. Those who did not are known as
nonconformists. Various nonconformist churches existed and many kept records of value.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
• Prior to the 1500s, Scotland was Catholic, as was all of Europe.
• In the 1500s, John Knox spread Protestantism and came into conflict with Queen Mary. She was
forced to abdicate in 1568 and was imprisoned in England where she was later executed.
• In 1552, the General Provincial Council ordered each parish to keep a register of baptisms and
banns of marriage. The earliest registers date from 1553.
• In 1560, the Catholic Church was abolished and Presbyterianism grew in strength.
• In 1603, James VI of Scotland (son of Queen Mary) became James I of England.
• In 1606, Episcopacy was established in Scotland by James I.
• In 1616, 1636, and again in 1699, laws were passed requiring ministers to keep registers.
• In 1638, Episcopacy was abolished, but was restored again in 1661.
• The Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) was established permanently in 1690.
• Between 1733 and 1843 there were many secessions from the Established Church, affecting
records.
WHEN YOUR ANCESTORS ARE NOT IN SCRI
When you do not find your ancestors in the Scottish Church Records Index, it could indicate:
• They were members of the Established Church but did not get registered.
• They were registered but the records were lost over time.
• They were nonconformists - members of any church other than the Established church.
• They were a nonconformist family if you find a marriage in the SCRI but no children for the
couple.
HISTORY OF SCOTTISH NONCONFORMITY
• Church of Scotland was established permanently in 1690. The first group of Presbyterian
nonconformists, formed about then, were the Cameronians, later called the Reformed
Presbyterian Church.
• The first great secession from the Established Church of Scotland occurred in 1733 and the
resulting Secession Church was also called the Associate Presbyterian Church.
• In 1747, a breach occurred in the Associate Presbyterian Church. The resulting churches were
the Associate (Burgher) and General Associate (Anti-Burgher) churches.
• In 1761, another group of people seceded and formed the Relief Presbyterian Church.
• In 1820, the majority of the Burgher and Anti-Burgher congregations merged to form the
United Secession Church. The minorities formed the Original Secession Church.