Breakaway congregation exodus to Free Church 19/5/14
The breakaway High Church of Scotland congregation has joined the Free Church.
Some 250 worshippers have opted to come under the wing of the Free.
In April, over half the congregation of Stornoway’s High Church quit in protest of
the national church’s decision to allow gay ministers and the departure from Biblical
teaching.
Worshippers formed their own new congregation, called the Stornoway High Fellowship
which holds services in the Stornoway Primary School, while talks continued with
the Free.
They wanted to continue as a distinct separate congregation rather than disperse
to individual churches. The Free’s recent decision to drop its traditional ban on
music and hymns in worship is seen as a factor in attracting the dissenting former
High Church members.
The development means the Free Church now has three churches within Stornoway - at
Kenneth Street, the Gaelic congregation in the Seminary at the top of Francis Street
and now the High Fellowship.
Former Stornoway High session clerk Christopher Martin explained: “We have always
said we wanted to continue in a Presbyterian setting, and having looked at a number
of possibilities it became clear that the most favourable and accommodating was to
join the Free Church.
“We have felt very encouraged and grateful for the support of the Free Church here
in the islands and beyond as well, with that relationship dating back to the time
of our previous minister (Rev Willie Black) – there was an attitude that there was
nothing we couldn’t do together.
“Sadly our congregation could simply not identify with the general direction of the
Church of Scotland is headed in, and the sensible option was to leave.”
Rev Iver Martin of Stornoway Free Church commented: “No one is pleased with the current
situation in the Scottish churches but I am glad that the High fellowship has joined
our denomination.
“I know that the High fellowship is a vibrant and enthusiastic Christian group with
a long commitment to the gospel in our island. This is an encouraging development.”
Free Church minister in Inverness and former Moderator Rev David Meredith has been
chairing a working group set up to deal with various requests from congregations
seeking to join the Free Church.
Mr Meredith said: “The High fellowship is well known as a lively and forward looking
group and we are delighted to welcome them into the denomination.
“We are conscious that the process of disengagement from the Church of Scotland has
been a painful experience for them but we hope we can offer a home which presents
a Biblical vision for contemporary Scotland.
“In particular we are pleased that the move will not mean the presence of yet another
Presbyterian denomination in Stornoway.
“Over the last few years the proliferation of denominations in Scotland in general,
and Stornoway in particular, has become a source of embarrassment.”
The new Free Church congregation – who are without a minister – are currently worshipping
in a local primary school in Stornoway.
Eight former Church of Scotland ministers have already joined the Free Church in
recent years, as well as many elders and members.
Despite the increased secularisation of Scotland, the Free Church has actually increased
its membership over the past five years – with a notable increase in people under
30 attending services.