Church Patronage (Scotland) Act 1874
| Act of Parliament | ||
 Commencement 1 January 1875 | | |
| Other legislation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Repeals/revokes | ||
Status: Partially repealed | ||
| Text of the Church Patronage (Scotland) Act 1874 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | ||
The Church Patronage (Scotland) Act 1874long title is An Act to alter and amend the laws relating to the Appointment of Ministers to Parishes in Scotland.
The
Free Church of Scotland – along with costly defeats in the Court of Session – the abolition of patronage
was very welcome to the Church.
Paragraph 3 of the act declared:
The right of electing and appointing ministers to vacant churches and parishes in Scotland is hereby declared to be vested in the congregations of such vacant churches and parishes respectively, subject to such regulations in regard to the mode of naming and proposing such ministers by means of a committee chosen by the congregation, and of conducting the election and of making the appointment by the congregation as may from time to time be framed by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, ...[2]
Other paragraphs spelled out definitions, to prevent the Act being subverted by devices or processes used by Patrons in the past, and made it clear that the Church of Scotland would decide on the qualifications required by Ministers, and the bodies and processes which would be involved in any appointment.
The Church of Scotland and a United Free Church of Scotland were reunited in 1929, following other legislation, though a small remnant of the latter preferred to remain independent.
Notes
- short title was authorised by the Short Titles Act 1896, section 1 and the first schedule. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.
- ^ UK Statute Law Database