Scottish Religious Storm Threatened

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28266, 2 May 1957, Page 11

Scottish Religious Storm Threatened

(Rec. 11 p.m.) EDINBURGH, April 30.

A proposal to introduce bishops into the Presbyterian Church of Scotland has threatened to arouse the biggest religious storm in Scotland for centuries.

The proposal has caused dismay to many Scots, whose ancestors in 1637 rioted in St. Giles’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, against attempts by William Laud, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to “Anglicise” the Scottish Church.

Some churchgoers bitterly opposed to the suggestion were even today invoking the memory of- the legendary Jenny Geddes, reputed to have led the riots by throwing her stool at the preacher, shouting: “Traitor, dost thou say Mass at my lug?” The proposal, made by a commission of churchmen to link the churches more closely, is for bishops for the Church of Scotland and English Presbyterian Churches, and Scottish-style “elders” for Anglican churches. The proposals were formulated in talks between theologians representing the Church of England, the Episcopal Church in Scotland, the Church of Scotland and the Presbyterian Church of England. Each Presbytery of the Church of Scotland and the Presbyterian Church of England would choose

its own bishops, who would be consecrated both by their own church and by existing bishops.

“Thus consecrated, each bishop would be within the Apostolic succession as acknowledged by Anglicans and as required by Presbyterians,” said the report quoted today by newspapers. z The plan might lead to the creation of 60 bishops in the Church of Scotland alone.

The '“Elders” suggested for the Church of England would be laymen, who would take part in the government of the church at all levels. This would mean the creation of a House of Laity within the Convocations of Canterbury and York—hitherto the preserve of bishops and clergymen.

The report does not advocate a Church of Britain, but a Church of England and a Church of Scotland in full communion with each other, recognising each other’s ministers and whose members could receive communion equally at either church.

The report now goes to the four churches. If accepted it would come into force some time after 1960, the “News Chronicle” said.