450th Anniversary of the Reformation in Scotland

The Reformation in Scotland is commonly associated with the enigmatic and dashing figure of John Knox. Though regularly portrayed as a stern killjoy and firebrand preacher, Knox led a life far more vivid and colourful than such caricatures suggest. He worked for years as a notary and Roman Catholic priest, served as a French galley slave for two years after converting to Protestantism, and led Protestant congregations in Berwick, Newcastle, Frankfurt, and finally Calvin’s Geneva.
 

James V died in 1542 and was succeeded by his daughter, the six day old Mary, Queen of Scots. His widow, Mary of Guise, served as regent of Scotland and with the help of France preserved the Roman Catholic faith in Scotland. This was despite the growing influence of John Knox and his followers for a Protestant Scotland, supported latterly by Elizabeth I of England.
When Mary of Guise died in June 1560, the Parliament of Scotland set to work and on 24 August 1560 passed legislation that abolished the old faith, replacing it with the Reformed. The Pope’s jurisdiction in Scotland ceased and the celebration of Mass made punishable, ultimately by death. John Knox led a great service of thanksgiving in Edinburgh’s High Kirk, St Giles’.

Catholicism was never eradicated, yet it was not until 1778 that the first small measure of legal relief came from penal laws, with a second Relief Act in 1791 making the Mass legal and priests free to practise Catholicism. Finally in 1829 came the 'Emancipation'. There then followed a rapid change to the attitudes towards Catholicism.
 

Click here for a detailed look at the Reformation in Scotland between 1540 and 1603, A History of the Scottish People.
 

After the Reformation, the Church of Scotland (the Kirk) came to control all aspects of life here - welfare, moral discipline, education.  However there has been reticence to mark this great event in Scotland's history, due in part to fears of religious bigotry and also government reticence to publicise a religious anniversary, even though the political, social and legal foundations of modern Scotland are greatly influenced by the Reformation and the subsequent century.

On Sunday 23rd May, 2010 the General Assembly joined together for a special session to mark the 450th Anniversary of the Scottish Reformation.

The Catholic church in Scotland, has shown its support for the Reformation commemoration with a statement from the Archbishop of Glasgow, Mario Conti, which declared: "I believe that the Reformation anniversary should be marked and remembered because it was such an important event in the history of Scotland, and one which is not well understood. As a Catholic archbishop, I can hardly say that the event should be 'celebrated' but I do believe that it needs to be better understood to recognise its impact over the centuries on the life of our country."

Joint plans to mark the 450th anniversary of the Reformation were unveiled by the Church of Scotland and Scottish Government on 16th August.  The main national focus will be on Wednesday November 3, beginning with a conference, organised by the Joint Commission on Doctrine, followed by an ecumenical service at St Giles’ Cathedral and then an evening reception hosted by First Minister Alex Salmond in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle. For more details follow this link.