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The '''Church of Scotland''' (The "Kirk" in [[Scots]]) is the established church in [[Scotland]]. It is Calvinistic ([[Reformed Churches|Reformed]]) in doctrine and [[Presbyterian]] in government and discipline. It was the [[established church]] until 1921; informally it is not considered "established:. It now enrolls over 600,000 members.

The '''Church of Scotland''' (The "Kirk" in [[Scots]]) is the established church in [[Scotland]]. It is Calvinistic ([[Reformed Churches|Reformed]]) in doctrine and [[Presbyterian]] in government and discipline. Its strict, orthodox Calvinism and strong opposition to frivolity long dominated the values and culture of Scotland, even after a split in 1843 that was not healed until the 1920s.  It was the established church until 1921; informally it is not considered "established. The Church of Scotland now enrolls about 600,000 members, but has been shrinking in membership and influence.

==History==

==History==

==17th century==

==17th century==

Recent historiography has argued that the British ecclesiastical policies of [[James I]], (king of England (1603–25) and, as James VI, of Scotland (1567–1625)), sought "congruity" between the different churches in Scotland, England, and Ireland rather than British ecclesiastical union or the Anglicanization of all the churches. The asymmetry of the changes he sought in Scotland and England has been underplayed and has masked his choice of a fundamentally Anglican model for the British churches. By allowing the archbishop of Canterbury to interfere in Scottish ecclesiastical affairs, undermining the Presbyterian system, and promoting episcopal power and liturgical reform, James pursued the Anglicanization of the Church of Scotland. The motivation for James's persistence is to be found in his rapid assimilation to the [[Church of England]] after 1603 and, moreover, in his goal of the reunification of Christendom as a whole on the Anglican model.<ref> Alan R. Macdonald, "James VI and I, the Church of Scotland, and British Ecclesiastical Convergence". ''Historical Journal''2005 48(4): 885-903. Issn: 0018-246x </ref>

Recent historiography has argued that the British ecclesiastical policies of [[James I]], (king of England (1603–25) and, as James VI, king of Scotland (1567–1625)), sought "congruity" between the different churches in Scotland, England, and Ireland rather than British ecclesiastical union or the Anglicanization of all the churches. The asymmetry of the changes he sought in Scotland and England has been underplayed and has masked his choice of a fundamentally Anglican model for the British churches. By allowing the archbishop of Canterbury to interfere in Scottish ecclesiastical affairs, undermining the Presbyterian system, and promoting episcopal power and liturgical reform, James pursued the Anglicanization of the Church of Scotland. The motivation for James's persistence is to be found in his rapid assimilation to the [[Church of England]] after 1603 and, moreover, in his goal of the reunification of Christendom as a whole on the Anglican model.<ref> Alan R. Macdonald, "James VI and I, the Church of Scotland, and British Ecclesiastical Convergence". ''Historical Journal''2005 48(4): 885-903. Issn: 0018-246x </ref>

Religion was often a defining factor in the shifting alliances that shaped the dynastic, political and cultural landscape of the time. (See [[English Civil War]]). Specifically, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Catholics were vying for supremacy in this period. With the ascendancy of the Protestant House of Orange in the Glorious Revolution of 1690, the predominance of the Presbyterian Kirk was assured.<ref>see [http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orghistory.htm#national online]</ref>

Religion was often a defining factor in the shifting alliances that shaped the dynastic, political and cultural landscape of the time. (See [[English Civil War]]). Specifically, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Catholics were vying for supremacy in this period. With the ascendancy of the Protestant House of Orange in the Glorious Revolution of 1690, the predominance of the Presbyterian Kirk was assured.<ref>see [http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/organisation/orghistory.htm#national online]</ref>