The Emerging Episcopal Church

 During the period of the Scottish Reformation, from 1560 until 1690, the form of government of the Scottish Church alternated between Episcopacy (government by Bishops) and Presbyterianism (government by presbyteries), with, at times, a combination between the two forms, Bishops acting as permanent, moderators of presbyteries.

At the time of the revolution of 1688, the flight of King James VII and the Accession of William of Orange, the Scottish Church was Episcopal in its form of government, and the two Archbishops and twelve Bishops, having sworn their oaths of allegiance to King James, were unwilling to switch their allegiance to Prince William of Orange who had been invited by the English Parliament to lead the opposition to King James.  Not surprisingly, William gave his support to the Presbyterian party within the Church of Scotland, who were willing to accept him and his wife, Mary, as joint sovereigns.

In the South-West of Scotland, during the winter of 1688-89 more than 100 Episcopalian clergy were evicted and maltreated ('Rabbling the Curates' as it was called).  One such minister, rabbled out of Kirk and manse, was the Minister of the Parish Church of Kilmarnock (the present Laigh West High).

In 1689, the Scottish Parliament passed an Act abolishing prelacy and restoring Presbyterianism: they ignored, however, a request for the convening of a General Assembly of the Church - no doubt because at that time, the Episcopalian clergy would have outvoted the Presbyterians by about six to one.  Eventually a General Assembly was held in 1690, but there were no representatives at it from beyond the Tay, and only one from the Universities (in both of which constituencies the Episcopalians were in the majority).  Not surprisingly, this unrepresentative Assembly supported the abolition of prelacy. In fairness though, it is right to point out that Episcopalians in their turn had been just as capable, in the past, of producing an unrepresentative Assembly when it suited.

By these Acts, the Bishops, Episcopal Clergy and their lay supporters were compelled to leave the Church of Scotland.  Since 1690 the Scottish Episcopal Church has therefore existed as a separate, autonomous Church.  Religious persecution was soon followed by political persecution.  Because of the Episcopalians' loyalty to King James, and their identification with, and in some cases, involvement in, the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745, harsh Penal Laws were enacted and imposed against them.

Episcopalian Chapels and meeting-houses were closed and Clergy imprisoned.  As a consequence of the Penal Laws, the Episcopalian Church went 'underground'. Meetings were restricted to private houses and the open countryside.  In spite of the restrictions, the Episcopal succession was maintained, with Bishops being consecrated to replace those who had died.  Also, during this 'underground' period, there was a flowering of Liturgical awareness, especially through the work of Bishop Rattray continuing the distinctive emphasis of the Scottish Liturgy and its enrichment).

The Accession of King George III to the throne in 1760 led to a relaxation in the imposition of the Penal Laws.  Then, with the death of Charles Edward Stewart in 1788, the cause of Jacobites was finished.  The surviving Scottish Bishops started negotiations with the Government to sue for repeal of the Penal Laws. This repeal was enacted in 1792.

During the period of the Penal Laws operation, there seems to have been few continuing Episcopalians in the Kilmarnock area - except the Countess of Kilmarnock, the wife of the last Earl, who was executed for his part in the '45 Rebellion.  However various Episcopalian clergy are recorded as having ministered intermittently during the period in Ayr.

Sir Walter Scott described the reality of the state of the Episcopal Church at the end of the 18th. century when he referred to its being reduced to 'the shadow of a shade'.  After the removal of the Penal restrictions, and in common with the general 'revival' of all Churches during the 19th. century, the Episcopal Church gradually gained in membership and strength.  During the early part of the 19th. century membership was boosted by those from 'Qualified Congregations' These were congregations which, to continue a pattern of worship and organisation under the guidance and direction of a Bishop, had accepted the ministration of Church of England Bishops.  Members of 'Qualified Chapels' now accepted the authority of the indigenous Scottish Episcopal Bishops, and became part of the Scottish Episcopal Church.  Increasing membership led to the building and endowing of many new places for worship all over Scotland.  Holy Trinity, Kilmarnock, opened in 1857 and extended in 1876, is one such foundation.  The new building and extension of congregations has continued well into the 20th. century, though now, as with all other traditions, the Scottish Episcopal Church finds itself 'burdened' by buildings in areas of dwindling population, and by the apparent decline in Christian commitment.

Acknowledgement.

It was due to the hard work of Canon D. Main, Canon K. Stephen and the late Paul Copinger that has made it possible to include this page of information. Special thanks must also go to Paul for the photograph of the church on this web-site and to all the photographs produced in our church guide booklet, available at the church.