EARLY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HlSTORY

In Scotland in the l700's: under the law of patronage of the Church of Scotland, minister were introduced to parishes, sometimes in opposition to the wishes of the majority of the people. This practice continued despite appeals to Synod (one signed by 42 ministers and 1,700 people who were refused to be heard) until August I733. Ebenezer Erskine and three other ministers were "suspended from the exercise of ministerial functions". They refused to submit to the sentence and on December 5, I733, they formed themselves into the Associate Presbytery. Secession as it was known.

Far beyond their parishes, interest was widening and within five years, they had seventy applications for preaching in the past twelve months. ‘

By 1745 a dispute was introduced into the Presbytery about certain oaths to be taken by the Burgesses (a citizen or freeman of a British borough) in the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth: - "Here i protest before God and your Lordships, that l profess and allow with all my heart the true religion presently professed within the realm and authorized by the laws thereof; I shall abide thereat and defend the same to my life's end, renouncing the Roman religion called Papistry". Some refused to take the oath and by I747 the Associate Synod split into two sections: those who did not take the oath, known as Anti-burghers, their Synod being known as the General Associate Synod; and those who did not object to taking the oath, being commonly known as Burghers, being known as the Associate Synod. Erskine took the Burgher view.

The division ofthe Secession may have been the end of it, but they watched over each other and grew in harmony, despite their differences.

James MacGregor was an Anti-Burgher and his influence was felt throughout Pictou Presbytery and in starting Queen Square Secession Church. Truro Presbytery were Burghers, and although MacGregor sat in on the forming of Truro Presbytery, he did not join because of their differences. By l8l7 the Burghers and Anti-Burghers in Nova Scotia united to form the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia.

in Scotland in 1843 a large number of ministers and congregations left the Church of Scotland and became the Free Church. In l860 the Presbyterian Church in Nova Scotia and the Free Church united to become The Presbyterian Church in the Lower Provinces of British North America. ,

In 1875 all Presbyterian bodies in the Dominion united to become the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Many Kirk, or Church of Scotland remained outside the union for a number of years. _

The majority of Presbyterians in Pictou County and Cape Breton did not enter the United Church in 1925, while most of those in other sections of the province did as well as most of New Brunswick. ln Prince Edward Island, the denominations divided.

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