Scottish Churches

[grammar king]

I was reading around this morning and noticed this story in the Herald. It's crap but that's not what this thread's about. I looked up the Free Presbyterian Church thinking they were the Wee Frees but apparently they're the Wee Wee Frees, and I got a bit confused.

Having grown up near Liverpool, the only churches I'm really familiar with are the Catholic and CofE ones, can anyone explain the churches in Scotland to me? Both historically and theologically, if anyone knows.

Cheers all.

[Dave B]

No nothing about Scottish churches, just wondering if they will enforce "and eye for an eye" and "turn the other cheek" in the courts.

This would be as bad as having Sharia.

[Alan C.]

How would the Scottish seafood industry fare if the biblical ban on shellfish were to be enforced?” he asked.

Quite!

“Would Shetland’s knitwear industry flourish if there was a ban on garments made from two kinds of material, as required in the Bible?

Well yes! Shetland knitwear is only made from Shetland wool, you'd think Terry Sanderson would know that!

GK the wee frees are the Taliban of Christianity, they act (on Sundays) like the ultra orthodox Jews do on a Saturday (the real Sabbath according to the buy-bull)
David Robinson is typical of the breed, I had a debate with him on Richard Dawkins dot net, he couldn't show me where in the bible the Sabbath is changed from Saturday to Sunday, so he ran away instead.

I don't know much about Church of Scotland Kirks but I do know the one along the road from us attracts about 6 cars on a Sunday, whereas the charity shop next to our house attracts 30 to50

[getreal]

The music they produce is indescribably beautiful.

[Lifelinking]

There is the Church of Scotland
The Free Church of Scotland (the wee frees)
The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland (the wee wee frees)
And the Associated Presbyterian Church


I remember years ago there was quite a stooshie when Lord Mackay of Clashfern, then Lord Chancellor and an elder of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, attended the funeral Masses of two close Roman Catholic friends. This was seen as a grave offence (terrible pun intended) by the Free Presbyterian Church authorities. You then had the comic farce of the highest law officer in the United Kingdom being summoned to explain himself at a church in Woodlands Road in Glasgow (I saw it for myself).

He stood up for his decision and was suspended from church office, which led to a split, with those in the wee wee frees who supported freedom of conscience in such cases (supporters of Lord Mackay) forming the breakaway Associated Presbyterian Church.

Given his background there is nothing surprising in Lord Mackay’s latest pronouncement, anachronistic nonsense though it is. It just shows how embedded these ideas still are in many areas of the establishment, and how much work there is still to do in secularising our country. Glad to see that Terry Sanderson got a few quotes in to the article.

[grammar king]

Cheers LL, the differences are trivial, as usual.

IIRC the Christian Union invited David Robinson to speak at our uni, and wanted us to find someone of a similarly high profile to debate him. We replied that we didn't know anyone that ignorant.

[Lifelinking]

[Alan C.]

I was going to say that Ll, but I have tried to debate the arsehole at rd.net.
Waste of time of course, he told me there is no such thing as a sane Atheist.

When it comes to debating skills David Robinson is on a par with "Dr" Nancy.

[Marian]

Best Scottish kirk I've ever stepped foot in. This is how a Scottish Free Church should be used:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_es5NB2AypAY/TAvCS ... 010178.JPG

Called The Auld Kirk. Known as 'the restaurant with rooms'
http://www.theauldkirk.co.uk/

[getreal]

It's actually fairly common in Scotland for defunct church building to be converted for a variety of uses.

http://www.ballyhennan.com/
http://www.churchsquare-gretna.co.uk/
http://www.highlandholidaylets.co.uk/

I've stayed in a few and they make excellent holiday accommodation for a group of friends, or a large family. Loads of room and nice features.

Is it as common in other parts for former church buildings to be used like this?

[Alan C.]

getreal
Is it as common in other parts for former church buildings to be used like this?

For some odd reason, in the cities of England most end up as carpet warehouses
This is our library in Lerwick, ex St Ringens Church. (no I never get tired of pointing it out)

[getreal]

St Ringen??? Who was he? I googled it and came up with nothing. Perhaps he was a non-saint, like Christopher.

[Marian]

Is it as common in other parts for former church buildings to be used like this?

I can't think of any former churches being used for other purposes over here. I did a google search and came up with nothing. I suspect that this would be looked upon as sacriligious.

[duncolm]

Another popular use for old churches, since they're tall buildings, is to use them as indoor climbing centres.

I came across this disused church in New Zealand. Rather than use it for another purpose, they were looking for someone to put it on the back of a lorry and take it elsewhere

[Dave B]

A redundant church in Gloucester was taken over by the local Chinese community as a social centre. They had the building cleaned on the outside and "remodelled" on the inside with two floors - they must have spent a lot of money on it, the work was of high quality.

They let the ground floor it out for small conferences, art exhibitions etc. and have a tea-room that is open to all. It has been an excellent re-use of a prominent and attractive building in the city centre.

[Alan C.]

St Ringen???

Sorry getreal, I spelt it wrong
ST Ringan

[getreal]

According to wikki, Ringan is a form of Ninian

There's a climbing centre in Glasgow in a fomer church (Glasgow Climbing Centre). I spoke with the guy who started it a few years ago and he said that because churches generally have high, uncluttered space they are easy to adapt for climbing.