View source for Associated Presbyterian Churches

{{Short description|Scottish Calvinist denomination}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| name = Associated Presbyterian Churches
| caption = 
| main_classification = [[Protestant]]
| theology = [[Reformed tradition|Reformed]] 
[[Westminster Confession of Faith]]
| polity = [[Presbyterian polity|Presbyterian]]
| founded_date = May 1989
| founded_place = Inverness
| separated_from = [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]]
| separations =
| associations =  [[World Reformed Fellowship]]<ref name="wrfnet.org">{{cite web |title=The World Reformed Fellowship – Membership List |url=http://www.wrfnet.org/web/guest/aboutwrf/membershiplist |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730014055/http://www.wrfnet.org/web/guest/aboutwrf/membershiplist |archive-date=2012-07-30 |access-date=2013-02-15}}</ref>
| congregations = 6 congregations in Scotland. 
|website = https://www.apchurches.org/
}}
[[File:Churches of Scotland timeline.svg|thumb|upright=1.8|Timeline showing the evolution of the churches of Scotland from 1560]]
{{Religion in Scotland|sidebar=yes}}

The '''Associated Presbyterian Churches''' ('''APC''') is a Presbyterian church, with congregations in [[Scotland]], and formerly in [[Canada]] and [[New Zealand]]. It was formed in 1989 as a result of division in the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]].
{{Portal|Reformed Christianity}}
== History ==
The division occurred because of a continuing difference over [[Freedom of thought|liberty of conscience]] (as defined in the [[Westminster Confession of Faith]]), which came to a head over the attendance of [[James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern|Lord Mackay of Clashfern]] at a [[Requiem Mass]] which formed part of the [[funeral]] of a colleague, former [[Lord Justice Clerk]] [[John Wheatley, Baron Wheatley|Lord Wheatley]]. As Mackay was [[Lord Advocate]] for [[Scotland]], it was expected that he attend the funeral of a deceased member of the judiciary; Wheatley was also a friend of Mackay. However, Mackay was also an elder in the Edinburgh congregation of the Free Presbyterian Church, and some within the leadership of the denomination (but not within the Edinburgh congregation) found his attendance intolerable, as it regards the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic Church]] as spurious and the Mass as idolatrous. As a result, Mackay was suspended from office as an elder. In addition, the Rev. Alexander Murray (Lairg) was suspended on the same day as Lord Mackay for asking a Roman Catholic priest to say a prayer at a meeting.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=1989-06-29 |title=Church appeals to rebels to quit manses |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11920821.church-appeals-to-rebels-to-quit-manses/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref>

Some in the church disagreed with this punishment and a split ensued on 25th May 1989, not only over the Mackay affair (and Alexander Murray) but also the ongoing issue of freedom of conscience.<ref name=":2" /> Those who formed the APC believed that liberty of conscience was not being given sufficient place in the Free Presbyterian Church, and that the disciplinary action taken by the Free Presbyterian authorities against Lord Mackay was inappropriate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apchurches.org/about/|title=History « AP Church|work=apchurches.org|date=24 August 2014 }}</ref>

They also asserted that the Free Presbyterian Church failed to put into practice the Westminster Confession of Faith's teaching on Communion of the Saints. "The APC seeks to re-assert this communion as expressed in the ''Westminster Confession of Faith'' itself." The APC made various unsuccessful attempts at encouraging unity among similar churches in Scotland ([[Free Church of Scotland (since 1900)|Free Church of Scotland]], [[International Presbyterian Church]], [[Free Church of Scotland (Continuing)|Free Church (Continuing)]], [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland|Reformed Presbyterian Church]]). Since 1989, the majority of its congregations have merged with Free Church of Scotland congregations. 

In the months and years after the split, there were legal issues, as the departing ministers often were still residing in the manse, and using disputed buildings for worship, as often the majority of the original congregation departed the denomination alongside their minister.<ref name=":4" /> 

Rev. Alexander Murray was the inaugural moderator of the Associated Presbyterian Church.<ref name=":4" /> 

=== Founding Ministers ===
Around 13 serving ministers left the Free Presbyterian Church to form the APC denomination, as well as two others who were retired and Alexander Murray who had been suspended. These ministers include:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1989-05-27 |title=Ministers break away from kirk as Mackay quits |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11915802.ministers-break-away-from-kirk-as-mackay-quits/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=1989-05-30 |title=Veteran takes list of rebel ministers to 14 |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11917609.veteran-takes-list-of-rebel-ministers-to-14/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=1989-05-26 |title=A verdict that divides brothers and their Church |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11918172.a-verdict-that-divides-brothers-and-their-church/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=The Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

* Rev. Douglas Beattie (Vancouver)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2025-06-12 |title=Deceased Ministers and Probationers |url=https://www.fpchurch.org.uk/history/deceased-ministers/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Rev. Donald Macaskill (Dundee)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
* Rev. George Macaskill (Dumbarton)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
* Rev. Donald A. Macdonald (retired)<ref name=":3" />
* Rev. Angus F. MacKay (retired)<ref name=":1" />
* Rev. Hamish Mackinnon (Oban)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
* Rev. Archie MacPhail (Lochinver)<ref name=":2" />
* Rev. Malcolm (or Calum)<ref name=":4" /> MacInnes (Toronto)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
* [[Angus Morrison (minister)|Rev. Angus Morrison]] (Edinburgh)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
* Rev. Alexander Murray (Lairg)<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" /> [Had been recently suspended by the FPC, so had to be reinstated by the APC].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
* Rev. P. Lloyd Roberts (Applecross)<ref name=":1" />
* Rev. John Walter Ross (Lochcarron)<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" />
* Rev. John Ross (Tain)<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
* Rev. Robert Ross Sinclair (Wick)<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
* Rev. Fraser Tallach (Kinlochbervie)<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
* Rev. John A. Tallach (Aberdeen)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

== Doctrine ==
The Associated Churches website states: "''We believe that it is correct to allow Christians to make their own decisions on matters that are not fundamental to the faith."''

The church's beliefs "are stated in a confession that is catholic, Reformed, and biblical, and which states the historic convictions of the Church of Scotland"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dundee.church/we-believe/|title=We Believe {{!}} Dundee APC|website=www.dundee.church|date=21 September 2015 |language=en-GB|access-date=2018-11-06}}</ref> the [[Westminster Confession of Faith]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apchurches.org/about/what-we-believe/|title=What we believe « AP Church|work=apchurches.org|date=31 May 2015 }}</ref>

== Churches ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Church
!Location
!Minister
!Web
!Founded
|-
|Dundee Presbyterian Church
|[[Dundee]]
|Philip Ross
|[https://www.dundee.church/ Church website], [https://www.apchurches.org/congregations/dundee/ Dundee Presbyterian Church]
|
|-
|Kingsview Christian Centre, Inverness
|[[Inverness|Inverness, Highland]]
|John Ferguson
|[https://www.apchurches.org/congregations/inverness/ Kingsview Christian Centre, Inverness]
|
|-
|Harris APC 
|[[Harris, Outer Hebrides|Seilebost]], [[Outer Hebrides|Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
|Jonathan Baxter
|[https://www.apchurches.org/congregations/harris/ Harris Associated Presbyterian Church]
|
|-
|Kinlochbervie
|[[Kinlochbervie|Kinlochbervie, Highland]] 
|Donald Macaskill (Interim Moderator)
|[https://www.apchurches.org/congregations/kinlochbervie/ Kinlochbervie Associated Presbyterian Church]
|
|-
|Oban APC
|[[Oban|Oban, Argyll and Bute]]
|Vacant
|[https://www.apchurches.org/congregations/oban/ Oban Associated Presbyterian Church]
|
|-
|Stornoway APC
|[[Stornoway|Stornoway, Na h-Eileanan Siar]]
|Jonathan Baxter
|[http://apcstornoway.co.uk Stornoway & Harris Associated Presbyterian Church website], [https://www.apchurches.org/congregations/stornoway/ Stornoway Associated Presbyterian Church]
|1989
|}

== International organisations ==
The Associated Presbyterian Churches is a member of the [[World Reformed Fellowship]].<ref name="wrf.global">{{cite web |title=The World Reformed Fellowship – Membership List |url=https://wrf.global/about/membership-list/denominational-members |access-date=2025-06-14}}</ref>

==External links==
*[https://www.apchurches.org/ Associated Presbyterian Churches website]
*[http://www.fpchurch.org.uk/ Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland]

== References ==

<references />

{{World Reformed Fellowship}}
{{Scottish religion}}
{{Christianity in the United Kingdom}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1989]]
[[Category:Presbyterian denominations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Presbyterian denominations in Scotland]]
[[Category:Members of the World Reformed Fellowship]]
[[Category:Reformed denominations in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1989 establishments in Scotland]]


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