The Presbyterian Church established following the Reformation in Scotland (the Church of Scotland) has been subject to numerous secessions and re-unions. There were major secessions in 1733, 1761 and 1843 (the Disruption, when the Free Church of Scotland was established). Most churches of the Free Church of Scotland united with the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in 1900 to form the United Free Church of Scotland, and in 1929 the bulk of this United Free Church re-united with the Church of Scotland.

The principal remaining independent Presbyterian denominations are the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland (the remaining descendents of the Covenanter churches formed in 1712), the Free Church of Scotland (congregations which refused to unite with the United Presbyterian Church), the United Free Church of Scotland (congregations which refused to unite with the Church of Scotland in 1929), the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, the Associated Presbyterian Churches and the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing).

For a study of sources see Clive Field, ‘Preserving Zion: the anatomy of Protestant Nonconformist Archives in Great Britain and Ireland’, Archives, vol. 33, no. 118, April 2008, pp. 14-51.

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

National Records of Scotland ARCHON 234
New College Library, Edinburgh University ARCHON 238
Glasgow City Archives (Presbytery and Kirk records) ARCHON 243
University of St Andrew’s Library (Presbytery and Kirk records) ARCHON 227
Aberdeen University Library. ARCHON 231

FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

National Records of Scotland. ARCHON 234
New College Library, Edinburgh University. ARCHON 238

FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

National Records of Scotland. ARCHON 234

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

National Records of Scotland. ARCHON 234

UNITED FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

National Records of Scotland. ARCHON 234

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

New College Library, Edinburgh University. ARCHON 238

NON-SUBSCRIBING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland ARCHON 255

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN IRELAND

Union Theological College. Gamble Library ARCHON 2766
Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland ARCHON 1088
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland ARCHON 255

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF IRELAND

Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland ARCHON 1088
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland ARCHON 255