Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/149

 RELIGION 27

Roman Catholics in Great Britain are estimated at 2,200,000. There are in England and Wales (1912) three archbishops (of whom one is a cardinal), thirteen bishops, and three bishops-auxiliary; about 4,000 priests (not all officiating) ; and about 1,800 churches, chapels, and stations.

II. Scotland,

The Church of Scotland (established in 1560 and confirmed in 1688) is presbyterian, the clergy all being equal. There is in each parish a kirk session, consistini,' of the minister or clergyman, and of several laymen called elders. There are 84 presbyteries (formed by groups of parishes), meeting frequently tliroughout the year, and these are grouped in 16 synods' which w.det half-yearly and can be appealed to against the decisions of the presbyteries. The supreme court is the General Assembly, which con- sists of over 700 members, partly clerical and partly lay, "chosen by the different presbyteries and royal burghs, and by the imiversities. It meets annually in May (under the presidency of a Moderator appointed by the Assembly, the Sovereign being represented by a nobleman known as Lord High Commissioner), sitting for ten days, the matters not decided during this period being left to a Commission.

The number of parishes is 1,448, and the number of churches, chapels, and stations 1,643. The parishioners are allowed under certain regulations enacted by the General Assembly to choose their own ministers. The entire endow- ments of the Church from all sources, including manses and glebes, amount to about 360,000/. per annum. The voluntary contributions of the congrega- tions for religious and charitable purposes in 1910-11 amounted to 498,427^. The number of communicants in 1911-12 was about 715,000 ; ministers, 1,825; lay preachers, 170; Sunday scholars, 230,000.

On October 31, 1900, the Free Church of Scotland and the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland (formed by secessions at various times from the Church of Scotland), constituted themselves into the United Free Church of Scotland. A minority, representing 26 congi-egations, re- garding themselves as the Free Church of Scotland, claimed all the pro- perty and endowment funds. A Royal Commission reported that the Free Church was unable adequately to carry out all the trusts of the property. The Churches (Scotland) Act, 1905, was passed for the apportionment of the church property between tlie Free and the United Free churches by an Executive Commis.sion of five, and the result was that funds amounting to 459,469^. were allocated to the Free Church (310,000?. for general provision and the remainder for College provision and various other purposes). The United Church had, in 1911-12, 1.581 congregations, and 505,000 members, besides adherents. It has 2,286 Sunday schools, &c. with 24,900 teachers and 236,000 children in attendance. The church courts are the General Assembly, 12 synods, 64 presbyterie.«, and n2 continental presbyteries. Annual revenue from free-will offerings is above a million sterling. The Church has three theological colleges (at Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen) with 18 professors and lecturers. The Fiee Church had in 1912 (according to the Free Church Statistics) 107 congregations and stations, 89 ministers and probationers, and one college. Contributions to schemes amounted to 16,253?., interest to 16,416?. and conunegational income to 13,245/. There are in Scotland some small outstanding Presbyterian bodies and also Baptists, Independents, Methodists, and Unitarians. The Episcopal