Liberal, Broad Church, and Reforming Influences in the Late Nineteenth Century

Abstract

The second half of the nineteenth century saw something of a watershed as the post-Disruption Presbyterian Churches moved beyond the theology of the Westminster Confession. At the same time the Church of Scotland was forced to defend its role as an ‘established Church’, finding a ready champion in John Tulloch of St Andrews who stressed the role of religion in the public as well as the private sphere. Through the liberal and reforming influences of men such as Tulloch, John Caird, Norman Macleod, Robert Flint, and Archibald Charteris in the Church of Scotland, John Cairns in the United Presbyterian Church, and Robert Rainy in the Free Church the late century years witnessed a new theological engagement with the challenges of scientific discovery and social need. By such means Christianity was commended to mind as well as spirit, to reason as well as faith.