The United Secession

Towards union

MacPherson writes that the first step “was taken at Mid Calder in August, 1818, where the Burgher and Anti-Burgher congregations met together”, and that when the two Synods met in 1819 “their tables were covered with petitions” for union. A joint committee prepared a Basis of Union.¹

M’Kerrow writes that during the summer of 1820 “The ministers preached in one another’s pulpits”, and that some town councils abolished the religious clause of the burgess oath, “which had occasioned the disunion”; the Convention of Royal Burghs “unanimously recommended … its entire abolition”.²

The two Synods meet

“On the 5th of September,” M’Kerrow writes, “the Associate and the General Associate Synods assembled at Edinburgh. The former held their meeting in Portsburgh Church, and the latter in their Synod-house, in Nicolson Street.” He counts 106 ministers and 62 elders enrolled in the Associate Synod, and 76 ministers and 36 elders in the General Associate. In all, the Associate Synod had 139 ministers and the General Associate 123, “making a total of 262”; MacPherson gives the same figures.³

After two days of their own business, “it was resolved, that the union should take place formally on Friday, the 8th of September.” Bristo Street Church, “being the spot where the separation had taken place seventy-three years before this, was appropriately selected”. MacPherson likewise has the union meeting “in Bristo Church, where the separation had taken place seventy-three years before.”⁴

8 September 1820

M’Kerrow describes the day. At half past twelve the members walked in procession to Bristo Street Church, “First in order were the ministers, then the elders, next the probationers, and after these moved the students of divinity.” The members of the two Synods “were seated in alternate pews, so that they might be completely intermingled.” Dr Jamieson of Edinburgh, the senior moderator (of the General Associate Synod), gave out part of Psalm 102, and each clerk read his Synod’s last minute.⁵

The minute resolved that each Synod would “unite with their brethren of the other Synod, to be known by the name of the United Associate Synod of the Secession Church, composed of the Associate (commonly called Burgher) Synod, and of the General Associate (commonly called Antiburgher) Synod”. The Basis of Union was read, and the senior moderator said, “I declare in the name of the General Associate Synod, whom I represent, that the General Associate Synod is henceforth one with the Associate Synod.” Mr Balmer of Berwick, the junior moderator, made the same declaration for the Associate Synod, and the two gave each other “the right hand of fellowship”, followed by all the ministers and elders.⁶

David Greig of Lochgelly, “being the oldest minister present”, took the chair as moderator of the United Synod, gave out Psalm 133 and constituted the court with prayer. MacPherson gives the same day: “The formal union of Burghers and Anti-Burghers, under the designation of the United Secession Church, was consummated on 8th September, 1820.” M’Kerrow’s appendix dates the reunion to “the 5th of September, 1820”, the day the Synods assembled.⁷

Those who stayed out

M’Kerrow writes that “of the Associate Synod there was not one minister, who did not become a member of the United Synod; and of the General Associate Synod there were only a few”. MacPherson counts “Only seven ministers”, among them Professor George Paxton and George Stevenson of Ayr, who protested that the Basis “did not recognize their connection with the Covenanted Church of Scotland” and gave up the Narrative and Testimony “without providing another Testimony”. M’Kerrow’s appendix counts “eight ministers, who did not join the Union Synod”.⁸

The protesters formed the Associate Synod of Protesters, which Scott says began on 29 May 1821. On 17 May 1827, in Infirmary Street Church, Edinburgh, it united with the Constitutional Associate Presbytery, an Anti-Burgher body formed on 28 August 1806, to which Thomas M’Crie the elder belonged. M’Kerrow writes that “The two parties, united, are now known by the name of the ‘Associate Synod of Original Seceders.’”⁹

Scott writes that in 1842 the remnant of the Old Light Burgher Synod “gradually and almost unanimously united with the Old Light Antiburghers on 18th May 1842, in forming the United Original Secession Church”; MacPherson dates the agreement to 12 January 1842. It was this Synod of United Original Seceders whose majority joined the Free Church in 1852.¹⁰