The differences between Scotland and England have deep cultural and religious roots. Unlike the “Church of England”, the “Church of Scotland” is not Anglican, but Presbyterian Reformed.
The introduction of the Reformation took a long time and until the middle of the 18th century was marked by bloody rebellions of the so-called Jacobites. Among them, those who fought for the royal house of Stuarts were the “Highlanders” who remained Catholic and organized into traditional clans. In the end they succumbed to the superior military power of the British.
After the suppression of the last Jacobite rebellion in 1745, the English crown attacked the remaining supporters with great vigor. Among other things, he forbade the Highlanders from carrying arms and cultivating Gaelic culture. It was not until the so-called Catholic Relief Act of 1791 that Catholics were allowed to worship, hold religious instruction, and form inconspicuous churches again throughout the United Kingdom.
According to the most recent 2011 census, approximately 54 percent of the Scottish population entered the Christian denomination. The Reformed National Church was the strongest religious community with 32.4 percent, the Catholic Church the second strongest with 15.9 percent; It benefits from immigration from Poland, Italy and Lithuania. Other Christian denominations increased by 5.5 percent.
The number of people with no religious affiliation has increased significantly recently. The 2011 Census showed that Scotland accounts for 36.7 percent of the population, an increase of 9 percent from ten years ago. Another 7 percent gave no information about religion (2001: 5 percent). (KNA / AS: 04/28/2019)
Freelance twitter maven. Infuriatingly humble coffee aficionado. Amateur gamer. Typical beer fan. Avid music scholar. Alcohol nerd.
