Five Articles of Perth
Encyclopedia
The Five Articles of Perth was an attempt by King James VI of Scotland to impose practices on the Church of Scotland
in an attempt to integrate it with the episcopalian
Church of England
. This move was unpopular with those Scots who held Puritan
views on worship, and with those who supported presbyterian church governance.
The articles provided for-
The articles were reluctantly accepted by the General Assembly
of the Church at Perth
in 1618, and were not ratified by the Scottish Parliament
until 1621. The approving Act was repealed by the Confession of Faith Ratification Act 1690.
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
in an attempt to integrate it with the episcopalian
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. This move was unpopular with those Scots who held Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
views on worship, and with those who supported presbyterian church governance.
The articles provided for-
- kneeling during communion
- private baptism
- private communion for the sick or infirm
- confirmation by a Bishop
- the observance of Holy Days - “enjoined the ministers to celebrate the festivals of Christmas and Easter” - see Christmas in ScotlandChristmas in ScotlandPrior to the Reformation of 1560, Christmas in Scotland, then called Yule , was celebrated in a similar fashion to the rest of Catholic Europe. It is recorded that in 1545, a few months before his murder, Cardinal Beaton "passed over the Christmasse dayes with games and feasting"...
The articles were reluctantly accepted by the General Assembly
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
of the Church at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
in 1618, and were not ratified by the Scottish Parliament
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
until 1621. The approving Act was repealed by the Confession of Faith Ratification Act 1690.