What is the origin of the Presbyterian Church?
In the 16th Century, all of Europe was in political disarray as the Reformation period called into question the established feudalistic powers. Scotland was caught in an age-long struggle for independence from England, where “Bloody” Mary Tudor sat on the throne. The Scottish barons sought some forms of self-rule. The leader who came to the fore was John Knox, who prayed, “Give me Scotland, or I die.” His faith was rewarded. Queen Mary said of him, “I fear John Knox more than all the armies of Scotland.” His vision was to reform the church and the country according to the teachings of the Bible alone. In 1560, the Scottish barons, convinced by the Biblical teaching of Knox and other reformers, voted to form a church ruled in the Biblical way rule by elders. Thus began the Presbyterian Church. The same types of churches were formed in Continental Europe and took the name “Reformed.
