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Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

October 31, 2023

For other uses, see Lord High Commissioner.

The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the Scottish and later British monarch's personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (the Kirk), reflecting the Church's role as the national church of Scotland and the monarch's role as protector and member of that Church.

Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Incumbent
Lord Hodge
since 28 February 2022 (2022-02-28)
StyleHis or Her Grace
ResidencePalace of Holyroodhouse
AppointerMonarch of the United Kingdom
Term length1 year
Formation1580; 443 years ago (1580)
First holderJames Balfour of Pittendreich

Alongside the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is arguably one of the two most prominent figures in the Church of Scotland.

History edit

Lord High Commissioners were appointed to the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland between 1603 and 1707 as the monarch's personal representative. The Act of Union 1707 made this function redundant, but a Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been appointed each year, as the monarch's personal representative, since 1690.

The right of the monarch to be present at the General Assembly is enshrined in Church of Scotland's confessional standard, the Westminster Confession of Faith, which says that the "civil magistrate... hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God" (XXIII.3).[1]

Prior to 1929, the General Assembly was held in the former Tolbooth Highland St John's Church on Edinburgh's Royal Mile (this building is no longer used as a church, instead being converted into "The Hub" for the Edinburgh International Festival society), where a throne was provided for the use of the Lord High Commissioner. The union of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland took place in 1929. Since 1930 the General Assembly has always met in the former United Free Church Assembly Hall on The Mound, Edinburgh. The Lord High Commissioner sits on the throne in the Royal Gallery, which is technically "outside" the Assembly Hall—symbolising the independence of the Church in matters spiritual from state interference. The first Assembly of the newly united church in 1929 was held in halls in Annandale Street, Edinburgh (now a bus garage), the only building large enough. Difficulty in accessing the Royal Gallery in this temporary location led to a seemingly trivial but nevertheless embarrassing dispute over protocol, whereby the Lord High Commissioner (the Earl of Inverness, later King George VI) would have had to enter through the Assembly Hall itself—an act of symbolic state interference in the hard-won spiritual independence of the church. The Moderator, Dr John White, was adamant that this would be unacceptable, even suggesting that the post of Lord High Commissioner could be dispensed with. Eventually a suitable arrangement[clarification needed] was agreed upon and the office of Lord High Commissioner has survived.

Functions edit

The office has always been largely ceremonial. The person appointed invariably has a distinguished record of public service in Scotland as well as having close connections with the church, often being an Elder of the Church of Scotland.

On behalf of the monarch, the Lord High Commissioner attends the General Assembly, makes opening and closing addresses to the Assembly, and carries out a number of official visits and ceremonial functions (not all related to the Church of Scotland). At the formal opening of the General Assembly, the Principal Clerk reads out the Royal Warrant appointing the Lord High Commissioner, who is then invited to address the Assembly. All ministers, elders and deacons appointed by Presbyteries to attend the General Assembly are known as "Commissioners" and have voting powers; the Lord High Commissioner, however, has no vote, nor may he/she intervene in debates.

Apart from his/her opening and closing addresses, the Lord High Commissioner makes no further intervention in Assembly debates but will be in daily attendance for at least part of each day's business. Following the Assembly, the Lord High Commissioner personally informs The King about the business of the week.

The Lord High Commissioner also visits the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland annually.[2][3]

Form of address edit

While the General Assembly is meeting, the Lord High Commissioner is treated as if a regent. By custom, he or she is addressed as "Your Grace" and is greeted with a bow or curtsey. When the Princess Royal was appointed in 1996, she was styled as "Her Grace" for the duration rather than her normal dynastic style "Her Royal Highness" because the Lord High Commissioner is ranked higher in the order of precedence.

If a woman is appointed to the office, the alternative title "His Majesty's High Commissioner" may, if requested, be used. Margaret Herbison was the first woman to hold the post (1970 and 1971).

Residence edit

Since 1834 the Lord High Commissioner has resided at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and gave a garden party for Commissioners to the General Assembly on the Saturday afternoon of Assembly week and other hospitality. He or she is entitled to use the Scottish Royal Banner, and has precedence immediately after the King and before the rest of the Royal Family. Even his or her official car receives special treatment and, except for the King's, is the only vehicle in the country not to have number plates. However, the plates are re-attached during the closing speech of the Assembly, and the Lord High Commissioner returns to his royal but temporary residence as an ordinary citizen. In recent years, the garden party has been replaced by the "Heart and Soul" event, held in Princes Street Gardens and attended by the Lord High Commissioner.[4]

Household edit

There is a Household of His Grace the Lord High Commissioner. This includes the Purse Bearer (who is the head of the Household), Chaplain, Aides-de-Camp (three in 1949), a Lady-in-Waiting, Extra Lady-in-Waiting, and Maids of Honour (three in 1949). The Macebearer bears the Lord President's Mace or the Old Exchequer Mace. The Master of the Horse is no longer appointed. The subordinate staff further includes the Assistant to the Purse Bearer, and a Lady's Maid. The Household make no financial demands on the funds of the Church of Scotland, which are devoted exclusively to the Parish and Mission work of the Kirk.

List of Purse Bearers edit

List of Lords High Commissioner edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Urwick, William (1843). Thoughts suggested by the late ecclesiastical movement in Scotland. p. 16. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Scottish independence and the Establishment Principle? | Law & Religion UK".
  3. ^ "General Assembly".
  4. ^ Heart and Soul 2016.
  5. ^ "No. 33611". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1929. p. 3473.
  6. ^ "No. 27310". The London Gazette. 3 May 1901. p. 3033.
  7. ^ "No. 27428". The London Gazette. 25 April 1902. p. 2789.
  8. ^ Appointment of Lord High Commissioner for 2009 Archived 2008-12-09 at the UK Government Web Archive
  9. ^ Number 10 – Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2014 (Accessed 8 December 2013)
  10. ^ . Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  11. ^ "Prince William is appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2020". gov.uk. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Prince William is appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2021". gov.uk. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Appointment of the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2022". gov.uk. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Appointment of the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2023". gov.uk. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.

External links edit

    October 31, 2023
    lord, high, commissioner, general, assembly, church, scotland, other, uses, lord, high, commissioner, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, ch. For other uses see Lord High Commissioner This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the Scottish and later British monarch s personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland the Kirk reflecting the Church s role as the national church of Scotland and the monarch s role as protector and member of that Church Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of ScotlandIncumbentLord Hodgesince 28 February 2022 2022 02 28 StyleHis or Her GraceResidencePalace of HolyroodhouseAppointerMonarch of the United KingdomTerm length1 yearFormation1580 443 years ago 1580 First holderJames Balfour of PittendreichAlongside the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is arguably one of the two most prominent figures in the Church of Scotland Contents 1 History 2 Functions 3 Form of address 4 Residence 5 Household 5 1 List of Purse Bearers 6 List of Lords High Commissioner 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksHistory editLord High Commissioners were appointed to the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland between 1603 and 1707 as the monarch s personal representative The Act of Union 1707 made this function redundant but a Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been appointed each year as the monarch s personal representative since 1690 The right of the monarch to be present at the General Assembly is enshrined in Church of Scotland s confessional standard the Westminster Confession of Faith which says that the civil magistrate hath power to call synods to be present at them and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God XXIII 3 1 Prior to 1929 the General Assembly was held in the former Tolbooth Highland St John s Church on Edinburgh s Royal Mile this building is no longer used as a church instead being converted into The Hub for the Edinburgh International Festival society where a throne was provided for the use of the Lord High Commissioner The union of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland took place in 1929 Since 1930 the General Assembly has always met in the former United Free Church Assembly Hall on The Mound Edinburgh The Lord High Commissioner sits on the throne in the Royal Gallery which is technically outside the Assembly Hall symbolising the independence of the Church in matters spiritual from state interference The first Assembly of the newly united church in 1929 was held in halls in Annandale Street Edinburgh now a bus garage the only building large enough Difficulty in accessing the Royal Gallery in this temporary location led to a seemingly trivial but nevertheless embarrassing dispute over protocol whereby the Lord High Commissioner the Earl of Inverness later King George VI would have had to enter through the Assembly Hall itself an act of symbolic state interference in the hard won spiritual independence of the church The Moderator Dr John White was adamant that this would be unacceptable even suggesting that the post of Lord High Commissioner could be dispensed with Eventually a suitable arrangement clarification needed was agreed upon and the office of Lord High Commissioner has survived Functions editThe office has always been largely ceremonial The person appointed invariably has a distinguished record of public service in Scotland as well as having close connections with the church often being an Elder of the Church of Scotland On behalf of the monarch the Lord High Commissioner attends the General Assembly makes opening and closing addresses to the Assembly and carries out a number of official visits and ceremonial functions not all related to the Church of Scotland At the formal opening of the General Assembly the Principal Clerk reads out the Royal Warrant appointing the Lord High Commissioner who is then invited to address the Assembly All ministers elders and deacons appointed by Presbyteries to attend the General Assembly are known as Commissioners and have voting powers the Lord High Commissioner however has no vote nor may he she intervene in debates Apart from his her opening and closing addresses the Lord High Commissioner makes no further intervention in Assembly debates but will be in daily attendance for at least part of each day s business Following the Assembly the Lord High Commissioner personally informs The King about the business of the week The Lord High Commissioner also visits the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland annually 2 3 Form of address editWhile the General Assembly is meeting the Lord High Commissioner is treated as if a regent By custom he or she is addressed as Your Grace and is greeted with a bow or curtsey When the Princess Royal was appointed in 1996 she was styled as Her Grace for the duration rather than her normal dynastic style Her Royal Highness because the Lord High Commissioner is ranked higher in the order of precedence If a woman is appointed to the office the alternative title His Majesty s High Commissioner may if requested be used Margaret Herbison was the first woman to hold the post 1970 and 1971 Residence editSince 1834 the Lord High Commissioner has resided at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and gave a garden party for Commissioners to the General Assembly on the Saturday afternoon of Assembly week and other hospitality He or she is entitled to use the Scottish Royal Banner and has precedence immediately after the King and before the rest of the Royal Family Even his or her official car receives special treatment and except for the King s is the only vehicle in the country not to have number plates However the plates are re attached during the closing speech of the Assembly and the Lord High Commissioner returns to his royal but temporary residence as an ordinary citizen In recent years the garden party has been replaced by the Heart and Soul event held in Princes Street Gardens and attended by the Lord High Commissioner 4 Household editThere is a Household of His Grace the Lord High Commissioner This includes the Purse Bearer who is the head of the Household Chaplain Aides de Camp three in 1949 a Lady in Waiting Extra Lady in Waiting and Maids of Honour three in 1949 The Macebearer bears the Lord President s Mace or the Old Exchequer Mace The Master of the Horse is no longer appointed The subordinate staff further includes the Assistant to the Purse Bearer and a Lady s Maid The Household make no financial demands on the funds of the Church of Scotland which are devoted exclusively to the Parish and Mission work of the Kirk List of Purse Bearers edit c 1930 Sir John Charles Couper MVO OBE WS 5 1930 1958 Lt Col Sir Edward Daymonde Stevenson KCVO MC 1959 1960 David Charles Scott Moncrieff CVO TD WS 1961 1969 Sir Alastair Blair KCVO TD JP WS 1969 1988 Sir Charles Fraser KCVO 1988 2001 Robin Blair LVO WS 2001 present Tom Murray WSList of Lords High Commissioner edit1580 The Laird of Lundie amp Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich or James Halyburton 1581 William Cunningham 4th Laird of Caprington April 1582 Ralph Kerr October 1582 James Halyburton amp Colonel William Stewart of Houston incomplete 1638 James Hamilton 1st Duke of Hamilton 1639 The Earl of Traquair 1640 none 1641 The Earl of Wemyss 1642 The Earl of Dunfermline 1643 Sir Thomas Hope 1644 1645 none 1646 Letter from the King regretting that no Commissioner could be sent 1647 1650 none 1651 The Earl of Balcarres 1652 none 1653 none 1653 1690 no General Assembly 1690 The Lord Carmichael 1692 The Earl of Lothian 1694 1699 The Lord Carmichael 1700 The Viscount Seafield became an earl before serving again in 1703 1701 The Earl of Annandale became a marquess before serving again in 1705 and 1711 1702 The Earl of Marchmont 1703 The Earl of Seafield succeeded as Earl of Findlater before serving again in 1724 1704 The Lord Ross 1705 The Marquess of Annandale 1706 1710 The 1st Earl of Glasgow 1711 The Marquess of Annandale 1712 1714 The 1st Duke of Atholl 1715 1721 The Earl of Rothes 1722 The Earl of Loudoun 1723 The 1st Earl of Hopetoun 1724 The Earl of Findlater 1725 1726 The Earl of Loudoun 1727 The Earl of Findlater 1728 The Earl of Loudoun 1729 The Earl of Buchan 1730 1731 The Earl of Loudoun 1732 1738 The Marquess of Lothian 1739 1740 The Earl of Hyndford 1741 1753 The 5th Earl of Leven 1754 The 2nd Earl of Hopetoun 1755 1763 The Lord Cathcart 1764 1772 The 3rd Earl of Glasgow 1773 1776 The Lord Cathcart 1777 1782 The Earl of Dalhousie 1783 1801 The 6th Earl of Leven 1802 1816 The Lord Napier 1817 1818 The Earl of Erroll 1819 1824 The Earl of Morton 1825 1830 The Lord Forbes 1831 1841 The Lord Belhaven and Stenton 1842 1846 The Marquess of Bute 1847 1851 The Lord Belhaven and Stenton 1852 The Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield 1853 1857 The Lord Belhaven and Stenton 1858 1859 The Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield 1860 1866 The Lord Belhaven and Stenton 1867 1868 The Earl of Haddington 1869 1871 The 10th Earl of Stair 1872 1873 The Earl of Airlie 1874 1875 The Earl of Rosslyn 1876 1877 The Earl of Galloway 1878 1880 The Earl of Rosslyn 1881 1885 The Earl of Aberdeen 1886 The Lord Thurlow 1887 1889 The 7th Earl of Hopetoun 1889 1892 The Marquess of Tweeddale 1893 1895 The Marquess of Breadalbane 1896 1897 The Marquess of Tweeddale 1898 1906 The 11th Earl of Leven 6 7 1907 1909 The 11th Lord Kinnaird 1910 The 11th Earl of Stair 1911 1914 The Lord Glenconner 1915 The Earl of Aberdeen 1916 1917 The 5th Duke of Montrose 1918 1920 The 8th Duke of Atholl 1921 1922 The Duke of Sutherland 1923 The Lord Elphinstone 1924 James Brown MP made a privy counsellor before serving again in 1930 1925 1926 The 10th Earl of Elgin 1927 1928 The 12th Earl of Stair 1929 The Earl of Inverness 1930 1931 James Brown MP 1932 Sir Iain Colquhoun 1933 1934 John Buchan 1935 The Earl of St Andrews 1936 1937 The 12th Lord Kinnaird 1938 1939 Lt Col Sir John Gilmour 2nd Bt 1940 1941 Sir Iain Colquhoun 1942 1943 The 6th Duke of Montrose 1944 1945 The Marquess of Linlithgow 1946 1947 George Mathers MP made a privy counsellor before serving again in 1948 1948 George Mathers MP 1949 The Lord Culloden 1950 The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope 1951 George Mathers MP 1952 The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope 1953 1955 The Duke of Hamilton 1956 1957 Walter Elliot MP 1958 The Duke of Hamilton 1959 1960 The Earl of Wemyss and March 1961 1963 The Lord Culloden 1964 General Sir Richard O Connor 1965 1966 Lord Birsay 1967 1968 The Lord Reith 1969 The Queen attended in person 1970 Peggy Herbison 1971 1972 The Lord Clydesmuir 1973 1974 The Lord Ballantrae 1975 1976 Sir Hector MacLennan 1977 The Earl of Wemyss and March 1978 1979 Willie Ross former Secretary of State for Scotland 1980 1981 The 11th Earl of Elgin 1982 1983 Col Sir John Gilmour 3rd Bt 1984 1985 The Lord Maclean 1986 1987 The Viscount of Arbuthnott 1988 1989 Captain Sir Iain Tennant 1990 1991 Lord Ross Lord Justice Clerk 1992 1993 The Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden 1994 1995 Lady Fraser 1996 The Princess Royal 1997 The Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden 1998 1999 The Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld 2000 The Duke of Rothesay 2001 The Viscount Younger of Leckie 2002 The Queen attended in person 2003 2004 The Lord Steel of Aikwood 2005 2006 The Lord Mackay of Clashfern 2007 The Earl of Inverness 2008 2009 8 George Reid 2010 2011 The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn 2012 2013 The Lord Selkirk of Douglas 2014 The Earl of Wessex 9 2015 2016 The Lord Hope of Craighead 10 2017 The Princess Royal 2018 2019 The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry 2020 2021 The Earl of Strathearn 11 12 2020 Assembly cancelled due to the Covid 19 Pandemic 2022 23 Lord Hodge 13 14 See also editSupreme Governor of the Church of England List of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Order of precedence in Scotland Lord Lieutenant Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of ScotlandReferences edit Urwick William 1843 Thoughts suggested by the late ecclesiastical movement in Scotland p 16 Retrieved 20 January 2022 Scottish independence and the Establishment Principle Law amp Religion UK General Assembly Heart and Soul 2016 No 33611 The London Gazette Supplement 28 December 1929 p 3473 No 27310 The London Gazette 3 May 1901 p 3033 No 27428 The London Gazette 25 April 1902 p 2789 Appointment of Lord High Commissioner for 2009 Archived 2008 12 09 at the UK Government Web Archive Number 10 Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2014 Accessed 8 December 2013 Queen Appoints senior judge as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly Archived from the original on 11 January 2018 Retrieved 26 November 2014 Prince William is appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2020 gov uk 25 January 2020 Retrieved 25 January 2020 Prince William is appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2021 gov uk 22 March 2021 Retrieved 23 May 2021 Appointment of the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2022 gov uk 28 February 2022 Retrieved 2 May 2022 Appointment of the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 2023 gov uk 9 March 2023 Retrieved 13 March 2023 External links editChurch of Scotland website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland amp oldid 1181609881, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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