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Original poster

How do you go about changing from Church of Scotland to Church of England?

33 replies

mymatekate · 07/05/2009 14:00

Hope someone can help. Am a member of a church in Scotland, and have been since I was a child. I am not a regular churchgoer - esp as now have moved down south so can't go at all now. I would like to join my local church, mainly as would like to have my ds christened but also would like to go occasionally, especially at Easter and Christmas, as would like ds to know the true reasons behind these. I went on the CofE website and located the nearest church and sent an email asking this very question, but have had no reply. I was just wondering if anyone knows how to go about this and if it is a long drawn out process? TIA

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 07/05/2009 14:02

I'm sorry but either I'm being really really dim here, or the Church of Scotland and the Church of England are the same thing.

If so, you don't have to 'join', you just turn up at that church, introduce yourself to the vicar and arrange your christening.

Original poster
mymatekate · 07/05/2009 14:11

Well I think they kind of are, but they do have a lot of differences, which is why am asking what to do. Also, my parents recently changed from church to church in Scotland and they had to arrange for their 'lines' to be moved. No idea what that is (can you tell I never go!!!!

OP posts:
seeker · 07/05/2009 14:14

Don't you just turn up? I didn't think you had to register at a Church!

AMumInScotland · 07/05/2009 14:14

Hi, you don't have to do anything specific to join a CofE church - just pick one you think might suit you and start going along to services. If you settle somewhere regularly, they may suggest you fill in a card with your details, which usually just means they send you out "stewardship campaign" letters from time to time!

I switched from CofS to CofE when I moved south, and am now in the Episcopal Church back up here.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 07/05/2009 14:17

With CoS you can just turn up, or you can make a further committment by actually joining - this involves weeks of instruction from the minister (about the history of the church and so on) and then a ceremony during a service. You're then allowed to take communion (about 4 times a year, iirc.)

Well, that's how it was 30 years ago, I'm assuming much the same now.

CoE I'd guess you can just turn up, or show further committment by some sort of ceremony that allows the same?

Rhubarb · 07/05/2009 14:18

Right, this is what I can find out:

"A merger proposed in the 1960s between the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Church of England, and the Episcopal Church of Scotland did not take place."

The Queen is automatically a member of the Church of Scotland, but not its Head.

The Church of Scotland is mainly Presbyterian in theology. But has a lot in common with the Protestant following.

The Church of England's Scottish counterpart is the Scottish Episcopal Church.

If I were you I'd just go to Church one week, introduce yourself and make an appointment to talk to the vicar.

OrmIrian · 07/05/2009 14:18

I think you just go. No need to join.

AMumInScotland · 07/05/2009 14:19

Church of Scotland is completely separate from Church of England. The closest thing up here is the Episcopal Church of Scotland, which is part of the Anglican Communion.

But Church of Scotland is presbyterian - it has no bishops, has its own rules and services etc.

Church of Scotland I think still has the concept of adults choosing to become members, and being considered to be "a member in good standing" which means that you've not been caught out doing anything too awful. I think what your parents did when they switched churches would be that the minister of their old church confirmed to the new church that they were members in good standing. It's a bit old-fashioned in many ways, but there you go!

smallchange · 07/05/2009 14:20

The Church of Scotland is Presbyterian not Anglican so they are technically different denominations.

In the CoS you are "confirmed" when you join the church and make a statement of faith after attending some classes (usually called Enquirers' classes). When you move to a different church you can "lift your lines" to become a member of that congregation. Presbyterian churches are run by a kirk session and the congregation chooses the minister. Is a completely different system to the CoE.

Having said all that, you don't have to be a member of any church to attend services. I've no idea what the system is in the CoE but going by friends who have had their children christened in Anglican churches I don't think there's any membership procedure to follow.

Original poster
mymatekate · 07/05/2009 14:23

Thanks all - looks like I will need to just go along one week. Now to tell dh............

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 07/05/2009 14:47

Anglican is not CofE. CofE is strictly protestant whereas the Anglicans err towards Catholicism.

MaryBS · 07/05/2009 14:52

Rhubarb, that's a strange definition, and one I'd dispute. CofE is the Anglican Church in England. The Anglican Church is worldwide.

(speaking as a member of the CofE who "errs" towards Catholic )

Yes, all you need to do is go along. I was "received" into the CofE (from the RC church), but only because I was going to train for ministry. Prior to that I'd just been "going along".

AMumInScotland · 07/05/2009 14:55

C of E is part of "The Anglican Communion", so I'd say they're definitely Anglicans. Are you thinking of "Anglo-Catholics" maybe?

Rhubarb · 07/05/2009 14:59

From Wikipedia "Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith. Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs, worship and church structures."

"Anglicanism, in its structures, theology, and forms of worship, is commonly understood as a distinct Christian tradition representing a middle ground between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism and, as such, is often referred to as being a via media (or middle way) between these traditions."

In my experience, there are CofE Churches and there are Anglican Churches. The Anglican Churches can vary from moreorless Protestant in belief to moreorless Catholic. The CofE Church is purely Protestant.

smallchange · 07/05/2009 15:09

All you need to know here

(Note: anglican in the CoE website address )

AMumInScotland · 07/05/2009 15:09

I think they're talking worldwide - Anglican churches are churches in the Anglican Communion. They may be more or less like the CofE. And the CofE is very broad, containing everything from conservative evangelical very protestant, to very high Anglo-Catholic. But they are all in the CofE.

MaryBS · 07/05/2009 15:21

Wikipedia is not the best place to go if you want 100% accurate answers.

Where has your experience been gained?

Speaking as a member of the CofE who is NOT protestant (and therefore 100% isn't accurate ).

However, this isn't really the place for this debate - apologies for the hijacking.

Reallytired · 07/05/2009 16:21

The C of E is throughly protestant, in that we don't obey the pope. Unlike the catholic church we don't believe in transtantiation. (ie we don't believe that bread and wine actually becomes flesh and blood of Jesus. The C of E teaching is that it symbolises Jesus's body and blood)

There is a range of different styles of services. Some are similar to Church of Scotland and some are similar to the catholics in style.

My father is church of scotland and my mother is church of England. I was baptised in the Church of Scotland and confirmed in the church of England. The church of England reconcises church of scotland confirmation. You would not have to attend classes.

The church of scotland is a group of christians who live in scotland. The church of England are group of christians who mostly live in England, but ofcourse many live in commonwealth countries.)

All you need to do is go along to a church. After 6 months you can join the electoral role which gives you voting rights. You don't need to join the electoral role inorder to get your son baptised. All you have to do is ask the priest.

Have you looked at methodist or unitied reform churches. They are closer in style of worthship to the church of scotland.

MaryBS · 07/05/2009 16:25

(why do I get the impression everyone is ignoring what I am saying? )

smallchange · 07/05/2009 17:47

I agree with you about Wikipedia MaryBS, but this backs up what you're saying.

Interesting. I thought CoE was Protestant too. Probably from living in Glasgow where there's the whole Catholic/Protestant thang and you forget there are other options!

Reallytired · 07/05/2009 18:47

There is a difference between catholic with a big "C" and catholic with a little "c". Catholic with a big "C" is part of the roman catholic church. Where as catholic with a little "c" is all christians whatever sect they belong to.

"Catholic in that it views itself as a part of the universal church of Christ in unbroken continuity with the early apostolic and later medieval church. This is expressed in its strong emphasis on the teachings of the early Church Fathers, in particular as formalised in the Apostolic, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds."

The church of scotland is definately part of the universal church of Christ. However like the church of england they do not accept the authority of the Pope.

scienceteacher · 07/05/2009 18:59

mymatekate,

The Church of England has a duty to minister to everyone who lives in England. You have as much right as anyone to go to your parish, or any, church.

Just show up! If you like the church, you can formalise your membership at some point by joining the Electoral Roll and by contributing financially to their ministries. I sure they will be delighted to welcome your DS into children's groups (if he is old enough) and to invite you to groups for women, etc.

For baptism information, contact any member of the clergy. The church welcome pack should give you the name of the person who handles baptisms - they make invite you onto a course beforehand, which is a great way to meet other young families.

There is a great diversity of worship style in the CofE - you might want to visit a few before making a decision.

aig · 07/05/2009 20:56

MaryBS I am listening.
I am an Episcopalian but live in England and hence am a member of the C of E. The Cof E is reformed, which is why it is separate from the Roman Catholic church, but not uniformly Protestant. My own theology is much closer to Han Kung or Edward Schillebeeckx than to Luther, Cranmer or Karl Barth. I would describe myself as definitely catholic but also definitely Anglican.

MaryBS · 07/05/2009 22:32

I've just been studying Theologians, and although I've heard of them, I've not read any Han Kung or Edward Schillebeeckx. My presentation was on Miroslav Volf - a very interesting guy! We covered Barth, Bonhoeffer and many others too...

BetsyBoop · 07/05/2009 22:50

MaryBS I'm listening too as a non-protestant CofE member

I personally think that most anglicans (ie CofE) sit in the gap between pure protestant and pure (Roman) Catholic

Reallytired, not sure what you are saying?
Amglicans also claim apostolic succession & use the Apostolic, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds in their liturgy too? (and have done since at least 16?? when the Book of Common Prayer was first published

{maube that's just my CofE "high" church upbringing )