The naval policy of the Free Church of Scotland

In 1843 the established Church of Scotland suffered a large
secession of members who formed the Free Church of Scotland. In
the early years of its existence the new church had to overcome a
shortage of buildings and clergy, as well as the hostility of
many landowners. Their response included the use of a floating
church, a floating manse and the building of a yacht dedicated to
the task of taking ministers to remote islands. The lecture looks
at this curious episode in Scottish history and how and why the
church evolved a 'naval policy'.


Alex Ritchie is the Business Archives Advice Manager at The
National Archives. In this lecture he distils years of research
into the shipbuilding industry, maritime history and Scottish
church history. He also reveals a key fact discovered in The
National Archives itself.