An unprecedented move towards improving relations between the Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland will be taken next week, 164 years after they split.
In what is being billed as "A small step for a Christian, but a giant step for the Church", the general assemblies of both churches will be asked to agree a joint statement which recognises " the scandal of the divisions in our Presbyterian church family" and pledges to work towards greater recognition and co-operation.
As a practical expression of this, the conveners of both churches' ecumenical relations committees will be invited to cross the top of Edinburgh's Royal Mile between the two assemblies and to address their counterparts.
The statement also highlights the shared historical basis of doctrine and practice in the scriptures and the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646).
These were not sufficient to prevent "the Disruption" of 1843 when 450 ministers of the Church of Scotland broke away to form the Free Church of Scotland over the issue of patronage and whether the congregations or wealthy patrons were to have the greatest say in selecting parish ministers. Although it was a bitter schism, the differences between the Church of Scotland and the Free Church in many communities in the Highlands and Islands have for a long time often been small.
But in recent years representatives from both ecumenical committees have been meeting regularly to discuss better relations, and while the tone of the statement is positive and hopeful, there is also recognition that there has been "a background of suspicion and lack of trust evident within both churches".
This having been " established by a lengthy process of historical events, individual opinions and assumptions about each other - which in all likelihood cannot be changed in a short space of time".
The Rev Iver Martin of Stornoway Free Church of Scotland said last night: "My understanding is that when the Disruption took place, there was the hope that one day there would be unity again and there always is that hope."
An earlier statement from the Church of Scotland said: "Talks continue with the Free Church of Scotland which have resulted in a joint statement of mutual recognition and understanding and a mutual commitment to co-operate in the advancement of the kingdom of God."
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