About the SCHS

The Scottish Church History Society was founded in 1922 to promote the study of the history of all branches of the Church in Scotland. The Society maintains its non-sectarian roots, and continues to encourage historians to present their research at its meetings. Through the annual publication of these papers in the Records, the first volume of which was published in 1923, the Society makes the study of Scotland's religious past available to a wider audience.

Outdoor 'Blanket Preaching'

William J Couper (AFCS I, 125; FUFCS 225; FES IX, 280), then minister at Great Hamilton Street United Free Church in Glasgow, was largely instrumental in its foundation, and became the first Honorary Secretary. The first President of the Society was Principal Alexander Martin of New College, who outlined the reason for the foundation of the society as follows:

'The field, in a word, is one in which unsifted data abound, problems await solution at every step, and "gaps" in the records, as designed to satisfy the standards of modern method, are innumerable. To aid, as far as may be, in supplying these lacunae is the object with which the Scottish Church History Society has been formed.'