The Church of Scotland, the national church of Scotland, divides the country into Presbyteries, which in turn are subdivided into Parishes, each served by a parish church, usually with its own minister. Unions and readjustments may however result in a parish having more than one building, or several parishes sharing a minister. There are currently 42 presbyteries in Scotland, and around 1500 parishes. In addition, the Church of Scotland has three presbyteries outwith Scotland: the Presbytery of England, the Presbytery of Europe and the Presbytery of Jerusalem. These presbyteries have "gathered congregations" rather than parishes.
What follows is a list of Church of Scotland parishes, congregations and places of worship. Use :Category:Church of Scotland for an alphabetical index of parishes with Wikipedia articles. A complete list of parishes with statistical data will be found in the Church of Scotland Yearbook (known as the Red Book). See also List of Church of Scotland synods and presbyteries.
PC stands for Parish Church. * denotes the parish church of a medieval parish (Caithness, Inverness, Orkney, Peebles, Ross, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Sutherland, Wigtown) or the successor church to one.
Statistics
In Scotland, at least 275 churches have closed since 1 January 2000, a decline of 15.6% in 21 years.
Most populous charges
1a sui generis parish with 3 ministers
Least populous charges
Presbytery of Aberdeen and Shetland
The two presbyteries merged on 1 June 2020. The presbytery website indicates there are 33 congregations, a figure arrived at by counting the Shetland churches as one. On Shetland, one parish is made up of a number of churches. In 2018, there were 31 churches on Shetland; a process is underway by which 20 will be closed and 11 retained.
1closed 31 December 2020
2comprises the former parishes of Burra Isle; Delting; Dunrossness; Fetlar; Lerwick & Bressay; Nesting & Lunnasting; Northmavine; Sandsting & Aithsting; Sandwick, Cunningsburgh & Quarff; Tingwall; Unst; Walls & Sandness; Whalsay & Skerries; and Yell.
Closed churches in this presbytery
Presbytery of Abernethy
Closed churches
Presbytery of Angus
1formed by the union of the parishes of Airlie, Ruthven, Kingoldrum, Glenisla, Kilry and Lintrathen
Closed churches in this presbytery
Presbytery of Annandale and Eskdale
Closed churches in this presbytery
Presbytery of Ardrossan
Closed churches in this presbytery
Presbytery of Argyll
The Presbyteries of South Argyll, Lorn & Mull, and Dunoon united in 2004.
1formed by the union of the parishes of Kilarrow, and Kildalton & Oa
2formed by the union of the parishes of Kilchoman & Portnahaven, and Kilmeny
3formed by the union of the parishes of Kilninian & Kilmore; Salen & Ulva; Tobermory; and Torosay & Kinlochspelve
Closed churches in this presbytery
Presbytery of Ayr
1To be united in 2021
Closed churches
Presbytery of Buchan
Closed churches
Presbytery of Caithness
1formed by the union of the parishes of Reay, and Strathy & Halladale
2formed by the union of the parishes of Canisbay, Dunnet, Keiss and Olrig
Closed churches
Presbytery of Clyde
The presbyteries of Greenock and Paisley united to form Greenock & Paisley in 2020; Dumbarton united with Greenock & Paisley in 2020 to form Clyde.
1includes population of the parish of the recently closed Lochwinnoch church
2to be linked with Stow Brae Kirk in 2021
3to be united with Kilmacolm St Columba's in 2021
4includes population of the parishes of the recently closed St James's and St Ninian's churches
Closed churches
Presbytery of Dumfries and Kirkcudbright
1merger of Auchencairn & Rerrick, and Buittle & Kelton
Closed churches in this presbytery
Presbytery of Dundee
Closed churches in this presbytery
Presbytery of Dunkeld and Meigle
Closed churches
Presbytery of Duns
1union of the parishes of Ayton & Burnmouth, Foulden & Mordington, and Grantshouse, Houndwood & Reston
2union of the parishes of Coldstream, Swinton, and Ladykirk & Whitsome
3to be closed 2021
4union of the parishes of Bonkyl & Preston, Duns, Edrom Allanton, and Langton & Lammermuir Kirk
Closed churches
Presbytery of Edinburgh
Closed churches
Not exhaustive; only churches with a medieval foundation, which have articles or which closed after 2000 are listed.