On this day in 1843

Who has the right to appoint a minister of the Church? That was the question that led to a destructive schism in the Church of Scotland, and the formation of the Free Church of Scotland by those who disagreed with the established order.

The Church Patronage (Scotland) Act 1711 allowed patrons of the church, who had a financial interest in the way it was run, to choose who should be appointed a minister in the parish they supported. The Church of Scotland, in general, didn’t approve of this right but, at the same time, it didn’t make too much of a fuss, perhaps because it didn’t want to upset the sources of income that allowed it to do its work.

Disagreements over selections

However, this willingness to work with the patrons wasn’t universal throughout the Church, with some Church officials believing that a minister should be selected by the congregation, rather than his paymaster. By 1834, this group was in the ascendancy. The General Assembly passed the Veto Act, under which a minister could only be appointed if the majority of households in a parish approved.

But, by the early 1840s, the tide was turning, and the Veto Act was declared illegal and the patrons’ right to nominate their preferred candidate was reinstated. At this, almost 40% of the Church of Scotland’s existing ministers left and formed the Free Church of Scotland. This split is what became known as The Disruption.

A new church

“We observe, that a movement has been made in Glasgow, by some of the Conservative non-intrusionists, in favour of a settlement of the Church question, or at least a suspension of the secession scheme, in the hope that it may yet be found possible to obtain sanction of Government to some plan for adjusting existing differences,” reported the Aberdeen Press and Journal on 22 February 1843. However, it continued that “the non-intrusionists, generally, would seem to regard their ultimate secession as certain. Under this impression, a circular has just been issued stating the arrangements necessary for the contemplated schism. The dissenting church is to be called ‘The Free Church of Scotland’.”

 

...and on this day in 1995

Braveheart tells the story of William Wallace and the First War of Scottish Independence, which was fought against England’s King Edward I. The film was directed by Mel Gibson, who also played Wallace. Edward I was played by Patrick McGoohan. It opened in the US on 18 May 1995, and in Europe on 3 September, where its premiere was in Stirling.

 

...and on this day in 1975

Knockhill motor racing circuit was created on a sheep farm and disused railway line close to Dunfermline by motorbike racing enthusiast Tom Kinnaird. It has been used for a variety of racing events, including Formula 3 and Touring Car Championships.

The full circuit runs to just over 1.3 miles, but cut-throughs allow for shorter loops of one mile or half a mile, depending on the event. Races can be held in either direction for greater variety and the track has a significant gradient, with a difference of close to 200ft between the highest and lowest points. There are at most ten corners on any circuit, with a single straight running alongside the pits and one hairpin bend, called Taylors.

Racing at Knockhill

As befits a track created by a fan of motorbike racing, the first event was a bike race, held in the autumn of 1974. The first car race took place the following year, on 18 May 1975.

There had been hopes that Knockhill might one day host a Formula 1 race, and, to that end, the track attracted significant investment, allowing for the construction of new facilities, including a media centre. Although the venue was unsuccessful in its attempt to lure Formula 1, it did welcome Formula 3 in the late 1980s and the British Touring Car Championships from the early 1990s.

Since Ingliston hosted its last race in 1994, Knockhill has been the only full-time motor racing venue to operate on this scale in Scotland. Like the remaining portion of the track at Ingliston, Knockhill is used by experience day events.