The Scottish Reformation — John Knox & the Kirk (P5–P7)
A P5–P7 knowledge organiser on the Scottish Reformation — why it happened, who John Knox was, the break with Rome, the establishment of the Church of Scotland, and why it shaped Scotland so differently from England.
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The Scottish Reformation
- 1 The Reformation — background In the 16th century, Protestant reformers across Europe challenged the authority and practices of the Roman Catholic Church — corruption, the sale of indulgences, the Pope's authority. Martin Luther (Germany, 1517) started the movement.
- 2 John Knox (c.1514–1572) The dominant figure of the Scottish Reformation. A fiery preacher who studied under Calvin in Geneva. His 'thunderings' against Catholicism and Mary Queen of Scots shaped Presbyterian Scotland.
- 3 Scottish Reformation (1560) The Scottish Parliament formally broke with Rome in 1560. The authority of the Pope was rejected. The Mass was abolished. A Calvinist form of Protestantism (Presbyterianism) was established.
- 4 Presbyterianism A form of church government run by elected elders (presbyters) — not by bishops appointed by the Crown. In theory, all members are equal before God. This democratic structure made the Scottish Kirk distinctly different from the Anglican Church.
- 5 The Church of Scotland (The Kirk) The national church of Scotland — Presbyterian, not Anglican. Its independence from royal control was central to Scottish national identity. The Kirk was 'established' (the national church) but not subject to the Crown on spiritual matters.
- 6 Impact on education Scottish Presbyterianism placed enormous emphasis on reading the Bible — which required literacy. The Education Act 1696 required a school in every parish. Scotland's high literacy rate by the 18th century was a direct legacy of the Reformation.
Learning objective
Describe the Scottish Reformation and its causes; explain who John Knox was; describe Presbyterianism and why it differed from Anglicanism; and understand the Reformation's impact on Scottish education.
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Scottish Reformation resources
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