Scottish Episcopalians Act 1711
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
(10 Ann.) C A P. VII. (10)
'WH E R E A S since the abolishing of Episcopal Government inScotland , those of the Episcopal Persuasion there have been frequently disturbed and interrupted in their religious Assemblies, and their Ministers prosecuted for reading the English Service in their Congregations, and for administring the Sacraments according to the Form and Manner prescribed in the Liturgy of the Church of England ;' Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consentof the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That it shall be free and lawful for all those of the Episcopal Communion in that Part ofGreat Britain called Scotland , to meet and assemble for the Exercise of Divine Worship, to be performed after their own Manner by Pastors ordained by a Protestant Bishop, and who are not established Ministers of any Church or Parish, and to use in their Congregation the Liturgy of the Church of England , if they think fit, without any Let, Hindrance, or Disturbance, from any Person whatsoever; and all Sheriffs of Shires, Stewards of Stewartries, and Magistrates of Boroughs, and Justices of the Peace, are hereby strictly required to give all Manner of Protection, Aid, and Assistance to such Episcopal Ministers, and those of their own Communion, in their Meetings and Assemblies for the Worship of God, held in any Town or Place, except Parish Churches, within the Extent and Jurisdiction of that Part ofGreat Britain called Scotland .
II None shall officiate, but such as have been ordained by a Protestant Bishop; nor till they have presented their Letters of Orders to the Justices, &c. to be registred. 21 Geo. 2. c. 34. ∥ 13. And see farther 26 Geo. 2. c. 29.
II. Provided always, and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That none shall presume to exercise the Function of a Pastor in the said Episcopal Meetings and Congregations, except such as shall have received Holy Orders from the Hands of a Protestant Bishop; and that every Person who shall be called or appointed to be a Pastor or Minister of any Episcopal Congregation or Assembly, before he take upon him to officiate as Pastor of the said Congregation, be hereby obliged and required to present his Letters of Orders to the Justices of Peace, at their General or Quarter Sessions to be held for the Shire, Stewartry, City, Town or other Place in which the said Episcopal Congregation is or shall be; and that the said Letters of Orders be there entred on Record by the Register or Clerk of the said Meeting of the Justices, for which there shall be no greater Fee or Reward taken than the Sum of one Shilling.
III Ministers of the established Church, and of the Episcopal Congregations to take the Oaths, &c. 6 Ann, c. 14. Farther Provisions relating hereto.
III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all Ministers of the established Church ofScotland , and all and every Person and Persons, who is or are Pastor or Pastors, Minister or Ministers of any Episcopal Congregation in Scotland , shall be obliged, and are hereby required, on or before the first Day of August next, to come to take and subscribe the following Oaths, in such Manner, and under such Penalties, as all Officers, Civil and Military in Scotland are obliged to take the Oath recited in the fourteenth Act of the sixth Year of her Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act for the better Security of her Majesty's Person and Government ; and that all Ministers of the established Church of Scotland , hereafter to be admitted into their respective Churches or Benefices, and all and every Person and Persons, who shall hereafter be Pastor or Pastors, Minister or Ministers of any Episcopal Congregation, shall, before such Admission or Exerciseof their respective Functions, be obliged to take and subscribe likewise the...
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