Scotland’s National Covenant!

Scotland’s National Covenant!

Come and hear why the nation of Scotland drew up and signed the National Covenant. Learn all about it’s history and see for yourself the original ram skin parchment with over 4000 signatures signed in Greyfriars in Edinburgh in 1638

The National Covenant pledged those who swore it to defend the true religion against innovations, such as those that had recently been introduced, that were against the Bible, the teachings of the Reformers and the acts of Parliament listed – and which would lead to Roman Catholicism. This desire of the covenant was to maintain ‘the true worship of God, the majesty of our King, and the peace of the kingdom’, for the happiness of those who swore it and their children. They also promised to live lives that showed they were in covenant with God, and to be good examples to others.

The covenant was first signed at Greyfriars churchyard in Edinburgh on the 28th of February 1638, after any objections to it had been heard and answered. Within days it had been signed by the people of Edinburgh and copies were then sent around the country for other people to sign.  Signing the covenant was not rebellion but an appeal to the law of the land against the tyranny of the king. To sign it was to say that Jesus Christ was the only head of the church, and so it should be free from any control by the king or the government. The first free General Assembly for 36 years was held in Glasgow in November.