The Free Church in Southern Africa grew out of the work of the missionaries of the Glasgow Missionary Society (c.1823), and after 1843 came under the care of missionaries of the

Free Church of Scotland Free Church of Scotland may refer to: * Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900), seceded in 1843 from the Church of Scotland. The majority merged in 1900 into the United Free Church of Scotland; historical * Free Church of Scotland (since 1900), rema ...

. Historically, the church has served mainly the

Xhosa Xhosa may refer to: * Xhosa people, a nation, and ethnic group, who live in south-central and southeasterly region of South Africa * Xhosa language, one of the 11 official languages of South Africa, principally spoken by the Xhosa people See als ...

speaking people in eastern and western

Cape A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment which drapes the wearer's back, arms, and chest, and connects at the neck. History Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon. Th ...

region, stretching from

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

Transkei Transkei (, meaning ''the area beyond he riverKei''), officially the Republic of Transkei ( xh, iRiphabliki yeTranskei), was an unrecognised state in the southeastern region of South Africa from 1976 to 1994. It was, along with Ciskei, a Ban ...

. In 1900 the majority of the Free Church of Scotland joined with the United Presbyterian Church (Scotland) to form the

United Free Church of Scotland The United Free Church of Scotland (UF Church; gd, An Eaglais Shaor Aonaichte, sco, The Unitit Free Kirk o Scotland) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland (or UP) and ...

. All the Free Church missionaries joined the United Free Church, leaving no missionaries to serve the many Xhosa Christians who remained faithful to the old Free Church. In 1908, in response to an appeal from the Xhosa church, Rev Alexander Dewar was appointed to

King William's Town Qonce, formerly known as King William's Town, is a city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa along the banks of the Buffalo River. The city is about northwest of the Indian Ocean port of East London. Qonce, with a population of around ...

, and, for the next thirty-five years, served the church until he died in 1943. Four other missionaries, for longer or shorter periods, served alongside Mr Dewar. In 1944 the Rev Joseph McCracken of the Irish Evangelical Church served with others as Mr Dewar's successors. McCracken retired in 1974 and died in South Africa in 1987. In 1982 the church become independent, though remains in close connection with the Free Church of Scotland. Dumisani Bible School and Theological Institute was formed by its first Principal, Rev William (Bill) Graham of the Free Church of Scotland, in

in 1987, to train pastors and church workers. The church has more than 63 congregations and 4,000 members. The denomination is evangelical Presbyterian, sharing the same doctrinal standards as the Free Church of Scotland, subscribing to the

Westminster Confession of Faith The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the " subordinate standard" ...

Westminster Larger Catechism The Westminster Larger Catechism, along with the Westminster Shorter Catechism, is a central catechism of Calvinists in the English tradition throughout the world. History In 1643 when the Long Parliament of England called the Westminster Assem ...

and

Westminster Shorter Catechism The Westminster Shorter Catechism is a catechism written in 1646 and 1647 by the Westminster Assembly, a synod of English and Scottish theologians and laymen intended to bring the Church of England into greater conformity with the Church of Scot ...

, The Free Church of Southern Africa is a member of the

International Conference of Reformed Churches The International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC) is a federation of Reformed or Calvinist churches around the world. The ICRC was founded in 1981. The ICRC convenes international meetings every four years. Its theology is more conservative ...

. The Dumisani Theological Institute is the official theological training institute of the denomination. The beliefs of the Institute reflects that it is partnership with the Free Church of Scotland and the Free Church in Southern Africa and the

Reformed Churches in South Africa The Reformed Churches in South Africa () is a Christian denomination in South Africa that was formed in 1859 in Rustenburg. Members of the church are sometimes referred to as ''Doppers''. History of the Gereformeerde Kerke in South Africa In ...

. The Westminster Standards and the

Three Forms of Unity The Three Forms of Unity is a collective name for the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the Heidelberg Catechism, which reflect the doctrinal concerns of continental Calvinism and are accepted as official statements of doctrine by many Cal ...

are the accepted confessions. A history of the FCSA was written by Bill and Elizabeth Graham under the title The Ochre and the Blue (Edinburgh: Free Church of Scotland Publications, 2009)

References

{{Religion in South Africa Presbyterian denominations in Africa Christian organizations established in 1982 Protestantism in South Africa 1982 establishments in South Africa