The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the

monarch A monarch () is a head of stateWebster's II New College Dictionary. "Monarch". Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest ...

's personal representative to the

General Assembly A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company. Specific examples of general assembly include: Churches * General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presby ...

of the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland (CoS; ; ) is a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity that holds the status of the national church in Scotland. It is one of the country's largest, having 245,000 members in 2024 and 259,200 members in 2023. While mem ...

(the

Kirk Kirk is a Scottish and former Northern English word meaning 'church'. The term ''the Kirk'' is often used informally to refer specifically to the Church of Scotland, the Scottish national church that developed from the 16th-century Reformation ...

), reflecting the Church's role as the

national church A national church is a Christian church associated with a specific ethnic group or nation state. The idea was notably discussed during the 19th century, during the emergence of modern nationalism. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in a draft discussing ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

and the monarch's role as protector and member of that Church. In its history, the office holder has been the personal representatives to all

Scottish monarchs The monarch of Scotland was the head of state of the Kingdom of Scotland. According to tradition, Kenneth I MacAlpin () was the founder and first King of the Kingdom of Scotland (although he never held the title historically, being King of th ...

, and later

British monarchs There have been 13 British monarchs since the political union of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland on 1 May 1707. England and Scotland had been in personal union since 24 March 1603; while the style, "King of Great Britain" fi ...

, following the

Union of the Crowns The Union of the Crowns (; ) was the accession of James VI of Scotland to the throne of the Kingdom of England as James I and the practical unification of some functions (such as overseas diplomacy) of the two separate realms under a single ...

. Alongside the

Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the minister or elder chosen to moderate (chair) the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every year. After chairing the Ass ...

, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is arguably one of the two most prominent figures in the Church of Scotland.

History

Lord High Commissioners were appointed to the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland between 1603 and 1707 as the monarch's personal representative. The

Act of Union 1707 The Acts of Union refer to two acts of Parliament, one by the Parliament of Scotland in March 1707, followed shortly thereafter by an equivalent act of the Parliament of England. They put into effect the international Treaty of Union agree ...

made this function redundant, but a Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been appointed each year, as the monarch's personal representative, since 1690. The right of the monarch to be present at the General Assembly is enshrined in Church of Scotland's confessional standard, the

Westminster Confession of Faith The Westminster Confession of Faith, or simply the Westminster Confession, 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 becam ...

, which says that the "civil magistrate... hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God" (XXIII.3). Prior to 1929, the General Assembly was held in the former Tolbooth Highland St John's Church on Edinburgh's

Royal Mile The Royal Mile () is the nickname of a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage. The Royal ...

(this building is no longer used as a church, instead being converted into "

The Hub The Hub may refer to: Places * The Hub, Bronx, an area of the South Bronx, New York, known for its convergence of subway and bus lines * The Hub (Edinburgh), former church in Edinburgh that is now home to the Edinburgh International Festival * T ...

" for the Edinburgh International Festival society), where a throne was provided for the use of the Lord High Commissioner. The union of the

and the

United Free Church of Scotland The United Free Church of Scotland (UF Church; , ) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland (or UP) and the Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900), majority of the 19th-cen ...

took place in 1929. Since 1930 the General Assembly has always met in the former United Free Church Assembly Hall on The Mound, Edinburgh. The Lord High Commissioner sits on the throne in the Royal Gallery, which is technically "outside" the Assembly Hall—symbolising the independence of the Church in matters spiritual from state interference. The first General Assembly of the newly united church in 1929 was held in halls in Annandale Street,

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

(now a bus garage), the only building large enough. Difficulty in accessing the Royal Gallery in this temporary location led to a seemingly trivial but nevertheless embarrassing dispute over protocol, whereby the Lord High Commissioner (the Earl of Inverness, later King

George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until Death and state funeral of George VI, his death in 1952 ...

) would have had to enter through the Assembly Hall itself—an act of symbolic state interference in the hard-won spiritual independence of the church. The Moderator, Dr John White, was adamant that this would be unacceptable, even suggesting that the post of Lord High Commissioner could be dispensed with. Ultimately, the office of Lord High Commissioner was retained following negotiations and subsequent agreements.

Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829

In 2025, the restrictions on the Lord High Commissioner being a Roman Catholic were lifted, by the passing of the (c. 9) which amended the

Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 ( 10 Geo. 4. c. 7), also known as the Catholic Emancipation Act 1829, was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that removed the sacramental tests that barred Roman Catholics in the United Kingdom f ...

( 10 Geo. 4. c. 7). The amendments were made after it was announced that Lady Elish Angiolini KC was expected to be the first Roman Catholic to be appointed to the position.

Responsibilities of office

Functions

The office has always been largely ceremonial. The person appointed invariably has a distinguished record of public service in Scotland as well as having close connections with the church, often being an Elder of the Church of Scotland. On behalf of the monarch, the Lord High Commissioner attends the General Assembly, makes opening and closing addresses to the Assembly, and carries out a number of official visits and ceremonial functions (not all related to the Church of Scotland). At the formal opening of the General Assembly, the Principal Clerk reads out the Royal Warrant appointing the Lord High Commissioner, who is then invited to address the Assembly. All ministers, elders and

deacons A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian denominations, such as the Catholi ...

appointed by Presbyteries to attend the General Assembly are known as "Commissioners" and have voting powers; the Lord High Commissioner, however, has no vote, nor may he/she intervene in debates. Apart from his/her opening and closing addresses, the Lord High Commissioner makes no further intervention in Assembly debates but will be in daily attendance for at least part of each day's business. Following the Assembly, the Lord High Commissioner personally informs The King about the business of the week. The Lord High Commissioner also visits the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland annually, which is held on the same week as the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, also within Edinburgh.

Form of address

While the General Assembly is meeting, the Lord High Commissioner is treated as if a

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

. By custom, he or she is addressed as "Your Grace" and is greeted with a bow or curtsey. When the

Princess Royal Princess Royal is a substantive title, title customarily (but not automatically) awarded by British monarchs to their eldest daughters. Although purely honorary, it is the highest honour that may be given to a female member of the royal famil ...

was appointed in 1996, she was styled as "Her Grace" for the duration rather than her normal dynastic style "Her Royal Highness" because the Lord High Commissioner is ranked higher in the order of precedence. If a woman is appointed to the office, the alternative title "His Majesty's High Commissioner" may, if requested, be used.

Margaret Herbison Margaret McCrorie Herbison (11 March 1907 – 29 December 1996) was a Scottish Labour politician who was Minister of Social Security from 1964 to 1967. Early life Herbison was born on 11 March 1907 in Shotts, Lanarkshire to Maria Jane McCr ...

was the first woman to hold the post (1970 and 1971).

Residence

Since 1834 the Lord High Commissioner has resided at the

Palace of Holyroodhouse The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly known as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood has ...

and gave a

garden party A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature f ...

for Commissioners to the General Assembly on the Saturday afternoon of Assembly week and other hospitality. He or she is entitled to use the Scottish Royal Banner, and has precedence immediately after the King and before the rest of the

Royal Family A royal family is the immediate family of monarchs and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term papal family describes the family of a pope, while th ...

. Even his or her official car receives special treatment and, except for the King's, is the only vehicle in the country not to have number plates. However, the plates are re-attached during the closing speech of the Assembly, and the Lord High Commissioner returns to his royal but temporary residence as an ordinary citizen. In recent years, the garden party has been replaced by the "Heart and Soul" event, held in Princes Street Gardens and attended by the Lord High Commissioner.

Household

There is a Household of His Grace the Lord High Commissioner. This includes the Purse Bearer (who is the head of the Household),

Chaplain A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secular institution (such as a hospital, prison, military unit, intellige ...

, Aides-de-Camp (three in 1949), a

Lady-in-Waiting A lady-in-waiting (alternatively written lady in waiting) or court lady is a female personal assistant at a Royal court, court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking nobility, noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was o ...

, Extra Lady-in-Waiting, and

Maids of Honour A maid of honour is a junior attendant of a queen in royal households. The position was and is junior to the lady-in-waiting. The equivalent title and office has historically been used in most European royal courts. Tudors and Stuarts Traditi ...

(three in 1949). The Macebearer bears the Lord President's Mace or the Old Exchequer Mace. The

Master of the Horse Master of the Horse is an official position in several European nations. It was more common when most countries in Europe were monarchies, and is of varying prominence today. (ancient Rome) The original Master of the Horse () in the Roman Rep ...

is no longer appointed. The subordinate staff further includes the Assistant to the Purse Bearer, and a Lady's Maid. The Household make no financial demands on the funds of the Church of Scotland, which are devoted exclusively to the Parish and Mission work of the

List of office holders

Lord high commissioners

*1580: The Laird of Lundie & Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich or James Halyburton *1581: William Cunningham, 4th Laird of Caprington *April 1582: Ralph Kerr *October 1582: James Halyburton & Colonel

William Stewart of Houston Sir William Stewart of Houston (c. 1540 – c. 1605) was a Scottish soldier, politician and diplomat. He is often known as "Colonel Stewart", or the Commendator of Pittenweem. Life He began his career as a soldier in the Netherlands, where he ...

*''incomplete'' *1638:

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton (19 June 1606 – 9 March 1649), known as the 3rd Marquess of Hamilton from March 1625 until April 1643, was a Scottish nobleman and influential political and military leader during the Thirty Years' War and ...

*1639: The Earl of Traquair *1640: ''none'' *1641: The Earl of Wemyss *1642: The Earl of Dunfermline *1643: Sir Thomas Hope *1644–1645: ''none'' *1646: ''Letter from the King regretting that no Commissioner could be sent'' *1647–1650: ''none'' *1651: The Earl of Balcarres *1652: ''none'' *1653: ''none'' *1653–1690: ''no General Assembly'' *1690: The Lord Carmichael *1692: The Earl of Lothian *1694–1699: The Lord Carmichael *1700: The Viscount Seafield (became an earl before serving again in 1703) *1701: The Earl of Annandale (became a marquess before serving again in 1705 and 1711) *1702: The Earl of Marchmont *1703: The Earl of Seafield (succeeded as Earl of Findlater before serving again in 1724) *1704: The Lord Ross *1705: The Marquess of Annandale *1706–1710: The 1st Earl of Glasgow *1711: The Marquess of Annandale *1712–1714: The 1st Duke of Atholl *1715–1721: The Earl of Rothes *1722: The Earl of Loudoun *1723: The 1st Earl of Hopetoun *1724: The Earl of Findlater *1725–1726: The Earl of Loudoun *1727: The Earl of Findlater *1728: The Earl of Loudoun *1729: David Erskine, 9th Earl of Buchan *1730–1731: The Earl of Loudoun *1732–1738: The Marquess of Lothian *1739–1740: The Earl of Hyndford *1741–1753: The 5th Earl of Leven *1754: The 2nd Earl of Hopetoun *1755–1763: The Lord Cathcart *1764–1772: The 3rd Earl of Glasgow *1773–1776: The Lord Cathcart *1777–1782: The Earl of Dalhousie *1783–1801: The 6th Earl of Leven *1802–1816: The Lord Napier *1817–1818: The Earl of Erroll *1819–1824: The Earl of Morton *1825–1830: The Lord Forbes *1831–1841: The Lord Belhaven and Stenton *1842–1846: The Marquess of Bute *1847–1851: The Lord Belhaven and Stenton *1852: The Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield *1853–1857: The Lord Belhaven and Stenton *1858–1859: The Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield *1860–1866: The Lord Belhaven and Stenton *1867–1868: The Earl of Haddington *1869–1871: The 10th Earl of Stair *1872–1873: The Earl of Airlie *1874–1875: The Earl of Rosslyn *1876–1877: The Earl of Galloway *1878–1880: The Earl of Rosslyn *1881–1885: The Earl of Aberdeen *1886: The Lord Thurlow *1887–1889: The 7th Earl of Hopetoun *1889–1892: The Marquess of Tweeddale *1893–1895: The Marquess of Breadalbane *1896–1897: The Marquess of Tweeddale *1898–1906: The 11th Earl of Leven *1907–1909: The 11th Lord Kinnaird *1910: The 11th Earl of Stair *1911–1914: The Lord Glenconner *1915: The Earl of Aberdeen *1916–1917: The 5th Duke of Montrose *1918–1920: The 8th Duke of Atholl *1921–1922: The Duke of Sutherland *1923: The Lord Elphinstone *1924:

James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, and record producer. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music, he is referred to by Honorific nick ...

MP (made a privy counsellor before serving again in 1930) *1925–1926: The 10th Earl of Elgin *1927–1928: The 12th Earl of Stair *1929: The Earl of Inverness *1930–1931: James Brown MP *1932: Sir Iain Colquhoun *1933–1934:

John Buchan John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (; 26 August 1875 – 11 February 1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian, British Army officer, and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation. As a ...

*1935: The Earl of St Andrews *1936–1937: Kenneth Kinnaird, 12th Lord Kinnaird *1938–1939: Lt Col Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Bt *1940–1941: Sir Iain Colquhoun *1942–1943: The 6th Duke of Montrose *1944–1945: The Marquess of Linlithgow *1946–1947: George Mathers MP (made a privy counsellor before serving again in 1948) *1948: George Mathers MP *1949: The Lord Culloden *1950: The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope *1951: George Mathers MP *1952: The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope *1953–1955: The Duke of Hamilton *1956–1957: Walter Elliot MP *1958: The Duke of Hamilton *1959–1960: The Earl of Wemyss and March *1961–1963: The Lord Culloden *1964: General Sir

Richard O'Connor General (United Kingdom), General Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor, (21 August 1889 – 17 June 1981) was a senior British Army Officer (armed forces), officer who fought in both the First World War, First and Second World Wars, and commanded the ...

*1965–1966: Lord Birsay *1967–1968: The Lord Reith *1969: '' The Queen attended in person'' *1970:

Peggy Herbison Margaret McCrorie Herbison (11 March 1907 – 29 December 1996) was a Scottish Labour politician who was Minister of Social Security from 1964 to 1967. Early life Herbison was born on 11 March 1907 in Shotts, Lanarkshire to Maria Jane McC ...

*1971–1972: The Lord Clydesmuir *1973–1974: The Lord Ballantrae *1975–1976: Sir Hector MacLennan *1977: The Earl of Wemyss and March *1978–1979: Willie Ross (former

Secretary of State for Scotland The secretary of state for Scotland (; ), also referred to as the Scottish secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Scotland Office. The incum ...

) *1980–1981: The 11th Earl of Elgin *1982–1983: Col Sir John Gilmour, 3rd Bt *1984–1985: The Lord Maclean *1986–1987: The Viscount of Arbuthnott *1988–1989: Captain Sir Iain Tennant *1990–1991:

Lord Ross The title of Lord Ross was a Lordship of Parliament in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1499 for Sir John Ross, of Halkhead. The second Lord died at the Battle of Flodden. The 12th Lord was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Renfrew in 17 ...

Lord Justice Clerk The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session. The current Lord Justice Clerk is Lord Beckett, who was appointed to the position on 4 February 2025, succeeding Lady Dorr ...

*1992–1993: The Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden *1994–1995: Lady Fraser *1996:

The Princess Royal Princess Royal is a title customarily (but not automatically) awarded by British monarchs to their eldest daughters. Although purely honorary, it is the highest honour that may be given to a female member of the royal family. There have been ...

*1997: The Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden *1998–1999: The Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld *2000: The Duke of Rothesay *2001: The Viscount Younger of Leckie *2002: '' The Queen attended in person'' *2003–2004: The Lord Steel of Aikwood *2005–2006: The Lord Mackay of Clashfern *2007: The Earl of Inverness *2008–2009:

George Reid Sir George Houston Reid (25 February 1845 – 12 September 1918) was a Scottish-born Australian and British politician, diplomat, and barrister who served as the fourth Prime Minister of Australia, prime minister of Australia from 1904 t ...

*2010–2011: The Lord Wilson of Tillyorn *2012–2013: The Lord Selkirk of Douglas *2014: The Earl of Wessex *2015–2016: The Lord Hope of Craighead *2017:

*2018–2019: The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry *2020–2021: The Earl of Strathearn (2020 Assembly cancelled due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

.) *2022–23:

Lord Hodge Patrick Stewart Hodge, Lord Hodge, PC (born 19 May 1953) is a Scottish judge, currently serving as Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Early life Hodge was educated at Croftinloan School, a private junior boarding sch ...

*2024: The Duke of Edinburgh *2025: Lady Elish Angiolini

List of purse bearers

*c.1930: (Sir) John Charles Couper *1930–1958: Lt Col Sir Edward Daymonde-Stevenson *1959–1960: David Charles Scott-Moncrieff *1961–1969: Sir Alastair Blair *1969–1988: Sir Charles Fraser *1988–2001:

Robin Blair Robin Orr Blair, CVO, WS (born 1 January 1940), former Lord Lyon King of Arms of Scotland, is a retired solicitor, and was a partner with Dundas & Wilson CS and later with Turcan Connell. From 1988 until his appointment as Lord Lyon, he held ...

*2001–present: Tom Murray

Notes

References

External links

Church of Scotland website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lord High Commissioner To The General Assembly Of The Church Of Scotland British monarchy-related lists Church of Scotland