James V died in 1542 and was succeeded by his daughter, the six day old Mary, Queen of Scots. His widow, Mary of Guise, served as regent of Scotland and with the help of France preserved the Roman Catholic faith in Scotland. This was despite the growing influence of John Knox and his followers for a Protestant Scotland, supported latterly by Elizabeth I of England.
When Mary of Guise died in June 1560, the Parliament of Scotland set to work and on 24 August 1560 passed legislation that abolished the old faith, replacing it with the Reformed. The Pope’s jurisdiction in Scotland ceased and the celebration of Mass made punishable, ultimately by death. John Knox led a great service of thanksgiving in Edinburgh’s High Kirk, St Giles’.
On Sunday 23 May 2010 in the General Assembly Hall in Edinburgh there is to be a Special Session of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to mark the 450th anniversary of the Scottish Reformation.
This will include worship (making good use of the Reformation psalms), special music from the choir and orchestra of Hyndland School, Glasgow (where the Moderator was previously chaplain), readings from the records of the Scottish Parliament of August 1560 and from the records of the first General Assembly held in 1560.
There will also be historical input with an exhibition (all week in New College Foyer) and reflections on the influence of the Reformation on education, as well as Scottish life and culture more generally.