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

The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the personal representative of the British monarch at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (the Kirk), which shows the monarch's role as protector and member of the Church as the national church of Scotland.

History

The Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland was named 1603-1707 as personal representative of the monarch at the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland. The Act of Union in 1707 made ​​this function obsolete. However, a Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland each year was appointed as the personal representative of the sovereign has been since 1690.

Before 1929, the General Assembly met in the old Tolbooth Highland St John 's Church in Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Where a throne was provided for the High Commissioner. After the union of the Church of Scotland with the United Free Church of Scotland in 1929, the General Assembly met (since 1930) always in the former assembly hall of the United Free Church, The Mound. The High Commissioner is sitting on a throne in the Royal Gallery, outside the Assembly Hall is but spatially - as a symbol of the independence of the Church in spiritual questions about state intervention. The first meeting of the new United Church in 1929 was held in rooms in Annandale Street, Edinburgh (now a bus depot ), the only building that was large enough for the congregation. A trivial protocol dispute over access to the Royal Gallery in this temporary gathering place almost led to the abolition of the title. The Lord High Commissioner (. Duke of York, later King George VI) would have had to go through the conference hall of the Royal Gallery - a symbolic act of state intervention in the hard-won spiritual independence of the Church. The former presenter Dr. John White found this unacceptable and even suggested that the office could be abolished altogether. Finally, a consensus was reached on this question and the Office of the High Commissioner remained.

Assembly building

Functions

The Office has largely ceremonial character. The appointees to always have a connection to the public sector in Scotland, or a close connection to the Church of Scotland. On behalf of the monarch by the High Commissioner in meetings of the General Assembly shall, open, decision of the Assembly and performs a series of official visits and ceremonial functions that are not exclusively associated with the Church of Scotland. At the opening ceremony of the General Assembly of the Principal Clerk read out from the Royal letter of appointment, the appointment of the new High Commissioner. This will be invited to address the meeting. All representatives present to the General Assembly are called " commissioners " and have voting rights. The High Commissioner has no voice, nor can he engage in debates.

Apart from the opening and closing speech, he has no role, but he is always present. After the meeting, he personally informed the monarch of the sessions of the meeting week.

Salutation

During the General Assembly of the High Commissioner is treated as personal representative of the monarch like this. He is addressed as Your Grace and addressed with a bow or curtsy to. Was appointed as Princess Anne in 1996, she was addressed as Your Grace for the duration of the Office as the Office of Protocol Aryan hierarchy in Scotland ranked higher than her title Her Royal Highness.

If a woman is appointed, the Office of the alternative title of Her Majesty's High Commissioner may be used. Margaret Herbison was the first woman in this office (1970 & 1971).

Residence

Since 1834 the residence of the High Commissioner in the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse and Scottish are there for members of the General Assembly on Saturday afternoon the meeting week, a garden party. He is entitled to use the Royal Scottish banner. Even the official car gets a special treatment and, with the exception of that of the queen the only vehicle in the country without license plates. However, the signs are attached again during the closing meeting and the High Commissioner mounts the car as an ordinary citizen.

Household

There is a budget of His Excellency the High Commissioner. This includes the head of the house the Purse Bearer ( Treasurer), a chaplain, Aides -de- Camp ( Adjudenten ), a Lady- in - Waiting ( maid ), Extraordinary Lady- in - Waiting, and Maids of Honour ( maids of honor ). The rod carrier bears the Lord President 's Office staff or the old Chancellor of the Exchequer Office staff. A Master of the Horse ( equerry ) is no longer called. The subordinate staff shall also include the Assistant to the Treasurer and a maid.

List of Treasurer

  • Tom Murray, WS, since 2001
  • Robin Blair, LVO WS, 1988-2001
  • Sir Charles Fraser, KCVO, 1969-1988
  • Sir Alastair Blair, KCVO TD JP WS, 1961-1969
  • D.C. Scott Moncreiff, CVO TD WS, 1959-1960
  • Sir Edward Daymonde - Stevenson, KCVO MC, 1930-1958

List of Lords High Commissioner

Incomplete

References and links

  • Website of the Church of Scotland
  • British Monarchy
  • Christianity in Scotland
Acts of Union 1707 Military Cross George Ramsay, 8th Earl of Dalhousie George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington Prince George, Duke of Kent David Charteris, 12th Earl of Wemyss Order of St. Michael and St. George Royal Victorian Order Distinguished Service Order Willie Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock Norman Macfarlane, Baron Macfarlane of Bearsden David Steel James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern Prince Andrew, Duke of York George Reid (Scottish politician) David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn James Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of Douglas Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
529125
de