Religion in McCreary Family History

Religion wasn't just something the McCreary family practiced on Sundays—it shaped every aspect of their lives, from the clothes they wore to the countries they lived in, and even the wars they fought. Understanding the McCreary family's religious history means understanding Presbyterianism, and why this particular form of Christianity became so important to Scottish families who moved to Ireland and eventually to America.

About Presbyterianism

What is Presbyterianism?

Presbyterianism is a type of Protestant Christianity that began during the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s. The name comes from the Greek word "presbyteros," which means "elder." This is important because it describes how Presbyterian churches are organized: they're governed by elected elders from the congregation rather than by bishops or a single authority figure.

To understand what made Presbyterianism special, it helps to understand what other churches were like at the time. In the 1500s, most of Europe was Catholic, meaning the Roman Catholic Church controlled religion. The Pope in Rome was the ultimate religious authority, and bishops controlled local churches. In 1534, England broke away from Catholicism and created the Anglican Church (Church of England), but it still kept bishops in charge.

Presbyterians took a different approach. They believed each congregation should elect its own leaders, called elders or presbyters, who would make decisions together. No single person—not a bishop or pope—should control the church. This idea was revolutionary in the 1500s and reflected a more democratic way of organizing religious communities.

Key Beliefs of Presbyterians

Presbyterian beliefs were heavily influenced by John Calvin, a French theologian who worked in Geneva, Switzerland, and by John Knox, a Scottish minister who brought these ideas to Scotland in the 1560s.

Education and Literacy Presbyterians believed that every person should be able to read the Bible for themselves. This wasn't common in the 1500s—most people couldn't read, and church services were often in Latin, which ordinary people didn't understand. Presbyterians held services in the language people actually spoke (English in America, Gaelic in Scotland) and believed everyone should learn to read. This emphasis on education meant that Scottish Presbyterian communities built schools wherever they settled, from Ulster to the American frontier.

Covenant Theology Covenant theology is the idea that the relationship between God and people is like a contract or agreement. Both sides have responsibilities and rights. This might sound simple, but it had huge political implications. If God's relationship with people was based on mutual agreement, then governments should work the same way—rulers and citizens should have mutual obligations to each other.

When rulers broke their side of the agreement by being tyrants, Presbyterians believed people had the right to resist. This theological idea helped inspire the American Revolution. Many Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, including McCreary family members, strongly supported independence because their religion taught them that unjust authority could—and should—be challenged.

Simplicity in Worship Presbyterian churches were plain compared to Catholic or Anglican churches. There were no elaborate decorations, statues, or stained glass windows. Presbyterians believed worship should focus on preaching the Bible and prayer, not on visual spectacle. This simplicity reflected their belief that fancy decorations distracted from true worship.

The Kirk In Scotland, the Presbyterian Church was called "the Kirk" (Scots word for "church"). After the Scottish Reformation of 1560, Presbyterianism became Scotland's official religion. The Kirk wasn't just a place to worship—it was the center of community life. The Kirk kept records of births, marriages, and deaths. Kirk elders enforced moral standards in the community. Kirk schools educated children. When Scottish families moved to Ulster and then to America, they recreated this system, building Presbyterian churches as the foundation of their new communities.

Comparison with Other Religions

To understand why the McCreary family's Presbyterian faith mattered so much, you need to understand how it differed from other Christian denominations they encountered. Religious differences weren't just about theology—they determined who could own land, hold political office, and live in certain areas.

Catholics

The biggest religious divide in the McCreary family's history was between Protestants and Catholics. This divide shaped centuries of conflict in Scotland, Ireland, and even influenced American politics.

Core Differences While both Catholics and Presbyterians are Christians who follow the Bible, they disagree on several key points:

Authority: Catholics believe the Pope is the head of the church and has authority to interpret the Bible and make religious rules. Presbyterians reject the Pope's authority and believe only the Bible should guide faith, with each congregation governing itself through elected elders.
Salvation: Catholics believe salvation comes through faith plus participation in church sacraments (like communion, confession, and baptism) administered by priests. Presbyterians believe salvation comes through faith alone—you can't earn salvation through rituals or good works.
Church Hierarchy: The Catholic Church has a strict hierarchy: Pope, cardinals, bishops, priests, and laypeople. Presbyterian churches are organized more democratically, with elected elders making decisions together.
Religious Services: Catholic Mass was traditionally in Latin with elaborate ceremonies, incense, and ornamentation. Presbyterian services were in the local language with emphasis on Bible reading and preaching, with little ceremony or decoration.

Historical Conflict The Protestant Reformation in the 1500s created a permanent split between Catholics and Protestants across Europe. In Britain and Ireland, this split became violent and political:

In Scotland: Scotland became officially Presbyterian in 1560. Highland clans were sometimes Catholic, while Lowlanders (including many McCreary ancestors) were Presbyterian. This religious divide contributed to conflicts within Scotland.
In Ireland: Ireland remained predominantly Catholic, even after English conquest. When Protestant Scots (including McCrearys) settled in Ulster during the Ulster Plantation starting in 1609, they received land confiscated from Catholic Irish families. This created lasting resentment.
The Irish Rebellion of 1641: Ulster Catholics rose up against Protestant settlers, killing thousands. Protestant accounts (some exaggerated) spread throughout Scotland and England, creating fear and hatred that lasted for generations.
Williamite War (1689-1691): When Catholic King James II tried to reclaim his throne, Irish Catholics supported him while Ulster Protestants (including Presbyterian Scots) supported William of Orange. William's victories at the Battle of the Boyne (1690) and the Siege of Derry (1689) secured Protestant dominance in Ireland.
Penal Laws: After William's victory, Ireland imposed Penal Laws (1691-1760s) that stripped Catholics of nearly all rights. Catholics couldn't own land, vote, hold office, carry weapons, practice law, or attend university. These harsh laws kept Catholics poor and powerless for generations.

For McCreary families living in Ulster, being Protestant (even though they faced their own discrimination as Presbyterians) meant they had rights and opportunities that Catholic neighbors did not. This created a deeply divided society based on religion.

In America When McCreary families came to America in the 1700s, they brought this history with them. However, the American colonies (and later the United States) were more religiously diverse and tolerant. While Scotch-Irish Presbyterians sometimes clashed with Catholic immigrants in the 1800s, American society didn't have the same level of religious conflict as Ireland. The U.S. Constitution's guarantee of religious freedom was a dramatic change from the religious persecution McCreary ancestors had experienced in Ireland.

Anglicans

While Catholics were the primary "other" in Ireland, Anglicans were the McCreary family's main opponents within the Protestant community.

What is Anglicanism? The Anglican Church (Church of England) was created in 1534 when King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church. Anglicanism kept much of Catholic structure and ceremony but rejected the Pope's authority. The monarch of England became the head of the church.

Key Differences from Presbyterianism Both Anglicans and Presbyterians are Protestant, but they disagreed on important issues:

Church Governance: Anglican churches are organized hierarchically with bishops appointed by higher authorities (ultimately the monarch). Presbyterian churches are governed democratically by elected elders. This was a fundamental disagreement—Presbyterians saw bishops as unbiblical and authoritarian.
Ceremony and Tradition: Anglican services retained more Catholic-style ceremony, vestments, and liturgy. Presbyterian services were simpler and more focused on Bible preaching.
Relationship with Government: The Anglican Church was the official "established" church in England and Ireland, supported by taxes and tied to the government. Presbyterians believed church and state should be separate.

Discrimination in Ireland In Ireland, the Anglican Church was the official church, even though most of the population was either Catholic or Presbyterian. This created what Ulster Scots called "double discrimination":

The Test Acts required anyone holding government office, teaching school, or serving as an officer in the military to take communion in an Anglican church. This meant Presbyterian Scots in Ulster couldn't hold these positions unless they compromised their beliefs.
Presbyterian marriages weren't legally recognized unless performed by Anglican clergy, making children from Presbyterian marriages technically illegitimate.
Presbyterians had to pay taxes to support Anglican churches even though they attended Presbyterian churches and paid for Presbyterian ministers separately.

This discrimination was less severe than what Catholics faced, but it was still frustrating. Ulster Scots had come to Ireland as loyal Protestant settlers helping England control Catholic Ireland. They expected to be rewarded, but instead the Anglican establishment treated them as second-class Protestants.

Reasons for Emigration Discrimination by the Anglican establishment was one major reason McCreary families and other Ulster Scots emigrated to America. In letters and records from the time, immigrants specifically mentioned religious discrimination as a reason for leaving. One minister wrote in 1728 that his entire congregation wanted to emigrate because "they are hardly allowed the liberty of their consciences."

In America, there was no established Anglican hierarchy in most colonies, and Presbyterians could worship freely, build their own churches, hold office, and participate fully in society. This religious freedom was enormously appealing.

Other Protestant Denominations

In America, McCreary families encountered many Protestant denominations they hadn't known in Scotland or Ulster:

Baptists

Baptists believed in adult baptism (waiting until a person is old enough to choose faith for themselves) rather than infant baptism. They also emphasized complete independence of each congregation—even more decentralized than Presbyterian governance. Baptists became numerous on the American frontier alongside Presbyterians.

Methodists

Methodism began in England in the 1700s as a movement within Anglicanism, emphasizing personal religious experience and emotional worship. Methodists sent traveling preachers to frontier areas, competing with Presbyterian ministers for converts. Methodist services were more emotional and less formal than Presbyterian services.

Quakers

The Society of Friends (Quakers) believed in direct personal experience of God without ministers, formal services, or established hierarchy. They practiced pacifism and opposed slavery early on. Quakers founded Pennsylvania, where many Scotch-Irish Presbyterians first landed, but the two groups were quite different in religious style.

Lutherans

Martin Luther founded Lutheranism in Germany in the 1500s as part of the Protestant Reformation, but it's a different tradition from Presbyterianism. Lutherans in America were primarily German or Scandinavian immigrants. McCreary families would have had little interaction with Lutheran communities, as they settled in different regions and spoke different languages. Over time many McCreary families married people from Lutherans communities and the communities started to overlap.

Religious Diversity in America The important point is that America was far more religiously diverse than Ulster or Scotland. While McCreary families maintained their Presbyterian identity and built Presbyterian churches wherever they settled, they lived alongside people of many faiths. This diversity, combined with America's principle of religious freedom, created a very different religious environment than the Old World's conflicts between Catholics, Anglicans, and Presbyterians.

Timeline of Key Religious Events

Understanding when major religious events happened helps explain the McCreary family's history:

c. 400 BCE - 400 CE - Celtic polytheistic religions dominate Scotland and Ireland. Ancient Celts worship multiple gods associated with nature, warfare, and fertility. Druids serve as priests, judges, and keepers of oral traditions. Sacred sites include stone circles, groves, and ritual wells. Religious practices center on seasonal festivals (Samhain, Beltane, Lughnasadh, Imbolc) that would later influence Christian holy days. This polytheistic worldview emphasizes connection to the land and cycles of nature.

432 - St. Patrick brings Christianity to Ireland. Patrick, a former slave who escaped Britain, returns to Ireland as a Christian missionary, establishing churches, monasteries, and schools throughout the island. Irish Christianity develops distinctive features, including a strong monastic tradition and emphasis on missionary work. Unlike much of Europe where Christianity spreads through Roman imperial power, Ireland adopts Christianity peacefully through persuasion.

c. 500 - The Scots (originally from Ireland) migrate to western Scotland, bringing Christianity and establishing the Kingdom of Dál Riata. They introduce Christianity, the Gaelic language, and Irish cultural traditions to Scotland. This migration is pivotal in Christianizing the Pictish peoples of Scotland.

563 - Irish monk St. Columba founds Iona Monastery, which becomes the center for Christianizing Scotland. From Iona, monks spread Christianity throughout Scotland, converting Pictish kings and establishing churches and monasteries. Iona becomes a major center of learning, art (including the famous Book of Kells), and missionary activity. The Celtic Christian tradition established by Columba emphasizes monasticism, scholarship, and missionary work.

664 - Synod of Whitby: Church leaders decide to follow Roman Catholic practices rather than Celtic Christian traditions, gradually bringing Scotland and Ireland into alignment with Rome. While the decision favors Roman practices, Celtic monasticism and scholarship remain influential. This marks the beginning of closer ties with the Catholic Church centered in Rome—a Catholic tradition that would dominate until the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s.

843 - Kenneth MacAlpin unites the Picts and Scots to create the Kingdom of Scotland, which remains Catholic. The Catholic Church becomes deeply embedded in Scottish political and social life.

1534 - English Reformation begins when Henry VIII breaks with the Catholic Church and establishes the Church of England (Anglican). This starts centuries of religious conflict in Britain and Ireland.

1560 - Scottish Reformation establishes Presbyterianism as Scotland's official religion under John Knox's leadership. The Kirk (Presbyterian Church of Scotland) becomes the center of Scottish religious and social life.

1609-1620s - Ulster Plantation brings Presbyterian Scots (including McCreary families) to northern Ireland to settle on land confiscated from Catholic Irish. These settlers establish Presbyterian churches and communities in Ulster.

1618 - Presbyterian Church formally organized in Ulster, providing religious structure for Scottish settlers.

1638 - Scottish Presbyterians sign the National Covenant, pledging to resist Anglican religious practices imposed by King Charles I. This demonstrates Presbyterian resistance to religious authority they see as unbiblical.

1641 - Irish Rebellion sees Ulster Catholics attack Protestant settlers. Thousands die, creating trauma and fear in the Protestant community that lasts for generations. This violence deepens the religious divide in Ireland.

1649-1653 - Oliver Cromwell brutally conquers Ireland, crushing Catholic resistance with massacres at Drogheda and Wexford. Massive land confiscations transfer ownership from Catholics to Protestants, securing Protestant control but creating lasting bitterness.

1660-1688 - After the Stuart Restoration, Presbyterian Scots in Scotland and Ulster face persecution for refusing to accept Episcopal (bishop-led) church governance. The "Killing Times" in Scotland see Covenanters imprisoned and executed.

1689 - Siege of Derry: Ulster Protestants (including Presbyterian Scots) withstand a 105-day siege by Catholic forces. Their refusal to surrender becomes a defining moment of Ulster Protestant identity. "No Surrender" becomes their motto.

1690 - Battle of the Boyne: Protestant William of Orange defeats Catholic James II, securing Protestant political control of Ireland for the next two centuries.

1691-1760s - Penal Laws strip Irish Catholics of nearly all civil rights. While primarily targeting Catholics, Test Acts also discriminate against Presbyterian dissenters, preventing them from holding government office or teaching school unless they conform to Anglicanism.

1717-1775 - Great emigration of Ulster Scots (including McCreary families) to America. Religious discrimination by Anglican authorities is a major push factor. Between 100,000-150,000 Ulster Scots come to America, where they can practice their Presbyterian faith freely and participate fully in society.

1776-1783 - American Revolution: Scotch-Irish Presbyterians (including McCreary family members) are strong supporters of independence. Their covenant theology, which emphasized rights and resistance to tyranny, aligns with revolutionary ideals. Presbyterian ministers often preach in favor of independence. King George III of England reportedly called the Revolution "a Presbyterian rebellion."

1780 - Battle of Kings Mountain: Scotch-Irish Presbyterian frontiersmen (called "Overmountain Men") defeat a British force in a pivotal Revolutionary War battle. This victory demonstrates Presbyterian commitment to American independence.

1789 - U.S. Constitution guarantees religious freedom in the First Amendment. This is a dramatic change from the religious persecution and discrimination McCreary ancestors experienced in Scotland and Ireland. America's religious freedom becomes a defining difference from the Old World.

1800s - McCreary families and other Scotch-Irish Presbyterians build churches throughout the American frontier in Pennsylvania, Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Kentucky. These churches serve as community centers, schools, and social hubs, recreating the role the Kirk played in Scotland.

The McCreary Family and Presbyterianism

For the McCreary family, Presbyterianism wasn't just a Sunday activity—it was a defining identity that shaped where they lived, whom they married, and how they understood the world.

Presbyterian Identity Through Migration

In Scotland (before 1600s) Before the Ulster Plantation, McCreary ancestors in Scotland were part of the Presbyterian Kirk community. After the Scottish Reformation of 1560 established Presbyterianism as Scotland's national religion, the Kirk became central to Scottish life. Villages were organized around the Kirk. Ministers were important community leaders. Kirk records documented births, marriages, and deaths—the only official records that existed.

The McCreary name itself (Mac Ruaidhri in Gaelic, meaning "son of Ruaidhri") indicates Scottish Gaelic-speaking ancestry, though by the 1600s most Lowland Scots spoke English or Scots rather than Gaelic.

In Ulster, Ireland (1600s-1700s) When McCreary families moved to Ulster as part of the Plantation (starting around 1609-1610), they brought their Presbyterian faith with them. In Ulster, their religion served multiple purposes:

Community Identity: Presbyterian churches helped Scottish settlers maintain their distinct identity, separate from both Irish Catholics and English Anglicans. Speaking English, attending Presbyterian services, and living in planned settlements marked them as different from the native Irish population.
Social Organization: Presbyterian congregations provided social structure in a new and sometimes hostile environment. The church organized mutual aid, resolved disputes, educated children, and maintained moral standards.
Political Solidarity: When Catholics rebelled in 1641 and attacked Protestant settlers, Presbyterian Scots banded together for protection. When they faced discrimination from Anglican authorities through the Test Acts, their shared Presbyterian identity united them in grievance.
Education: Presbyterian emphasis on literacy and education meant Ulster Scots communities had higher literacy rates than surrounding Catholic areas. This gave them economic advantages and helped them maintain their religious and cultural traditions.

However, Ulster was not an easy place for Presbyterians. They faced "double discrimination"—resented by Catholics for taking their land, and discriminated against by Anglican authorities who controlled the government. This tension would eventually drive many Ulster Scots, including McCrearys, to emigrate.

Coming to America (1700s)

When McCreary families began arriving in America (first documented in 1718, with major waves continuing through the 1700s), their Presbyterian identity remained central:

Building Churches First

One of the first things Scotch-Irish Presbyterian communities did in America was build a church. Even when living in rough log cabins on the frontier, they would organize a congregation, call a minister, and establish a church. These weren't elaborate buildings—often just simple log structures—but they served as community centers.

In Pennsylvania's Cumberland Valley, Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, and the Carolinas backcountry, Presbyterian churches marked Scotch-Irish settlements. McCreary families were part of these congregations, serving as elders, supporting ministers, and maintaining the faith practices they'd brought from Ulster.

Education and Schools**

Following Presbyterian tradition, these communities established schools, often run by the Presbyterian church. Ministers often served as teachers. This commitment to education meant that Scotch-Irish communities had relatively high literacy rates, even on the frontier.

Marriage and Family McCreary families typically married other Presbyterians from Scotch-Irish backgrounds. Marriage within the community helped maintain religious and cultural traditions. Presbyterian ministers performed marriages and baptisms, keeping records that now help genealogists trace family histories.

Revolutionary Spirit Presbyterian covenant theology—the idea that relationships are based on mutual obligations and that tyranny should be resisted—aligned perfectly with American revolutionary ideals. Many historians have noted that Scotch-Irish Presbyterians were disproportionately strong supporters of American independence. Some have even called the Revolution a "Presbyterian rebellion."

McCreary family members who fought in the Continental Army or militia units during the Revolution (1775-1783) were following both political conviction and religious principle. Their faith taught them that unjust authority could be resisted, and British taxation without representation seemed exactly like the kind of tyranny their covenant theology opposed.

Frontier Life As McCreary families moved west into Kentucky and Tennessee in the late 1700s and early 1800s, they continued to establish Presbyterian churches. In McCreary County, Kentucky (established 1912 and named for Governor James B. McCreary), Presbyterian churches were part of the community fabric, continuing a tradition that stretched back through Ulster to Scotland.

Presbyterian Heritage Today

The Presbyterian faith shaped the McCreary family in lasting ways:

Education: The Presbyterian emphasis on literacy and education created a family culture that valued learning. Many descendants pursued education beyond what was typical for their time and place.
Democratic Values: Presbyterian church governance by elected elders, rather than hierarchical authority, aligned with American democratic ideals and contributed to American political culture.
Independence: The frontier individualism often associated with Scotch-Irish culture was reinforced by Presbyterian theology that emphasized personal Bible reading and individual conscience.
Community Service: The Presbyterian tradition of church elders serving their communities created a pattern of civic engagement. Many McCreary descendants served in public office, education, ministry, and community leadership.

While not all McCreary descendants remain Presbyterian today—families diversify religiously over generations—the Presbyterian heritage remains an important part of understanding the family's history and the values that shaped their journey from Scotland through Ulster to the American frontier.

Conclusion

Today religion does not play the same role that it did when McCreary families migrated from Ireland and Scotland to the US. In Scotland today (2025) less than 4% of the population attend a church service every week.

Religion was never just a private matter for the McCreary family. Their Presbyterian faith determined where they could live, what opportunities they had, whom they married, and even which wars they fought. It connected them to a tradition stretching from John Knox's Scotland through Ulster's plantation to America's frontier.

Understanding this religious history helps explain why the McCrearys and other Scotch-Irish families moved across oceans and continents, built churches before they built comfortable homes, and fought passionately for independence. Their faith wasn't separate from their daily lives—it was the lens through which they understood everything else.

The story of the McCreary family is, in many ways, the story of Presbyterianism's journey from Scotland to America, and how this particular form of Christianity shaped not just individuals but entire communities and ultimately American culture itself.

References

Here are some references for you to learn more about the role of religion in McCreary family history. We have attempted to find resources that are appropriate for high-school students that are studying family history.

The Presbyterian Heritage - Presbyterian Mission Agency - An accessible introduction to Presbyterian beliefs, history, and church governance. Explains the democratic structure and Reformed theology that shaped Scotch-Irish communities. Relevant for understanding the religious foundation of McCreary family identity.
Scotland's Reformation - BBC Bitesize - Student-friendly overview of the Scottish Reformation of 1560, John Knox, and the establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland. Includes timelines and key facts. Essential background for understanding why McCreary ancestors were Presbyterian.
The Ulster Plantation - BBC Bitesize - Clear explanation of the Ulster Plantation (1609-1620s) and its religious dimensions. Covers why Scottish Presbyterians moved to Ireland and the religious conflicts that resulted. Directly relevant to McCreary family migration from Scotland to Ulster.
Celtic Christianity and St. Columba - Britannica - Biographical article on St. Columba and his role in Christianizing Scotland through the monastery at Iona. Accessible reading level with historical context about early Christianity in Scotland and Ireland.
St. Patrick: History vs. Legend - History.com - Separates historical facts from legends about St. Patrick's mission to Ireland. Explains how Christianity came to Ireland peacefully and developed distinctive Irish characteristics. Good background on pre-Presbyterian Christian traditions in Ireland.
The Scotch-Irish in America - PBS Antiques Roadshow - Brief, readable article on Scotch-Irish immigration to America, their Presbyterian faith, and role in the American Revolution. Connects religious identity to settlement patterns and political beliefs relevant to McCreary family history.
Religious Freedom in Colonial America - Library of Congress - Overview of religious diversity and freedom in colonial America, explaining why it attracted persecuted groups like Ulster Presbyterians. Helps students understand the contrast between Old World religious conflict and New World religious tolerance.
Ancient Celtic Religion - World History Encyclopedia - Student-friendly article on pre-Christian Celtic polytheism, druids, and sacred sites. Provides context for understanding what existed before Christianity arrived in Scotland and Ireland. Good background for the timeline's earliest events.
Presbyterians and the American Revolution - Pennsylvania History Journal - Academic but accessible article on why Presbyterians strongly supported American independence. Explains covenant theology's political implications. Relevant to understanding McCreary family participation in the Revolution.
The Kirk: Church of Scotland History - Church of Scotland - Official history of the Kirk from the Reformation to present, written for general audiences. Explains the role of the Kirk in Scottish community life, education, and record-keeping. Shows the institutional foundation McCreary families brought to Ulster and America.
Scotland's Declining Church Attendance - 2021 - BBC News - Report on the sharp decline in church attendance in Scotland, where less than 4% of the population now attends weekly services. Provides context for understanding how dramatically the role of religion has changed in Scotland since the McCreary family's Presbyterian ancestors made faith central to daily life. Includes statistics and analysis of secularization trends.

Additional Resources

For students interested in deeper research:

Local Presbyterian Church Archives - Many Presbyterian churches where McCreary families settled maintain historical records, including membership rolls, baptisms, and marriages. Contact churches in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Family History Centers - The FamilySearch.org website provides free access to Presbyterian church records, which often provide the best documentation of Scotch-Irish family histories.
National Library of Scotland - Digital collections include materials on the Scottish Reformation, Kirk records, and emigration history relevant to understanding Scottish Presbyterian culture.