Scottish ecclesiastical reform

Scottish ecclesiastical reform refers to efforts in Scotland, especially during the 16th century, to change and purify the church. Influenced by the Protestant Reformation, reforms aimed to reduce the power of the Catholic Church, eliminate corruption, and promote religious practices aligned with new Protestant ideas. These changes led to the establishment of the Church of Scotland as a Protestant church independent of papal authority. The reform also involved reorganizing church governance, promoting vernacular worship, and encouraging literacy to enable people to read the Bible themselves. Overall, it was a movement to renew religious life and align church practices with evolving theological perspectives.