Congregationalism in Scotland emerged at the end of the 18th century as a result of a revival of religion and as a protest against the formalism and authority of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The Congregational Union was founded in 1813.

In the 1840's a number of churches came into being in response to the preaching of James Morison, in which he challenged the Calvinist beliefs of the Church of Scotland. He proclaimed instead the great universalities of the Gospel ... God loves all men and women; Christ died for all men and women; the Holy Spirit strives with all men and women. Whosoever will may come. These Churches formed the Evangelical Union and adopted the Congregational form of church order. In 1897, these two streams merged in the first church union of modern times.

In the 20th century, moves towards organic union increased in Scotland as they had done in England and in 1993, the Congregational Union decided to become a church, thus opening the way to organic union with the U.R.C. However, as in England, there emerged in Scotland a considerable number of churches who disagreed with the abandonment of the Congregational principle. A third of the churches decided not to enter the new Church and were received into the Congregational Federation in 1994.

There are currently thirty six Churches which make up the Scottish Area of the Federation. To see a list of these churches, click here.