Bishop David Chillingworth has been elected Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. In accepting, he said an open and secular society was one in which smaller churches could make a distinct and constructive contribution.

Churches across Scotland were among those who joined in celebrations across the nation to mark yesterday's 250th anniversary of the birth of national poet Robert Burns.

Chancellor Gordon Brown has been jointly challenged by Catholic and Protestant leaders in Scotland to cut back spending on nuclear weapons and to focus on aid, trade and debt targets.

Catholic Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen is the latest church leader to appeal to Scotland’s Christians to write to their MPs in opposition to the planned renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system. Christian leaders across Britain are also calling for concerted debate and action.