scotland. A body formed in 1847 by the union of the [[United Secession Church]]* and the [[Relief Church]],* representing respectively the main bodies of the first secession (1733) and the second secession (1761) from the [[Church of Scotland]].* The union was not effected without difficulty, for the two churches differed considerably in nature. The former had a strictness of ecclesiastical discipline whereas the latter was more broadly evangelical and laxer in doctrine and discipline by the standards of the times. The [[United Presbyterian Church]] had 518 congregations and was largely confined to the cities and towns. In 1900 it united with the [[Free Church of Scotland]]* to form the United Free Church.* Among its contributions to the Christian cause was its zeal for missionary work in Calabar (now Nigeria) and India.