A CHARITY which promotes rationality and science over “dogmatic religion” has become the largest marriage ceremony provider in the country.

The Humanist Society Scotland overtook the Church of Scotland for the first time last year, conducting 3280 marriages, despite humanist weddings only becoming legal in 2005.

The Society’s celebrants leapfrogged the Kirk’s ministers thanks to an eight per cent increase in ceremonies in 2017, compared to a 14 per cent fall in the Church’s marriages.

The figures were released by the National Records of Scotland as part of their annual round up demographic trends in Scotland.

The statistics confirmed a long-term collapse in religious services in Scotland, with exactly half of the 28,440 marriages last year being civil ceremonies.

In 1975, the Kirk conducted 16,849 marriages, the largest number by any organisation, and more than the 13,906 civil ceremonies that year.

However last year, Church of Scotland marriages were down to 3166, compared to the Humanist Society Scotland’s 3283.

There were 1182 Roman Catholic marriages last year, compared to 6,002 in 1975.

Although humanist weddings of all varieties have eclipsed religious weddings for several years, 2017 was the first with the HSS as the biggest single provider.

Former Socialist MSP and convicted perjurer Tommy Sheridan recently announced he is training to be a humanist celebrant.

Lynsey Kidd, HSS director of services, said: "These latest statistics are a major vote of confidence in the charity's meaningful and personal ceremonies.

“We know from couples that it is very important to them to have a ceremony which reflects, and is delivered by someone who shares their beliefs and values.

“Humanist Society Scotland are now the number one provider of marriage ceremonies, more than any religious group or other belief body.

"These numbers also reflect a wider trend of a decline in religious identity within the Scottish population. While it is important to recognise that faith plays an important part in a significant number of people's lives, Scotland has become a nation where it is now the the norm, not the exception, to have a non-religious Humanist approach to life."

Rev Norman Smith, convener of the Mission and Discipleship Council of the Church of Scotland, said: “Along with our sister churches, the majority of religious or belief–based marriages in Scotland today continue to be from the Christian faith.

“Whilst the rise of secularism means that fewer people may choose a religious ceremony, many people still find it meaningful to acknowledge the place of faith in their lives at such an important occasion.

“We would encourage anyone considering marriage to approach their local parish minister when thinking about their very special day.”