ABSTRACT
Buchanan became involved in the conflicts that led to the Disruption of 1843, in which many prominent figures left the Church of Scotland and formed the Free Church of Scotland. Buchanan took a leading role in the new movement. Buchanan compared the situation in Glasgow to his perception of France and warned that without significant change, Glasgow might come to resemble Paris. Amidst rapid population growth, church construction lagged. Fearful as such a state of things is in looking to the past, it becomes still more fearful in looking to the future. The congregations that carry on these missionary operations incur, in upholding them, an annual expense of nearly L.600 a year. The parish, as the Presbytery is aware, is one dense block of buildings – a solid square. The inhabitants, in consequence, are few, occupying chiefly the upper stories of the houses.
