ABSTRACT
The marriage with a deceased wife's sister (MDWS) controversy finds much to support Boyd's conclusion that the Presbyterian clergy were both compassionate and repressive in their attitude towards sexuality. In the mid-nineteenth century, the Presbyterian churches were conservative in their approach. Many, despite the legacy of the Enlightenment, continued to be preoccupied with policing women's sexuality. Far from being moderate in their approach, the Scottish clergy staunchly opposed a more liberal approach to marriage law in favour of an early modern interpretation of selective biblical passages, in contrast with Presbyterian churches in the colonies which had less cultural, legal and historical baggage than their Scottish counterparts. By the third quarter of the century, the churches had become much more progressive in response to a range of theological, social, cultural and international developments. The Scotland should have featured little in the final consideration to legalise MDWS should come as no great surprise.
