Scotland’s church leaders should “stop living in denial” about the state of Christianity, the Free Church Moderator has said in his Easter message.

Rev David Robertson, the Free Kirk Moderator, also challenged research commissioned by the Church of Scotland which claimed attendance of Sunday services is not an accurate indicator of Christian belief.

Mr Robertson said: “On the one hand there is the trivialisation and the dumbing down of Christianity, on the other, church leaders in denial about the real state of the churches.

“On a recent radio programme I heard church leaders speaking about the 'fact' that ten per cent of the population go to church, and 20 per cent who are committed Christians but who do not go."

The minister continued: "The ten per cent figure is greatly exaggerated in most areas of Scotland. And the 20 per cent figure is the kind of myth that professional clergy tell themselves in order to make their jobs more palatable.

“The trouble is that we have failed to come to terms with the fact that Christendom has gone, and that Scotland is now one of the most secularised post-Christian nations in the world.

“The good news is that this means that we have a tremendous mission field.”

The Dundee minister continued: “The bad news is that far too much of the church cannot seem to agree on what the mission is.

“When the church cannot even agree on its own core message, never mind the moral and social positions it should take, it is little wonder that the world does not listen.

“Easter is about renewal, resurrection and new life. The church in Scotland is in desperate need of all of these.

“May the Lord grant mercy and an outpouring of his Holy Spirit upon his church and this nation.”