Charles Cowan, advocate of science, art, and social science, spent thirteen years as a Member of Parliament and over thirty years as a founding member and advocate of the Sustention Fund Committee of the newly formed Free Church of Scotland.

Within fifty years the fledgling denomination had built 730 new churches, 400 manses, 500 schools and a new theological college, in addition to paying the salaries of all its clergy through its Sustentation Fund. Cowan's legacy is deeply felt in the country of Scotland and the church today.