Tag: Scottish Church

A new website for confessional Scots: Our Confession

Please find below a link to a new website called Our Confession. The website is an online meeting place for Confessional Scots reformed in doctrine, worship and practice. The purpose of the website is to facilitate discussion with a view to fostering visible unity for those who are separated by denomination.

The website includes relevant articles which will be published on a weekly basis along with a discussion forum. It also includes Church papers written on the issue of Scottish Presbyterian Reunion. Our Confession can be found at www.ourconfession.org.

From the website:

“Welcome to Our Confession, an online meeting place for Scots who hold to the whole doctrine of the Westminster Confession of Faith.

Our Confession is intended to be a place of encouragement and edification for those who hold to the Westminster Confession in its entirety as their subordinate standard and seek to be reformed in doctrine, worship and discipline. Here like-minded believers can discuss issues of interest in a brotherly and constructive atmosphere.

Specifically, Our Confession has been established as an opportunity for those who are separated by denominational boundaries to discuss the issue of fostering visible unity in confessional Scottish presbyterianism.

Anyone who values the cause of Christ will surely mourn over the splintered state of the Church in Scotland and desire true visible unity. We want to discuss in a spirit of fellowship and mutual respect what differences and barriers there may be between denominations and how they could be overcome.”

“At his [Charles Spurgeon’s] request Dr. Kennedy gave out a paraphrase to be sung, probably the first time he ever did so in his life.”

Rev. Dr. John Kennedy

In the nineteenth century, Rev. Dr. John Kennedy of Scotland enjoyed a friendly relationship with Charles Spurgeon. Dr. Kennedy invited Mr. Spurgeon to preach at the opening of a new church facility in Dingwall Scotland. I found the following quote to be of interest because it takes notice of the fact that a Paraphrase was sung at this assembly instead of a Psalm.

“When it was announced in 1870 that the great Baptist preacher [Charles Spurgeon] was to open Dr Kennedy’s new church in Dingwall there was much public satisfaction, not unmingled with astonishment. Mr Spurgeon’s name drew together an immense crowd. The church, of course, could only accommodate a limited number; but in the evening there was a large concourse in the open air. Mr. Spurgeon’s earnestness and eloquence were combined with a brightness and vivacity which contributed to the charm of his preaching. At his request Dr Kennedy gave out a paraphrase to be sung, probably the first time he ever did so in his life.” (From a Memoir of Dr Kennedy which appeared in the newspaper Inverness Courier in 1893. Mrs Kennedy regarded it as the best account of her late husband that had appeared in any form.) here online

I was quite disappointed to read that this concession was made for Mr. Spurgeon. It distresses me because it seems to overlook a great truth that should be notice about the singing of Psalms. Every Christian can come together to sing the Psalms, the same cannot be said of hymns and paraphrases. I wonder if Dr. Kennedy’s congregation joined in singing the paraphrase?

I will see if I can find some of the details of the service…

This is the building that was dedicated in 1870 in Dingwall