For those of us who enjoy Highland history and church history in particular, this book is a very welcome addition. The late Rev Hugh Ferrier was a much-loved minister in the Free Church and is particularly remembered as the minister of the Free North from 1975-1990. He was warm, godly, principled and greatly appreciated as a preacher who was Christ centred and deeply doctrinal. I remember as a boy growing up in the Free Church in the 1970’s and 80’s being greatly impacted by his visits to our manse in Oban. He was gentle, kind and approachable.
Rev Ferrier’s ‘Echoes of Grace’ published by the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), in 2006, is an excellent survey of how the Lord richly blessed the Free Church in the 19th century and expertly charts her downfall through the higher criticism controversy and the union with the United Presbyterian Church. Scholarship was placed above piety and the consequences were devastating. It is a solemn reminder how quickly pragmatism and error can erode confessional Christianity in a church.
The late Rev Ferrier’s little book on Ministers of the Free Church builds on this work and gives us a rich survey of ministers of the Free North from Rev Archibald Cook (1843 – 1844) right up to Rev Ferrier’s predecessor Rev James Fraser (1968 – 1974). Far from being a dry biographical account, this survey gives is a rich insight into the life of the Free North while giving us glimpses into key moments of church history in Scotland. The seven ministers covered in the book are Archibald Cook, George Mackay, Murdo Mackenzie, John Macleod, Kenneth Cameron, Donald Campbell, and James Fraser. The book shows the impact that one faithful, vibrant congregation can have not just on a Highland community but on the wider work for the church.
It is fascinating to read about the preparations of the 1888 Free Church General Assembly hosted in Inverness and chaired by Dr Gustavus Aird of Creich. Local office bearers and ministers were involved in a committee that eventually build a structure that could seat 3000 built on ground in Ardross Terrace. The chapter on Principal John Macleod is a wonderful reminder of the calibre of men the Free Church produced and who filled the Free North pulpit. There is much that could be said of the book but perhaps four observations will suffice.
Firstly, much is rightly made of made of ministers, but the book highlights the critical importance of godly office bearers and loyal members and how this leads to stability and consistency in a congregation. As Prof Collins recalled the verdict of a Free Church student on placement at the Free North during John Macleod’s ministry (1913-30) ‘The Free North of those days was a model congregation. Organisation could hardly be improved upon; attendances were excellent, and the loyalty of the people was manifested in their hearty support of the schemes of the church. The Kirk Session was representative of some of the leading business concerns in the town as well as of the humbler occupations.’
Secondly, the Free Church in the Highlands and the Free North in particular, far from being parochial and inward looking, had a big gospel vision. Murdo Mackenzie, Minister of the Free North from 1887-1912 had a deep interest in foreign missions. During his very fruitful ministry in Kilmallie prior to bring called to Inverness he was preaching on Amos 1 when he stopped and asked if anyone was willing to consecrate themselves to the mission field. An elder’s son, Dr James Stewart, offered himself and he trained as a medical missionary in the China Inland Mission. Mackenzie was gifted and inspiring yearly donations of clothes and money for the mission field. Prof T.M. Lindsay said; ‘…if we had a Murdo Mackenzie in every parish, there would be no fear of the Foreign Missions collection.’
The third thing that strikes the reader is that the pastors of the Free North were not ivory tower pastors. They were faithful pastors and regular visitors. They were also engaged and involved in their communities. The Rev John Macleod while pastoring the Free North also accepted the Chair of the old Inverness-shire Education Authority. The Director of Education at the time said of Macleod; ‘…he was unremittingly attentive and suggestive of every point in the discussion and exercised a minimum of interference as long as members kept to the subject before them.’ As with their disruption forefathers, these pastors had a love and concern for their local community which took them out of their studies and pulpits to engage with local people and local issues. They loved reformed theology, but their ministries were grounded in the communities they served.
Fourthly, what shines through these ministries is the commitment to confessional Christianity. Murdo Mackenzie (Free North minister from 1887-1912) stood firm with the constitutional group in 1900 and suffered the ignominy of having the Free North North declared vacant by the United Free Presbytery despite being filled to the door! Perhaps the most well known minister of the Free North who stood unwavering for reformed, confessional principles was John Macleod who went on to became Principal of the Free Church College. He had lived through the declension of the latter half of the 19th century and was bold in warning a new generation of the dangers of 'conscience clauses'. In his Moderators Address in 1920 entitled ‘The Outlook in Regard to the Maintenance of the Reformed Faith’ he said; ‘Holding to the historic faith and worship of Scotland’s Reformed Church, she is content in a day of reproach to share the reproach of a despised Evangel, and look for her vindication not only to the day when the Church’s reproach will be forever removed; she also cherishes the hope that with a glorious revival of true godliness the people of the land of covenants and martyr’s will yet retrace the steps of which they strayed from the good way and that will be a vindication of her contendings.’
When he was inducted as Principal of the Free Church College in 1927 he gave an address entitled 'Our Work as a Theological College'. During his address he said 'The issue is between the historic reformed faith of Evangelical Christendom and another religion altogether. There is but one gospel, and another gospel is a rival to it. It is vain to make room in the Christian nest for the alien intruder, and at the same time to think that the legitimate and natural inmates of that nest shall be left safe in their own home. Admit the alien, make room for the intruder, and you doom the home born to extrusion and to banishment.' His lectures 'Scottish Theology in Relation to Church History' delivered at Westminster Theological Seminary in 1939 have remained in print and blessed generations of students who love the doctrines of grace.
Ministers of the Free North Church 1843-1974 is a surprisingly enjoyable and uplifting read. The late Rev Hugh Ferrier tells the story of these ministries gracefully and warmly and gently leads us through over 100 years of the congregational life of the Free North. It is an encouragement and inspiration to us in Scotland today to build strong churches, support faithful ministries and shine the bright light of the gospel into a dark world.
