26 March
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On
In History and Doctrine of Worship

From The Presbyterian Banner, December 2010 plus Appendix March 2011 and important Supplement August 2013 I confess very happily that I am an inclusive Presbyterian: I’ve very ready, despite my own prejudices, to live in the same church with office-bearers who have different viewpoints on many issues that are not decided by our Confession of Faith.  I’m also very happy to have close fellowship with churches like the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in the USA that do not have the same form of worship as ourselves, but do cling loyally to the Reformed Faith. Still, I’m very sorry to see that the Free Church of ScotlandRead More →

12 September
By
On
In Australian Church History

  Rev William McIntyre (1806-70), Australian Presbyterian Pioneer Rowland S. Ward     William McIntyre (6 March 1806-12 July 1870) was a Scottish-Australian Presbyterian minister and educator.   Background William McIntyre was the 5th son and 7th child of Duncan McIntyre and Catherine Kennedy, who were sheep farmers in the parish of Kilmonivaig, Scotland near Spean Bridge. He was proficient in Latin and Greek when he commenced at the University of Glasgow in 1823. He graduated MA in 1829, completed Divinity in 1832, and was licensed by the Presbytery of Dunoon. He taught in a Glasgow school conducted by his older brother Allan and wasRead More →

25 June
By
On
In Australian Church History

JOHN DUNMORE LANG (1799-1878) TURBULENT PRESBYTERIAN LEADER This is the wikipedia article as at February 2008 which is substantially as written by Rowland S. Ward, May 2006 Lang was the first Presbyterian minister on the mainland of Australia, arriving in 1823.     Background and Family Lang was born near Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland, the eldest son of William Lang and Mary Dunmore. His father was a small landowner and his mother a pious Presbyterian, who dedicated her son to the Church of Scotland ministry from an early age. He grew up in nearby Largs, and was educated at the University of Glasgow, where he excelled,Read More →

23 May
By
On
In Australian Church History

James Forbes (1813-1851) – Melbourne’s first Christian minister   Rowland S. Ward Last updated 2 May 2010 Early life James Forbes was the oldest of the ten children (only five surviving infancy) born to Peter and Margaret Forbes who farmed “New Braes” on the estate of Sir Arthur Forbes in the parish of Leochel-Cushnie about 40 km west of Aberdeen, Scotland. He was baptised on 4 April 1813, and was educated locally and at Aberdeen Grammar School. Education He entered King’s College, Aberdeen in 1826 and completed the Arts course in 1829 but, like the majority of students who regarded it as an expensive formality,Read More →