Liddell, Plean House,...Haldanes...Scotch Baptist and ironworks!!

As I was carrying out a little research a few weeks ago I came across a few bits of interest to pass on to you budding historians. 



I was reading the paper:

The Scotch Baptist Tradition in Great Britain by D.B Murray 

For now all you need to know is that Scotch Baptists were a group of belivers coming from various backgrounds but are not directly linked to Scottish Baptists of today. ( More on that another time)

So Murray mentions a letter by John Cowan an elder in Galashiels who on 11 December 1848 wrote to James Everson.
 He was congratulating Everson for his pamphlet "Reasons for being a Scotch Baptist".

I continued to explain about his workload which although busy was nothing like Eversons.  He contues to say that He visited Mr and Mrs Liddell at Plean House. He continued to Stirling and on to Glasgow in the following days.

Now having lived near Plean I wondered about the "Liddells".

Who were they what did they do etc.

Here is what I discovered.

Andrew Liddell

The visit was to Andrew (B 1789- 1854) and Margaret Liddell, Andrew son of Andrew (B 1736) a school teacher in Bainsford who became a clerk at the Iron works, Falkirk. Margaret was married previously, with children and had a son Robert Mclaren.  I will talk about Andrew Liddell (1789). 

Andrew was married to Janet Goodsir in 1820 and in 1829 on the 2 Novemebr he married Jessie Peddie. Interestingly enough there was a ante-nuptial contract which implies he had assets. So to have a will ( 19/6/1855 at the National Archives Kew) he must have had a measure of wealth.

Andrew as a young person was an assitant to father andrew at the iron works.
At 18 Andrew moves to work in the foundry at Edinburgh and then Leith. It was is wish to be surgeon but things took a different turn. He moves to Glasgow to become a partner in an iron foundry business around 1814/15. His Brother Robert Maclaren advancing funds to contribute to the capital after a retiring partner left.  

Andrew now the main person in the foundry works on till retirement at age 44 gives the business to his nephew (Maclaren) which stage he becomes a Pastor at a Church in Brown street which he had purchased for the use of the congregation.He was a member of the Scottish Baptist Connexion, but he also had interests in Mechanics, Science, Philosphical Society, Arts, Patents Philanthroic work with the likes of the homeless destressed and temperance work. He was also a magistrate. He died in Novemeber 1854 at Bardowie House Baldernock. 

 Now having lived in Plean house, remember Cowan letter what happened?

Plean House picture on Hiveminer.com

Plean House

 Come back tomorrow.....

Alpacas books of interest

I Have read a few books on the subject of Alpacas. The following were helpfull.
 

• Llamas and Alpacas A guide to Management
• Llama Keeping
• Alpaca Fleece what can you do with it?

An alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance.

While they can look formidable when first viewed, like a large sheep with extended neck the Alpaca is  a quiet, timid animal.

They are known for their fleeces as high quality wool which commands a good price compared to sheep wool. If you ask someone about Alpacas the information they have is probably little. In fact they get mixed up with llamas the bigger animal. 

The next point of note by the novice is the spitting reputation they have. I have seen little of that and perhaps there was some activity that prompted the spitting. I know of one alpaca that has spat on occasions but usually its because he has eaten food to fast and its got stuck in its throat.

If the ears are forward then the animal is not as comfortable as it should be,- ears back is a sign of contentment.

The books mentioned are on different aspects and all three would be a good collection for someone wanting to get to know the animal and its general up keep with a view to keeping them as pets or for stock.

Like most things prices are variable from young boys as £200 to mothers with Cria (young alpaca) at foot for several thousands. Despite the call years ago that prices would rocket, a mixture of supply (over 40,000) and lack of major  new rearing businesses has meant prices are not as firm as expected. Breeding can result in more males than females and they can be surplus to requirements.

With a few acres the need for a lawnmover can be dropped, as a couple of boys can keep your grass trim. They are well behaved when it comes to toileting and they are a good guard to hens and small animals from predators.

It is well known that alpacas need to be housed together. It is not good for the animal to be living on its own. This results in sales of several animals rather than one at a time.

Enjoy your reading.

Yellow hat ....

yellow Hat means sunny day in Perth.

Another Sunday. Presbyterians have to thank Monk

Of course I wrote this a few days ago when I was celebrating the discovery of Baptist in Sutherland.

Interesting title for you? now let me explain.

RD Michell 1950 says "By the mid 1600s there were several baptist churches in the different towns that had garrisons.
At first Baptist groups had been supported and encouraged by Cromwell, but when he was appointed Lord protector, there arose an attitude of opposition to him among officers of the Baptist persuasion, that his policy had changed to active hostility.... Baptist officers implicated in sedition included Captain Overton Major Holmes ....The whole baptist cause was under suspicion ,  ... pamphlet was published on behalf of the "rebaptized churches at St Johnstone (Perth) Leith Edinburgh"", Printed in 1655 it had 15 signatures appended.

"In  continuation of the policy of repression and punishment of seditious Baptist officers, Cromwell, struck at the entire Baptist group by ordering the council of scotland, in 1658 to "see that no Baptist holds office of trust, nor practises at law, nor keep a school.". As the Baptist cause went down the Presbyterian cause went up, for Monk had no love for Baptists, and in their repression found willing allies in the Presbyterian ranks."
 
George Monk

At the Existentialist cafe freedom, being & Apricot Cocktails

This was an interesting read for me as we delve into existentialists' ideas. Really good book to get an understanding of the last 150 years of this subject. Probably not in most Christian bookshops.

One of my best reads since last summer.

 Quirky, funny clear passionate....Mail on Sunday

At the Existentialist cafe freedom, being & Apricot Cocktails by Sarah Bakewell

Questionnaire completed?  Top Right 

Existentialism

Baptist in Sutherland 200 years before the Free Church!

Today I want to tell you of evidence that Baptists were in the Highlands a lot earlier than you may have thought.

But before that remember if you have not completed the questionnaire please do so if you live in the Highlands of Scotland.

Brian Robertson says "It is fairly safe to say there were Baptists in Perth by 1653. Cromwell having established himself in Scotland set up 18 garrisons in towns like Leith, Ayr and Perth. Cromwell initially was tolerant of Baptists but at some point changed his mind and became anti Baptist. ( Was this because of a pacifist influence from them?)"

In 

Archbald Maclean 1733-1812

 Baptist Pioneer in Scotland

By Robert Dawson Mitchell 1950

he states in page 45 of his 348 page thesis that according to Hexham records p 301,302 "Baptists seem to have penetrated as far north as Sutherland, for there is a record of a letter written to the "soldiers in the garrison at Holmdell  (Helmsdale) in Sutherland shire by William Packer. A reply to this letter was written in 1656 by Jonas Dell, soldier in opposition to those dipping themselves in water."





Hexham records p 301,302
History of Baptist in Scotland page 30

So there you are 1656 that's approx 200 years before the Free Church of Scotland (1843) and 100 years before Keiss Baptist Church was established(1750) recognised as the, first Baptist church in Scotland, in Caithness -there were Baptist in Helmsdale Sutherland.

Scotch Baptists influence on the Disciples of Christ

I read at the weekend the pdf  of the

 Scotch Baptist influence on the Disciples of Christ by John Owston.

This short paper from 1997 is a good summary of  the topic.

 Link to paper Scotch Baptist influence...etc

Please complete the questionnaire at the right hand side of the blog if you live in the Highlands of Scotland. Thanks.

Please come back tomorrow I have great news on the Baptists in Sutherland. Yes Sutherland. 

 

Census 2011 figures Are they what you expected?

The 2011 Census ( Crown copyright 2013)

Some interesting details from the individuals who responded to the religion questions on the census of 2011.

Scottish Census

Church of Scotland    1,717,871
Roman Catholic            841,053
Church of England          66,717
Baptists                        26,224 
Episcopalians                 21,289
Methodist                      10,979
Free Church of Scotland  10,896
Scottish Episcopal Church 8,048
Brethren                         5,583
Salvation Army                4,100
Congregational                2,078
United Reformed Church   2,021
United Free church           1,514
Free Presbyterian             1,197
Churches of Christ              979
Church of the Nazarene       785
Apostolic                            552

These are the figures for individuals marking on the census. There will be a difference from membership and attendance at the churches.

 I know there has been a change since 2011, The Church of Scotland membership figures drop yearly.

I have removed some groups for convenience. ( Christadelphian, Full Gospel Assembly, Mennonite, Greek Catholic etc.)

Pastors burnout

One thing is ...

Caring for 30 people personally is possible. Caring for 230 is not, many pastors burn out trying.

Discuss

Reasons Pastors leave the Ministry

10 reasons why pastors leave the ministry by Jim Fuller  ( In America)

1. Lack of vision
2. Low income/ low self esteem
3. Lack of motivation
4. Stress and burnout
5. Not appreciated
6. Cant be real- have to be the most spiritual
7. Stress on family and health 
8. Feeling all alone
9. Lack of denominational support
10. Minister has a vision, the church doesn't 

 It is a concern that churches have pastors leaving churches for whatever the reason.
Remember the load and stress they carry. 
Today pray for all the pastors of your locality.

Questionnaire... need more help.

Sorry , But I need to come back again, and ask that you complete the questionnaire and ask others to do likewise. I am looking for a lot more "samples" to use for the research.

Click below and complete...Please

 Highland Questionnaire

About church fellowship communion and isolation. Takes a few minutes.

Thank you

Message from Brian, Thank you.

Questionnaire if you still have to do it.