Volume 07 1934-35

The Minister in the Service

The Rev Thomas Marjoribanks, DD, Morham

Thomas Marjoribanks emphasises the pioneering role of the Church Service Society, notes the work of members involved in the study of liturgy and examines the nature of the Sunday service before going on to reflect on the specific role of the Minister in it. He identifies that role as having two principle elements: as acting for the people to God and, on the other hand, for God to the people. It should not merely be informed by the Minister’s personal religious experience, but by the faith of the Church.

St Conan’s Kirk, Loch Awe

The Rev Millar Patrick, DD, Edinburgh

Patrick Millar looks at the recent origins of this ‘miniature cathedral’ of numerous architectural styles.  He refers to the legends of St Conan which moved Walter Douglas Campbell to plan and build the kirk; and of how his vision was shared and later carried forward by his sister, Helen.  The eclectic architecture, acquired furnishings and the association of Celtic saints’ names with its constituent parts are all described in a sympathetic manner, although the writer is aware of  reasons for the criticisms of the “purist” at every turn.

The Presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist

The Rev Professor Georges V Florovsky, Institute of Orthodox Theology, Paris

Georges Florovsky sets out the eucharistic teaching of the Orthodox Church in relation, especially, to the meaning of “remembrance”.  The liturgical commemoration or anamnesis, he avers, involves not only the past, but a “re-presentation”.   The priestly invocation or epiklesis, by the action of the Holy Spirit, causes the change of  the elements into the Body and Blood of Christ.  In this way, the altar is “the Holy grave, in which the Heavenly Master is falling asleep.” The “musterion” or mystery enshrined in the Eucharist engenders our unworthiness, but allows us to participate in a continuous hymn of thanksgiving.   Imagery presents much virgin territory for
Kirk readers.

Tercentenary of The Scottish Psalter of 1635

Herbert Wiseman Esq, MA, Director of Music, Edinburgh Education Committee

Herbert Wiseman, while not unmindful of the anomaly, welcomes [R C] Sir Richard Terry’s new 1935 edition of the 1635 Scottish Psalter.  It consists of two main sections: transference of the tune from the tenor part to the treble, with appropriate harmonisation; and the reprinting of the Psalter in its original form.  Wiseman then sets the Psalter in its historical context and surveys and evaluates some of the tunes adopted.  “The mawkish sentimental hymn-tune is a poor substitute 
for our old Psalm tunes.”  He looks forward in hope.

Worship in Kenya

The Rev R G M Calderwood, MC, MA

R G M  Calderwood, in discussing his own experience of worship in the mission field, regards Kenya as a tabula rasa which allows scope for experimenting.  He points to the African as having “a fine natural instinct” for worship.  Ecumenical influences have also played a part in shaping services.  Printed forms exist and are helpful in curbing undue length (“prayers informative”) and contributing a structure to be followed.  In this respect, the Scottish input has both preserved 
freedom and provided traditional guidelines.

Forms of Worship

The Rev A G Herbert, MA, Society of the Sacred Mission, Kelham

Of the Anglo-Catholic tradition, A G  Hebert reflects on its meaning for him and for the wider Church.  The Catholic tradition is compared with that of historic Protestantism:  both shared the old conception of the church service in which individualism was eschewed for a more corporate understanding of the ecclesia.  This differs radically from the Church being the means for the self-realisation of individuals.  Liturgical prayer, the sermon and the restoration of the eucharist in the Church’s life nourish the former.  The people of God are not spectators in this, but are themselves
offered up to God, through the action of the Spirit, Sunday by Sunday.

George Wishart’s Communion Service

The Rev William McMillan, Ph D, DD, FSA Scot, Dunfermline

William McMillan’s examines the account, in Buchanan’s History of Scotland, of the Holy Communion reputed to have been celebrated by George Wishart on the morning of his martyrdom in St Andrews.  There are few details of the order used.  But Buchanan, supplemented by David Lindsay of Pitscottie’s Historie and Cronicles, shed light on early Scottish Reformed practice. Preaching and Communion are conjoined; the uniqueness of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary;   his role as heavenly intercessor;  commemoration in the fullest sense, linked to the “spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God”.  Wishart also first partook himself.   Finally, comparison is made with later liturgies which influenced the Scottish tradition.

Illustrations

Illustrations in this volume

St Conan’s - Loch Awe, from the South-West  -  Frontispiece
St Conan’s - The Chancel  -  Facing page 11
St Conan’s - The Apse  -  Facing page 13
St Conan’s - The South Aisle  -  Facing page 15

Reviews

Rev Wm. McMillan, Dunfermline. The Rev Wm Stevenson, Edinburgh. The Rev W D Maxwell, Glasgow.

The Eucharistic Doctrine of the Oxford Movement, by W H Mackean:  London, Putnam, 
reviewed by the Rev Wm McMillan, Dunfermline

The Mass of the Western Rite, by the Right Rev Dom Fernand Cabrol, Abbot of Farnborough,
tr. C M Anthony.  London, Sands & Co, reviewed by the Rev Wm. McMillan, Dunfermline

A Newman Prayer Book, London, Burns, Oates, & Washbourne, reviewed by the Rev Wm McMillan, 
Dunfermline

Devotion and Discipleship:  A Collection of the Important Devotional Works of the Rev A H McNeile, 
DD
, Cambridge, W Heffer & Sons Ltd, reviewed by the Rev Wm McMillan, Dunfermline

The Voice of Prayer.  Prayers of the Centuries, selected and arranged by H G Tunnicliff
London, Ivor, Nicholson & Watson Ltd;  reviewed by The Rev Wm McMillan, Dunfermline

Psychology and Sacraments, by Frank Craven Carter.  London, Williams & Norgate, 
reviewed by the Rev Wm McMillan, Dunfermline

Our National Church, by Canon Percy Dearmer.  London, Nisbet & Co Ltd, 
reviewed by the Rev Wm McMillan, Dunfermline

The Lutheran Origin of the Anglican Ordinal, by E C Messenger,  London, Burns, Oates, & Washbourne
reviewed by the Rev Wm McMillan, Dunfermline

The Church Architecture of Protestantism, by Andrew Landale Drummond.  Edinburgh, T & T Clark
reviewed by the Rev Wm McMillan, Dunfermline

Prayers for the Christian Year, The Church of Scotland Committee on Public Worship and Aids to 
Devotion.   OUP;  reviewed by The Rev Wm Stevenson, Edinburgh

John Hepburn and the Hebronites, by the Rev Wm  McMillan, St Leonard’s, Dunfermline.  James
Clarke & Co, Ltd;   reviewed by The Rev Wm Stevenson, Edinburgh

Le Culte:  Étude d’Histoire et de Philosophie Religieuses,  Vol. III by Robert Will, University of 
Strasbourg.  Paris, Félis Alcan, reviewed by The Rev W D Maxwell, Glasgow