Over the past couple of years we have been endeavouring to gather material relating to the Baptist churches in Scotland in the past. It has been a slow work, but it is our hope at some future date to be able to reproduce something of what we have gathered in the form of “Baptist Historical Broadsheets.” In the meantime, we offer the following account of the formation of the Baptist church in Westray on the Orkney Islands. The author is Henry Harcus, who served the church for over forty years as member, elder, and minister. We commend the article to your interest.
The “Broadsheets” mentioned above were later published in booklet form and titled, “A Short History of the Baptists in Scotland”.
During one of his visits to Orkney, Mr Haldane met a young man in Kirkwall who had settled there from North Ronaldsay as a cabinetmaker. He impressed Mr Haldane as possessing more than ordinary mental ability and Christian principle and led him to suggest to the young man the possibility of being called to Mission work in his native land. Finding that he had received the suggestion favourably, (his only objection being his unfitness), Mr Haldane offered him the advantage of two sessions at his training institution under Rev. G. Ewing. William Tulloch (the young man in question) gladly accepted this offer, and proceeded to Glasgow soon afterwards, where he faithfully studied, taking advantage of every source of knowledge which the institution supplied. When his college curriculum was over Mr Haldane sent the young graduate to Orkney with the commission to preach the gospel in the islands wherever he could find an open door, personally guaranteeing his maintenance. Mr Haldane's evangelistic work having stirred up religious anxiety in the islands, Mr Tulloch found the people generally ready to welcome his messages. After spending a considerable time in itinerating among the various islands, Mr Tulloch was impressed with the desirability of visiting Westray. When he arrived, the people were cordially ready to receive him. He found a number of like mind with himself, and they enjoyed sweet fellowship together.
Their custom was to meet twice on the Lord's Day at such places as were obtainable and convenient for gospel preaching and once during the week for Christian fellowship. On the Lord's Day Mr Tulloch generally occupied the time allotted for exposition and exhortation, but at the week-evening services, held on the Friday of each week, others took part, Mr Tulloch presiding. This gathering was intended to be less formal than the Sabbath services and to encourage the development of latent talent and Christian grace among the brethren. Hence, when the leader had conducted the opening exercises of praise and prayer, had read a portion of Scripture and given the meaning of it, the meeting was thrown open for anyone who chose to take part by exhortation, or question, or prayer. These fellowship meetings were seasons of refreshing, instruction, and comfort. In addition to conducting these services, Mr Tulloch held evangelistic meetings through the week in every corner of the island, and sometimes in other islands. But a time came when the brethren thought they should come closer together in the bonds of the gospel. Hence, at one of the fellowship meetings a motion was submitted that they form themselves into a Church of Christ. It made a deep impression. Some heartily responded, others strenuously opposed it. It was not difficult to account for the opposition.
Since the time of Columba, the Orcadeans had enjoyed no organised form of religion but that of the State Church -first, the Catholic, then the Church of England, and finally the Church of Scotland. To form a church not in connection with the State seemed inadmissible to those whose minds had, by long use, become so familiarised with the State Church as to prevent their even examining claims of any other. It was not, therefore, a wonder that a motion to form a church at this juncture and in this way should be opposed. The motion was ultimately carried, but it was the cleavage between the two parties. The opposing section withdrew, and by their influence, every place where meetings had been held on the island was closed against Mr Tulloch and his followers. "When one door shuts, another closes!" says the Irishman, and it seemed so here. But truthfully, "When one door shuts, another door opens." And in the light of the subsequent history of the cause, it is not to be wondered at that Providence guided those followers of the Lord to another open door. Their opponents could not prevent them meeting in the open air, and this they did in suitable weather. But they found a large room in the old Noltland Castle, over which no one on the island had any authority, being government property. Willing hands cleaned and prepared the large room, and here the loving disciples continued to meet for some time. Here they organised a church adopting the congregational form of government. It was the first dissenting church in the island and was constituted in the spring of 1803.
The meeting place, which they named Noltland Hall was to them sacred, and it was with a measure of sadness they by-and-by decided to leave it; but it was somewhat dark and damp, and the less-robust felt it unhealthy. So it was proposed to secure a building site and to erect a suitable house of worship. But where could the necessary land be obtained? Four proprietors controlled nearly all the island. The property of one was unsuitable, being too far from the centre of the island. They applied in turn to each of the other three and were met in each case with a refusal. Foiled in their attempt to secure a site from the large proprietors, the brethren made an application to the owner of a single farm, and he cheerfully granted them a site for a church edifice and minister's house on easy terms. This was cause for rejoicing and encouraged them immediately to begin the collecting together of the necessary material for their house of worship. Stones were plentiful and accessible, and willing workers soon had a sufficient quantity on the ground. But about the timber required? They intended to build a tabernacle to seat from four to five hundred people. The quantity of timber needed for such a building could not be obtained in a treeless island and a treeless county like Orkney. But the way again opened.
Mr Tulloch, who had been appointed pastor of the church at its formation, had by some means obtained the favour of one of the proprietors, for whom a quantity of timber had been landed at no great distance from their building site. Mr Tulloch applied for it and secured it at a low price. An endeavour was made by a wealthy man, no friend of the church, to upset the bargain. He protested against the proprietor letting Mr Tulloch have the wood at such a price and for such a purpose and ended by offering a much higher price - and all evidently not in the best possible spirit. The Laird felt his dignity infringed and turned upon his inquisitor and adviser and said, Do you mean to insult me? Who gave you authority to interfere in my business? I can manage my own affairs without your advice." And pointing to the door, ordered him to leave. The building was proceeded forthwith; it was completed and dedicated free of all debt in August 1804. It became the spiritual birthplace of many souls, who found in connection with it the nourishment and care they needed for growth in the divine life. Many of the younger members of the church had to leave the island to find their living in distant parts and to communicate the blessings they had received to others.
For five years after the opening of the Tabernacle the work of the church went on steadily, unitedly, and successfully: and additions were frequently made to the church. But about the close of the fifth year, she experienced a degree of unrest and upheaval. Mr Haldane, to whom, under God, the church owed her existence, had by this time become a baptist. The tidings of his change of views caused no little consternation in the church for a time. Some severely condemned his action, others were disposed to give him credit for honesty of purpose. A number of the more intelligent members determined to examine carefully the scriptures on the subject. It began to dawn upon them that possibly they had been overlooking an important command of the Saviour. They opened the question for discussion in their meetings, and earnestly did the pros and cons present their sides of the question, but for a considerable time no decision was reached, although some seemed to lean towards the baptist side. The majority of the members, with the pastor, held firmly to infant sprinkling as baptism, and the pastor at least preached on the subject - severely condemning the baptist view, and charging those who held that view with gross error. His effort did not help his cause. It led the people more carefully and prayerfully to examine the teaching of the New Testament, with the result that all the most intelligent among them except the pastor came over to the Baptist side. But they were still in the minority, and not wishing to cause division they were sorely exercised as to the path of duty, and earnestly did they cry for guidance from on high. Nor did they cry in vain. Whoever cries like one of old, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" in sincerity will be taught as surely as that one was. In due time the way was made clear, and no division created.
Robert Seater, a man of considerable mental ability though not highly educated, and a careful student of the scriptures had come to a decision on the question of baptism. He assured Mr Tulloch that in his endeavour to prove infant sprinkling to be baptism he had utterly failed. Mr Seater had been the pastor's stand-by for five years, for whenever the pastor was absent Brother Seater had supplied for him. He, therefore, felt somewhat entitled to a hearing in public on this question, and all the more so, because the pastor had advocated the opposite side. It was therefore announced at the close of the next public meeting that Brother Seater, on the following Sabbath evening, would give to the congregation a statement of his settled convictions on the question of baptism.
The people were requested to bring their New Testaments, for to it would the appeal be made as the only infallible standard. On the Sabbath evening the Tabernacle was crowded with anxious listeners. In his introductory remarks Mr Seater assured his hearers that, while Mr Haldane had been a great blessing to him and to the cause, it was not Mr Haldane who had made him a baptist, but his own understanding of the will of Christ as revealed in the New Testament, and expressed his astonishment that any intelligent student of the Word stumbled over the ordinance. He had been shut up to the following conclusions: - First, that the truly penitent and believing soul is the only fit subject for baptism. Second, the baptism of the believer is immersion in water. Third, union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection is symbolised in baptism; and this is made manifest by the believer's hatred of sin, and by walking in newness of life. After stating each proposition, he announced his proof texts and asked his hearers to read them aloud, which they did. The address, which occupied nearly an hour, made a profound impression.
hands cleaned and prepared the large room, and here the loving disciples continued to meet for some time. Here they organised a church adopting the congregational form of government. It was the first dissenting church in the island and was constituted in the spring of 1803.