Reply to 2023 Loyal Address
Each year the Synod of the Church sends a “loyal address” to the reigning monarch. The reply, from the Principal Private Secretary to The King and Queen on behalf of the King, to last year’s address was significantly more positive than has been usual. Accordingly it has been thought appropriate to print in The Free Presbyterian Magazine. It reads as follows:
9th October 2023
Dear Moderator
I am commanded by The King to convey His Majesty’s warm appreciation for the Loyal Address you kindly sent on behalf of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
His Majesty wishes to thank the Synod for its faithful witness in the face of so many challenges in the world and for upholding “the lively oracles of God” contained in Holy Scripture, the giving of which plays such an important part in the Coronation Service.
His Majesty notes and understands your commitment to the Sabbath as The Lord’s Day.
His Majesty also wishes the Synod to know that, as with his Mother, our Late lamented Queen, the Coronation marks his own re-dedication to a life of service and Christian faith and practice.
His Majesty is humbled and most grateful for your prayers for His “health and prosperity” and prays that God may grant you His richest blessing.
Yours sincerely
Sir Clive Alderton
Pilot Bursary Scheme
The Synod at its meeting in May authorised the Education Committee to establish a trial bursary scheme to assist Free Presbyterian parents in their endeavours to provide education material for their children with a greater Christian ethos and to counteract false teaching in schools. The scheme is being piloted for a period of one year and is initially open to parents based in Scotland. It is hoped that it may eventually be available to Free Presbyterian families further afield.
The Synod recognises the increasing moral and religious dangers of secularised education for our young people and the difficulties faced by parents
and children in the current climate. The bursary scheme will therefore be open for those who attend state schools but whose parents wish to provide additional or alternative education material for their children from a specifically Christian point of view. Examples of this would be suitable materials or courses in subjects such as Scripture, Creation, Church history and Christian moral principles. Bursaries will also be available for children who are not in the state system to assist in the provision of general education from a Christian standpoint. The scheme is intended to provide some assistance to parents but not to cover all the expenses incurred. The level of individual disbursements will be determined by the Education Committee.
Parents who are interested in the scheme should obtain further information and an application form from the Clerk, Dr Alex Ross, by e-mail: FPCSEducationCommittee.gmail.com or by post: 70 Foindle, Lairg, Sutherland, IV27 4SU. It is anticipated that there will be a deadline for a first round of applications on 13 Sept 2024 and a further application round with a deadline of 7 Feb 2025.
F R Daubney, Committee Convener
Acknowledgement of Donations
The General Treasurer acknowledges with sincere thanks the following donations:
Eastern Europe Fund: Anon, Ps 60:4, £130.
Sustentation Fund: N Pearce, Cymrae, £140.
Congregational Treasurers acknowledge with sincere thanks the following donations:
Dingwall & Beauty: Anon, for Beauly congregation, £1340.
Edinburgh: Church Door: £600, £410, £400, £200; MM, Where Most Needed, £500 per DC.
Kinlochbervie: Anon, £500.
North Harris: Holland Friend, £300 per Rev JBJ. Eastern Europe Fund: Anon, North Harris, for Ukraine Mission, £100. Jewish & Foreign Missions Fund: Anon, North Harris, for Zimbabwe Mission, £100. North Tolsta: Door Collection: Anon, £80, £50, £80, £30.
No man believes the gospel cordially until, convinced of his sinfulness and misery, he believes with application to himself those invitations, and, upon the warrant of them, trusts in the Lord Jesus for salvation to himself in particular.
The spirit of a depressed Christian cannot be raised to solid consolation but by being able so to distinguish between the law and the gospel as to rely only, and with settled confidence, on the spotless righteousness of the second Adam, presented to him in the gospel, for all his title to the justification of life.
Without the exercise of saving faith, or the apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, there may be a sense of sin but not a true sense: there may be a sense of sin as hurtful to the sinner himself, but not a sense of it as hateful to a holy God.
We are commanded in the law to do all to the glory of God, but we are naturally disposed to do all to our own glory.
John Colquhoun
FREE PRESBYTERIAN PLACES OF WORSHIP
Scotland
Aberdeen: 2 Alford Place, AB10 1YD, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Tues, 7.15 pm. Rev D W B Somerset BSc DPhil, 18 Carlton Place, Aberdeen, AB15 4BQ; tel: 01224 645250.
Bracadale Duirinish-Strath: Struan: Sabbath 12 noon. Glendale and Vatten: Sabbath 6pm, alternately. Thurs 7 pm, rotating between Struan, Vatten and Glendale. Contact Rev I D MacDonald; tel: 01478 612110.
Dingwall: Church, Hill Street, IV15 9JP; Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wed 7.30 pm. Beauty (Balblair): Sabbath 6.30 pm, Thurs 7.30 pm. Rev A W MacColl MA PhD, 10 Achany Road, Dingwall, IV15 9JB; tel: 01349 866546.
Dornoch: Sabbath 11.30 am. Bonar Bridge: Sabbath 6 pm. Wed 7.30 pm (alternately in Dornoch and Bonar). Rev J A Morrison BA, 2 Cherry Grove, Bonar Bridge, IV24 3ER. Tel: 01863 766157.
Edinburgh: 63 Gilmore Place, EH3 9NU, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Thurs 7.30 pm. Rev D Campbell MA, 35B Barnton Avenue West, Edinburgh EH4 6DF; tel: 0131 312 8227, e-mail: dcampbell1560@gmail.com.
Farr (by Daviot): Sabbath 12 noon. Tomatin: Sabbath 12 noon. Stratherrick: Sabbath 12 noon. (Each as intimated). Contact Mr M J Schouten; tel: 01463 221776.
Fort William: Monzie Square, Sabbath 11 am, 5 pm, as intimated. Manse: 15 Perth Place, PH33 6UL; tel: 01397 708553. Contact Mr D A McKinnon. Tel: 01397 702597.
Gairloch (Ross-shire): Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm. Prayer meeting in Strath, Thurs 7.30 pm. Manse tel: 01445 712118. Contact Rev I D MacDonald; tel: 01478 612110.
Glasgow: St Jude’s Church, 137 Woodlands Road, G3 6LE; Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wed 7.30 pm. Rev R MacLeod BA, 4 Laurel Park Close, Glasgow, G13 1RD; tel: 0141 954 3759.
Greenock: Sabbath 2.30 pm, held in Free Church of Scotland hall, 14 Jamaica Street, PA15 1XX. Contact Rev R MacLeod; tel: 0141 954 3759.
Halkirk: Bridge Street; Sabbath 11.30 am, 5.30 pm, second, fourth and fifth Sabbaths of month; Thurs 7 pm. Rev W A Weale, F P Manse, Bridge Street, KW12 6YG; tel: 01847 831758. First and third Sabbaths of month: Thursday: Duncan Street; 3 pm; Strathy: 6 pm.
Harris (North): Tarbert: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm. Tarbert and Stockinish: Wed 7 pm, alternately. Rev J B Jardine BD, F P Manse, Tarbert, Isle of Harris, HS3 3DF; tel: 01859 502253, e-mail: northharris.fpc@btopenworld.com.
Harris (South): Leverburgh: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wed 7 pm. Sheileboist: as intimated. Rev K M Watkins BA, F P Manse, Ferry Road, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris, HS5 3UA; tel: 01859 520271.
Inverness: Chapel Street, IV1 1NA; Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wed 7.30 pm. Rev K D Macleod BSc, 11 Auldcastle Road, Inverness, IV2 3PZ; tel: 01463 712872.
Kinlochbervie: Sabbath 6 pm; Scourie: Sabbath 11:30 am, Tues 7 pm (as intimated). Contact Dr A Ross; tel 01971 502099.
Kyle of Lochalsh: Sabbath 6 pm. Manse tel: 01599 534933. Contact Rev D A Ross; tel: 01445 731340.
Laide (Ross-shire): Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wed 7.30 pm. Rev D A Ross. F P Manse, Laide, IV22 2NB; tel: 01445 731340.
Lochcarron: Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wed 7 pm. Manse.
Lochinver: Church. No F P services at present.
Ness: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wed 7 pm. Manse tel: 01851 810228. Contact Rev K M Watkins; tel: 01859 520271.
North Tolsta: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Thurs 7.30 pm. Manse tel: 01851 890325. Contact: Rev J B Jardine; tel: 01859 502253.
North Uist: Bayhead; Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Thurs 7.30 pm. Manse tel: 01876 510233. Contact: Rev J B Jardine; tel: 01859 502253.
Perth: Pomarium, off Leonard Street. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wed 7.30 pm. Manse: 5 Main Road, Luncarty, PH1 3EP; tel: 01738 828762. Contact: Rev D Campbell; tel: 07790 068991.
Portree: Sabbath 12 noon, 6.30 pm; Wed 7 pm.. Rev I D MacDonald BA, F P Manse, Achachork, Portree, IV51 9HT; tel: 01478 612110.
Shieldaig: Sabbath 12 noon; Applecross: Sabbath 6pm. Tues 7 pm (alternately in Shieldaig and Applecross, as intimated). Shieldaig manse tel: 01520 755259, Applecross manse tel: 01520 744411. Contact Rev D A Ross; tel: 01445 731340.
Staffin: Sabbath 12 noon, 5 pm; Tues 7.30 pm. Manse: Clachan, Staffin, IV51 9H. Contact Rev J B Jardine; tel: 01859 502253.
Stornoway: Matheson Road, Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Thurs 7.30 pm. Achmore: Sabbath 12 noon; Tues 7 pm, or as intimated locally. Manse: 2 Fleming Place, Stornoway, HS1 2NH; tel: 01851 702501. Contact: Rev J B Jardine; tel: 01859 502253.
Uig (Lewis) Miavaig: Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wed 12 noon. Manse tel: 01851 672251. Contact Rev K M Watkins; tel: 01859 520271.
Ullapool: Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wed 7.30 pm. Manse: Quay Street, IV26 2UE; tel: 01854 612449. Contact Rev D A Ross; tel: 01445 731340.
England
Barnoldswick: Kelbrook Road, Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wed 7.30 pm; South Manchester: Sabbath 6.00 pm, in Upper Room (second floor), 11 Wilmslow Road, Cheadle SK8 1DW; (entrance is from the car park at the back of the building); Wed 8 pm, alternately in Sandbach and Gatley. Contact Mr R Middleton, 2 Emerald Drive, Sandbach, CW11 4ND; tel: 01270 761673.
Broadstairs: Sabbath 11 am, 5 pm at Portland Centre, Hopeville Ave, St Peter’s; Tues 7 pm at Friends’ Meeting House, St Peter’s Park Rd. Contact Dr T Martin; tel: 01843 866369.
London: Zoar Chapel, Varden St, E1 2AW. Sabbath 10.30 am, 5.30 pm; Wednesday 7.15 pm. Manse. Contact Mr Hugh Campbell; tel: 01923 442497.
Canada
Chesley, Ontario: Church and Manse, 40 Fourth Street SW. Sabbath 11 am, 7.30 pm; Wednesday 8 pm. Contact: Mr David Kuiper; tel: 519 363 0367. Manse tel: 519 363 2502.
USA
Santa Fe, Texas: Church and Manse, 4031 Jackson St 77517. Sabbath 10.30 am, 5 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Contact Mr Joseph Smith; tel: 409 927 1564.
Australia
Grafton, NSW: 172 Fitzroy Street. Sabbath 11 am, 6.30 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev G G Hutton BA PhD, 3 Martin Crescent, Junction Hill, NSW 2460; tel: (02) 6644 6174; e-mail: grafton@internode.on.net.
Sydney, NSW: Corner of Oxford and Regent Streets, Riverstone. Sabbath 10.30 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev G B Macdonald BSc, 60 Hamilton St, Riverstone, NSW 2765; tel. (02) 9627 3408; e-mail: sydneyfpchurch@protonmail.com.
New Zealand
Auckland: 45 Church Street, Otahuhu. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev J D Smith, 9 Pedlar Place, Conifer Grove, Auckland; tel: 09 282 4195.
Carterton: 124 High Street North, Carterton. Sabbath 11 am, 4 pm; Wednesday 7 pm. Contact: Mr Hank Optland, P O Box 150, Carterton, 5743; tel: 02 7432 5625.
Gisborne: 463a Childers Road. Sabbath 11 am, 6 pm; Wednesday 7.30 pm. Rev C Hembd, 5 Goldsmith St, Elgin, Gisborne 4010; tel: 06 863 3140; mobile: 022 409 1336.
Tauranga: For services, contact Rev J D Smith; tel: 09 282 4195.
Singapore
Singapore: 33 Ubi Avenue 3, Vertex Tower A, #05-60, Singapore 408868: Sabbath: 9.30 am and 5.30 pm; Wednesday: 7.30 pm. Contact: Mr Bernard Yong, tel: (65) 9639 3040, e-mail: byong1@singnet.com.sg.
Ukraine
Odessa: F P Mission Station, 3 Pestelya Street, 65031. Sabbath 12 noon, 6 pm; Wednesday 6 pm. Rev D Levtyksyi; tel: 00 38 048 785 19 24; e-mail: dlevtyksyi@gmail.com; or contact Mr I Zadorozhnyi, P O Box 100, Odessa-91, 65091; e-mail: antipa@eurocom.od.ua.
Zimbabwe
Bulawayo: Lobengula Township, PO Magwegwe, Bulawayo. Rev S Khumalo, F P Manse, Stand No 56004, Mazwi Road, Lobengula, PO Magwegwe, Bulawayo; tel: 00263 9407131, e-mail: skhumalo.byo@gmail.com.
Ingwenya: Church and Secondary School. Postal Address: Ingwenya Mission, Private Bag T5445, Bulawayo.
Mbuma: Church and Hospital. Postal Address: Mbuma Mission Hospital, Private Bag T5406, Bulawayo.
New Cannaan: Church. Rev T Mwedzi.
Zenka: Church.