5 minute
Podcasts
You can cram a lot of Scotland’s Forgotten History into 5 minutes!
An Ingenious Alibi – Bowbeat Hill, Moorfoots – SFH092
Interrogated on your way to an illegal worship service. Would you admit where you were going and endanger your life as well as others? Would a lie be wrong? This happened to one young woman and in this episode we find out more about the circumstances and her ingenious...
“Much melting of heart” a Covenanting Communion service – Ormiston Old Kirk – SFH091
A very small glimpse of some ordinary spiritual experiences during a time of widespread revival. If you have wondered what Covenanting communion services were like, including their impact, listen to this episode. Andrew Hay records experiences in the place where Knox...
“To sink or swim together” – Henderson and British Church Unity – SFH090
In the various twists and turns of unfolding events, Alexander Henderson is greatly favoured then scorned by the king within months. But as incidents erupt, negotiations fail and positions harden the destinies of some in England and Scotland begin to move together....
Scotland’s Forgotten International Covenant – SFH089
What was the connection between reformation and covenant? Why did English puritans as well as Scots come to think it was necessary to have a covenant for the whole British Isles? Most people today know little about the Solemn League and Covenant and what makes it...
Alexander Reid’s “Very Remarkable” Experiences – Kirkliston Church – SFH088
Many narrow escapes and other experiences filled the life of the man marked by a fine table stone grave at Kirkliston Parish Church. Alexander Reid from Broxburn tells us a lot about his experiences in evading capture. He wrote it all down at the end of his life as a...
How Peden’s Ministry Began (But Almost Did Not) – Biggar Kirk – SFH087
We visit the last church to be built in Scotland before the Reformation to discover some of its later history. In 1659, the Covenanter Alexander Peden was here and about to begin his ministry when some dramatic events threatened to put a stop to it. It was said that...
A Strange Transformation, James Harkness and the Captain – Biggar – SFH086
James Harkness from Dumfriesshire was the special object of loathing for the dragoons. They called him Harkness with the "long gun" and were only too pleased to capture him and treat him with brutal contempt. But strangely, that experience was going to turn out for...
“Hanged Without Trial” – Peter Gillies, Skirling – SFH085
We find out about the Covenanter connections with the pretty little village of Skirling. While there is not much information about James Ramage and Alexander Smith, we know much more about Peter Gillies. Driven out of his native district he narrowly escaped from...
A Haven from Persecution – Greenhill House, Biggar – SFH084
Often the scene of danger, Greenhill House now stands in a tranquil corner of the town of Biggar. Lady Greenhill was a wise and courageous protector of Covenanters who sought out her home as a place of refuge. She was a wanted woman by the authorities. Once...
Controversial, learned and zealous – John Flint of Lasswade – SFH083
The long and interesting life of John Flint, encountered many notable theologians. Despite his initial promise and youthful mistakes he proved to be, as Robert Wodrow says, a pious, warm-hearted, useful minister that continued in his commitment to the values of the...
“Bringing these persecuted preachings to Lothian” – James Currie and the Moorfoot Conventicles- SFH082
We are at the remote spot near Mauldslie, close to Gladhouse Reservoir with the Moorfoot Hills as a backdrop. During the first half of 1679 field meetings were held here on the boundary of the Borders and Midlothian. It was a brief window of powerful preaching. James...
The Man Behind the Memorial – James Currie of Pentland – SFH081
If you have ever viewed and appreciated the Covenanter Martyrs Memorial at Greyfriars Churchyard in Edinburgh, you have James Currie to thank. It is said that Currie indeed sculpted the panel for the memorial himself. But who was he? He himself had experiences of...
“If I should die among the snow” – a Winter Conventicle, Closeburn – SFH080
We might easily be tempted to romanticise conventicles in the time of snow. In later times poems were written of how "all around the snow was falling, yet there they held their place". The hardship was, however, acute. Such weather also certainly added to the dangers...
“Send me where you please” – David Dickson, Turriff – SFH079
In the small town of Turriff in Aberdeenshire you can still see the bell that tolled for people to come to worship and hear David Dickson’s sermons. But Dickson was not there voluntarily, he had been banished as a civil punishment. Why was this and what can we still...
An Echo from 1592, a Year of Liberty for the Church – SFH078
Sometimes a date or an event from Scotland’s Forgotten History crops up unexpectedly in current affairs. In this episode we consider such an echo from 1592, a year of liberty for the Church. What was the Golden Act and how can a simple piece of legislation have such...
Gabriel Semple’s Prison Prayer – Canongate Tolbooth – SFH077
The field preacher Gabriel Semple was incarcerated in the Canongate Tolbooth in 1681. But it was only a brief interlude in a long history of preaching despite persecution. We find out how his experience here fits into the rest of that eventful life of being hunted...
Conscience, Obedience and an Unwanted Government – Dalkeith Palace – SFH076
Politics and government often present complex realities. How do you face a turbulent political situation and an unwanted regime with conscience and principle? We visit the Scottish headquarters of Oliver Cromwell's regime to consider how Covenanters decided to respond...
Shot Dead at an “Illegal” Service – James Davie of Bathgate – SFH075
The grave of a Covenanter can be found at the ruined Old Parish Church in Bathgate. We know very little about James Davie except that he lost his life for the sake of hearing the gospel preached. Let's discover what we do know about the circumstances surrounding his...
Home in Exile – Ramsay of Arniston Mains – SFH074
The charming story of a Covenanter forced into exile from Midlothian. He moves right into the heart of Covenanting territory where there are frequent conventicles and Covenanters are ferociously hunted down. So he finds a home in exile very like his own and lives in...
Covenant or Career? The Choices and Principles of Sir James Dundas of Arniston – SFH073
Join us at the stunning mansion house of Arniston, Midlothian to discover a lesser known principled landowning Covenanter called Sir James Dundas, first Lord of Arniston. His direct descendant Althea Dundas-Bekker invites us to her home to tell us about his life,...