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Welcome to my web site which is mainly about the historic struggles between the medieval Catholic Church of Rome and the
resurging evangelism of Protestant creeds that resulted in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland, and the
Episcopal Church of England. A new index tab links to pages about the
Reformation in Europe.
The Reformation was much more than the popular view of John Knox breathing fire and brimstone in Scotland, and Henry VIII solving his marital problems in England;
or indeed, the highly selective re-writes of history and dramatised reconstructions – the so called docu-dramas
and soap opera derivations, that litter the television schedules.
Importantly, events that contributed to change took place over a much longer time span and involved sweeping changes in the economy and social order that had far reaching consequences. Among these were the discrimination and persecution of non conforming Presbyterians (the Covenanters) and the migration of tens of thousands of Scots to Ulster – the Ulster Scots (aka the Scotch-Irish). In England there was the uncertainty of the succession to Henry VIII; the bloody rule of Mary Tudor; and the demands of the Puritans returning from exile, before the settlement of an official Protestant Church under Elizabeth I. This was followed by further bloody discrimination by the Stuart kings against all forms of dissenters from the `approved` religion (of
their choice), that contributed to Cromwell`s
intervention and civil wars within and between the three kingdoms. The
Protestant religion in the realm of Great Britain was not settled
until “The Glorious Revolution” and the accession of William and Mary in
1690. Even then discrimination continued throughout the realm.
The Reformation in Europe was not just Martin Luther
nailing his Theses to the Church door in Wittenberg, but the result of a
long delayed and organised opposition to the orthodoxy of Rome. The
Renaissance contributed greatly to the struggle to restore beliefs that
were consonant with the Gospel, with evangelising preachers such as the
Waldensians and the Lollards preparing the ground for the harvest of
Protestantism.
Generally I have sought out details from the less accessible sources – old publications, books, and manuscripts etc. The site focuses on the history and does not attempt , save by some illustrative quotations, to join in the theological debate, nor the alleged rights and wrongs of any particular creed.
There is an extensive bibliography that may provide further reading for
those desiring more theological explanation.
New pages are added from time to time, so bookmark and make a return visit.
As the late Dave Allen, Irish comedian and raconteur, used to say “May your God go with you”
Enjoy.
Last updated
03/12/2016 CB 🙂
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The Scottish Reformation
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The establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland
The persecuted “faithful remnant”
Migration to Ireland, and the
world
The establishment of a
Protestant Church in England
and
The
European
Reformation.
Sources; further reading;
MY BOOKS
Miscellaneous
articles
Travels in Scotland;
Children of Scotland;
National War Memorial.
Early medicine
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My Books
A Laymans Guide to the Scottish Reformation
Orr-Some
Genealogy of the Orrs
`The Sojjers
are Comin`
A CD book with database of over 4,600 Covenanters.
available from
Dumfries
& Galloway FHS
The Nail in the Door
ISBN 978-1-4092-9360-6
Ref. No. 7394110
Testimony of the Covenant
ISBN 978-14457-
2260-3
Ref. No 8484804
Available from
www.lulu.com
or the author.
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