"At this moment in church history the people of God sorely need to be reminded that following Christ means being willing to part with cherished denominational identities and connections, church buildings, and even houses and secure salaries. This welcome book includes a picture of each of these founding fathers of the Free Church of Scotland and - to a man - they all look as sober as hot, black coffee in a styrofoam cup. As we are in no danger of overdoing their earnestness, spending a few hours with such steely-eyed men can safely serve to remind us of what it means to stake one's life and livelihood on the lordship of Jesus Christ. Sandy Finlayson has written a clear, lively book that concedes when these churchmen were wrong without thereby obscuring their passionate stand for the Gospel.
- Timothy Larsen, McManis Professor of Christian Thought, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois
"While all of them were excellent; each of them was peculiar." What John
Kennedy said about the ministers of Ross-shire might well be said about
the galaxy of men who led and shaped the nineteenth century Free Church
of Scotland. They were all excellent - excellent Christians, churchmen,
intellectuals and orators. But they all had their own peculiarities, as
Professor Finlayson demonstrates in this new collection of memoirs. From
the administrative genius of Thomas Chalmers to the confessional
radicalism of Kennedy himself, the men featured in this book were all
endowed with qualities singularly suited to their respective callings.
Where there is a love for the gospel in Scotland, their story deserves
to be told, and Sandy Finlayson has told it well. A highly commended
volume."
- Iain D Campbell, Minister, Point Free Church of Scotland, Isle of Lewis
"I have simply loved reading Unity and Diversity: the founders of the Free Church of Scotland by Sandy Finlayson….I loved the chapter on John (Rabbi) Duncan. I think I enjoyed it so much because of its refreshing honesty. John Duncan was professor of Old Testament at New College, Edinburgh from 1843 to 1870…..
John Duncan was at his best as an international missionary and church planter, he had a blessed ministry in Budapest, Hungary. In Budapest he was personally fulfilled and used by God. The young, restless and reformed need to learn that there was life BK (before Keller), Sandy Finlayson notes, ‘Duncan was not narrowly sectarian and was more concerned that the message of Christianity should be disseminated than in the establishment of a particularly Scottish Presbyterian mission’. The values of the Redeemer church planting network were at work long ago!"
- Rev. David Meredith, Minister Smithton-Culloden Free Church; Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland
