Reviews
Tom Lennie's book, Glory in the Glen, is concerned with Revival in Scotland. When this subject comes up, most folk think about the Lewis and Harris awakening of 1949-53. The startling thing about this book is its widespread nature, the variety of the locations and the periods involved. There were revivals all over the land, not only in remote or rural places but in industrial areas like Motherwell, Greenock and Glasgow; not only at times about which much has already been written but during unexpected periods. At present I'm reading "Glory in the Glen" for a second time and I continue to be surprised, thrilled and to give glory to our God who does wonderful things. The period he has chosen on this occasion is 1880 to 1940. I look forward to reading more, much more.
Alex Muir, Inverness
I have just finished reading Glory in the Glen what a book what a wonderful dedication to writing such balanced detail, I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for accuracy, and honesty. Without a doubt, in my 60 years as a Christian this is definately the best record of Revivals in two hundred years an insight into how God brought unity amongst all peoples within the walls of Denominationalism for the glory of God, The Holy Spirit bringing Unity about by working with Believers and having His way in and through them without the need to hold a Board Meeting with men.
Andrew McKie
Glory in the Glen is one of those books that I couldn't put down for any length of time! The contents are illuminating, inspirational, and a real encouragement to pray for days we desire to see in our own day and generation. Meticulously researched, I endorse Kenny Borthwick's sentiment that Tom Lennie has certainly "done us all a great service in writing this book". Clearly a labour of love, may Glory in the Glen be used to fuel many to pray for revival in our land.
Kenny Gillies, Kirriemuir
Being a Scot and a graduate from 60 years ago of BTI Glasgow, I read Glory in the Glen with great great interest. I was born nine miles from Ayr in the town of Maybole and of course in the heart of the covenanter country. I read with great interest all that you shared about the revival that took place in the Salvation Army in Ayr. What of course drew my attention as well was your reference to Jock Troup and Peter Connolly. Peter was called to be the pastor of the church where I grew up in Maybole. Through the ministry of both Peter and Jock during one very special week in September 1944, I came under deep conviction, repented, and found new life in Christ.
I have talked a lot about the book, and even feel that it should be required reading for anyone entering ministry in Scotland.
Jack Murray
With pleasure and longing I read Tom Lennie's marvelous book. Of all the publications on revival which I met in the course of years (my first was in 1965 on the Northampton revival during Edwards' ministry), I have never read such a detailed study which is so fascinating till you finished! I hope that brother Lennie will get time and energy to finish the two other volumes of his intended trilogy!
Leen J. van Valen, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
Glory in the Glen is a marvelously detailed work on Scottish Revival. For me, some of the most interesting sections were: a) The story of Revival in Charlotte Baptist Chapel, Edinburgh b) Revival in the Salvation Army, Ayr in 1908 c) Jock Troup's work in Fraserburgh during the Fishermen's Revival of 1921-2; d) Perceptions of heaven and hell (p. 381), physical manifestations in Lewis in 1938 (p. 387), various Kilsyth incidents (pp. 427-8), and McKendrick's experience of 'God's telephone' (p. 209, 211).
My attention was also drawn to the extremely important issue of how Revival can be extinguished, as stated by, e.g., James Stewart (p. 192) and William Campbell of Point (p. 348), noting also Hugh Black's recollection on a man who opposed Revival (p. 379 - footnote).
This is a fantastic book, which I have delighted to read through twice.
John Winterton, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset
I agree with the other reviewers. This is a thoroughly researched and highly informative piece of work. I would have to say it is the best book on Scottish revivals that I've read. Coming from Fraserburgh, the second section on 'Revival among the Fisherfolk' is of particular interest to me. Many will have read of the 1921 revival with Jock Troup and David Cordiner in other books, but how many have heard of the revival with James McKendrick that occurred a few years earlier? It's a real page-turner and has you longing to see another genuine movement of God in our nation today. I look forward to more of Mr Lennie's writings on the subject.