No nation on earth has a richer, more colourful, and more long–standing heritage of evangelical awakenings than Scotland – yet most people are unfamiliar with its dramatic legacy. Most historical studies stop at, or before, the Moody & Sankey Revival of 1873–74. It is commonly assumed that very few genuine revivals occurred since that date until the Lewis Revival of 1949–53. Tom Lennie thoroughly debunks this idea – showing that religious awakenings were relatively common in Scotland between these dates – and provides a comprehensive account of the many exciting revivals that have taken place throughout Scotland. The Awakenings in the Outer Hebrides and North East fishing communities, that had several unique and striking features, are considered in separate sections. Revivals amongst both children / students and Pentecostals are also given separate treatment. Of particular significance is the first comprehensive account of the 1930’s ‘Laymen’s Revival’ in Lewis. This fascinating, but near–forgotten, movement may have been even more powerful and influential than the later Lewis Revival. Glory in the Glen tells a thoroughly absorbing, and largely untold, story. It is the result of painstaking research, conducted over more than half–a–decade, from hundreds of source materials as well as personal interviews. Much of the material has never before been published.
Endorsements
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
Extensively researched and engagingly written Tom Lennie is to be commended for bringing to life an element of Scottish church history that has not received the attention it deserves.
Sandy Finlayson Director of Library Services & Professor of Theological Bibliography, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
I have come through the pages of this book with a prayer forming on my breath again and again: 'Come Lord once more to this land. Visit us with another day of Your Power.'
Author Tom Lennie is arguably Scotland's answer to world authority on revival J Edwin Orr... Ample uncritical examples of widespread outbreaks of revival over sixty years are documented. We are taken from villages on the Islands to the main land and to the large cities... captivatingly told, stacks of information, local illustrations and experiences.
Tony Sargent Principal Emeritus, International Christian College, Glasgow
...there's no gainsaying the awe-inspiring scale of his researches or the value of a study which so comprehensively and so vividly evokes the enthusiasm of successive awakenings in a period long assumed to be one of comparative spiritual apathy.
The Scotsman
Spontaneous local revivals of religion in Scotland did not virtually disappear, Tom Lennie has shown that there were evangelical awakenings in many parts of the land down to the inter-war years.
David Bebbington Professor of History, University of Stirling, Stirling
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 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
... it is not new techniques or new schemes we need... It is what many nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Scottish Christians, whose experience of true revival is set forth in this well-documented book, knew: the awesome God of holiness himself drawing near to his people and setting mind and heart ablaze with glorious light. Read-and pray!
Michael A. G. Haykin Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
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.
Andrew Young, Fraserburgh
The Christian Church is much indebted to Tom Lennie for the years of patient research that must have gone into compiling such a record. Packed with first-hand accounts from eye witnesses, testimonies from those deeply affected, and newspaper reports, Lennie's material is well documented and authentic. He describes localised works of God, many in out-of-the-way places from Galloway in south to the Orkneys in the North, from Lewis in the West to the East coast...the main thrust of this thrilling account can only leave us all with longing hearts and a desire to see such works of God again in our day.
Evangelicals Now
In this fair-minded and thorough book, Tom Lennie has shown that there were evangelical awakenings in many parts of the land down to the inter-war years.
Richard Owen Roberts International Awakening Ministries
an intriguing, judiciously balanced, and often inspiring account of movements of the Holy Spirit in Scotland in a period that we do not normally think of as characterized by revivals (except for the 1949-52 Lewis Revival, which occurred later)... It has encouraged me to pray with new expectancy for God to revive His work among us.
Douglas F. Kelly Professor of Theology Emeritus, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina
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
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.
A native of Orkney, Tom Lennie serves as Executive Editor of Prophecy Today UK. With a longstanding fascination with revival history, he is the author of ‘Glory in the Glen’, ‘Land of Many Revivals’, and ‘Scotland Ablaze’.
Sign up to receive our monthly Journal and offers.
Our use of cookies
Some cookies are necessary for us to manage how our website behaves.
Functional
These cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.
