GLORY IN THE GLEN [Paperback]

Glory in the Glen - a History of Evangelical Revivals in Scotland - 1880-1940 is a 512 page, 5 part, 60 years of Scottish revivals by Scottish revival historian, Tom Lennie, a native of Orkney.

It is a monster of a book which goes into very minute detail and the author cross-references his facts from numerious sources and draws them to the surface in print.

The amount of books and periodicals quoted from is outstanding from a book which must have taken around 6 years to research and compile and a second is on the way - looking forward to that one!

The book has lots of maps and black and white photos which give any book, that bit more. The maps are very helpful as most of the places are off my geographical radar and i've been to Scotland and all across the Outer Hebridies over nrealy 20 years. Has a place index and a peoples index which is VERY helpful for such a large work.

As stated previously, the sources are so many (a good thing) and are noted at the bottom of each page along with any additonal information. This makes it much easier than turning to the back of the book which is what most authors do. At the end of each chapter thaere are laso mention of Other Movements which can be found on the authors website, which is still under construction at the time of this review.

The book is laid out very well, with lots of headings for various geographical locations and the the towns or villages or cities and their respective dates for the times of quickening, Divine visitations. Some "revivals" are questionable, but the author openly states on 'It is very frustrating to find an allusion to a spiritual awakening and then to be completely unable to find any more information on it because no fuller record was kept.' AND for some 'only the barest information is known'. p.21.

The author is very good at explaining local terms and colloquisms which to a non-Scot is important in some of the phrases. The culture and background to many of the sections is also very helpful, especially the Revivals among the Fisher-Folk where culture, customs, insights are given to set the scene which aids us in our reading of these 'seasonal' revivals.

The author also, thankfully, does not overlook any negative aspects of revivals: emotionalism, revivalism, persection and negative coments from laity and heathen alike. Even Duncan Campbell was called "a servant of the devil!"

Most of the revivals are small in their geographical area and their statistic, if and where noted, but there are some prominent ones where page after page are dedicated to these moves of the Holy Spirit such as in Glasgow and Motherwell and Kilmaluag on Skye.

There is some excellent work and reasearch about the revivals under the Faith Mission, from its beginning under J. G. Govan, various ladies Pilgrims (workers of the FM) and some excellent stories about Duncan Campbell and the work of the Sally Anne - the Salvation Army, including the terrible persection they endured.

The book is full of revivalists, evangelists, stories, tales, history, customs, some opinions, observations, personal conversations oh, and a few hundred revivals in Scotland! The war years were also interesting (WWI) and how the Scots lost a lot of good men and that 90% of sons of the manse volunteered in defence of the British Empire.

I was VERY impressed about the long chapter about the revival in Scotland in 1905 which was influenced from the Welsh Revival with Welsh evangeists / revivalists going to Scotland and numerious Scots ministers going to Wales - revival carriers and glory exporters! Fascinating chapter which much interlinking and once again, shows the depth of research which plums to the depths of mineshafts history and draws to the surface the best of the best and is educational, informative and enjoyable.

I believe this is the authors first book and Tom Lennie is a great author on the subject of revival and a true Scottish revival historian whom i heartily recommend.

This book is not confined just for the Scots or the British, but is a book to be put into the hands of Chrisitan everywhere (worldwide) so that we can all proclaim - Our God is mighty to save - to the uttermost! He will see the travail of His soul and be satisfied and let us plead, O God, rend the heavens and come down, for Thy great name sake, though our sins testify against us... Revive Thy work, for Thy glory.

Jesus is Lord.

Other Good revival books: Revival Fires and Awakenings: Thirty-six Visitations of the Holy Spirit - a Call to Holiness, Prayer and Intercession for the Nations

Understanding Revival and Addressing the Issues it Provokes: So That We Can Intelligently Cooperate with the Holy Spirit During Times of Revivals and Awakenings ... Physical Phenomena or Manifestations

Glory in the Glen is, as others have already commented, an extremely well researched historical account of evangelical revivals in Scotland 1880 -1940. It is not everyday that one picks up a history book and finds oneself reading from cover to cover. This book allows the historical facts to speak and yet the narrative voice of individuals captures and inspires the reader's interest.
The book offers an unromantic,clear, balanced and enthralling account of the revivals covered. In reading of past revivals one inevitably finds oneself longing and praying for another such season of blessing to visit Scotland

I look forward with anticipation to the next book.

Book Description

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.
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.

Reviews

"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."
Scotsman

Author Tom Lennie is arguably Scothand'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

"...a welcome addition to the literature on the evangelical history of Scotland. He has researched the sources - both oral and written - thoroughly, and has assessed the evidence thoughtfully... I wish it a wide circulation."
Iain D Campbell ~ Back Free Church of Scotland, Isle of Lewis

"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.' "
Kenny Borthwick, Holy Trinity Church, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh

"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, Professor of Theological Bibliography, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

"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

"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

"... 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