2 nd March 2008Clogher Valley Bible Class History of Christianity in Ireland.

2nd March 2008 Clogher Valley Bible Class

History of Christianity in Ireland


The Origin of the Irish Peoples

All Irishmen are the children of successive invaders.

Before the 10th Century known as Scotia.

The Romans called it Hibernia but decided against an invasion.


The Scoto-Irish Church

Archbishop Ussher believed that Christianity in Ireland was older than in any other part of Europe.In the 3rd Century Cormac, Chief King of Ireland, turned from paganism “to the adoration of God”.Early in the 5th Century the Irish are recorded as “believing in Christ”.


Saint Patrick

His two writings which are available today are:

1: His Confession

2: His Letter to Christians


His Early LifeHe was born in Scotland.His Father was a priest or a minister.At 16 bandits captured him and took him as a slave to Ireland.On the hillsides around Slemish he drove his master’s cows and sheep.It was at this time he said he was “converted with my whole heart unto the Lord my God”.After 6 years he escaped and returned home to Scotland.


Patrick’s Call

In a dream he saw a man called Victorious.He gave Patrick a letter called the “Voice of the Irish”.He heard the people cry, “We entreat thee holy youth to come and walk henceforth among us”.He devoted his life to preaching and establishing churches throughout this island.


His Ministry

He conducted extensive evangelistic tours.The places that bear his name bear witness to this fact.He wrote, “I am greatly a debtor to God who hath vouchsafed me such great grace that many people by my means should be born again to God, and that clergy should be ordained everywhere for them.”


The King and the Shamrock

Preaching to the King of Meath at Tara.

He expounded the mysterious doctrine of the Trinity.

The three leaved shamrock was his object lesson as he illustrated the truth of Scriptures.


Patrick’s Dates

Late in the 5th Century.

Death is most likely to have taken place on 17th March either 465 or 493.

The Irish claim he was buried in Down-Patrick although the English also claim his burial site in Glastonbury.


A Catholic Saint or an Early Protestant?

He never mentioned the Pope in his writings.

Mary was not spoken of.

Confession was not practised.

Purgatory was unknown.

His Father was married.

In doctrine he was Trinitarian, Christ exalting and was evangelical believing in the new birth.

He emphasised the scriptures.

In Church Government he ordained one bishop per church.

Was he a Presbyterian?


Columba – From Donegal to IonaBorn in Donegal – 521.With 12 companions he sailed across the Irish Sea looking for a place to serve God.Landed on the Isle of Iona.Established a Monastery, Church, Farm and a centre of learning and evangelism.The Bible was transcribed.Iona became a base for evangelistic efforts on the neighbouring islands and the Scottish mainland.Columba died on Sabbath morning 9th June 597 after transcribing Ps 34:10.


The Celtic Monasteries

The Irish and Scottish Monasteries were the only schools of their time.

As a result of their influence Ireland became known as the Isle of Saints in the 7th Century.

Irishmen took the gospel to Britain, France, Germany and Italy.

Columbanus for example established a monastery after the Iona pattern in Burgundy.


Resistance To RomeIreland was the last country in these islands to be subject to the Vatican.Successive Church Synods in the 12th Century attempted to impose prelacy upon the people.Local villages insisted upon electing their own arch-presbyters to oversee the work of God in their districts.The Synods of the Roman Church were therefore ignored by the people.


The English Pope and the Gift of Ireland

In 1155 Adrian 4th gave Henry 2nd the authority to extend his own Kingdom as well as the Church by invading Ireland.

The Pope was to receive 1 penny per year from every household in Ireland.

In 1171 Henry landed at Waterford and assumed sovereignty over Ireland.


Ireland Before The Reformation

The Bible disappeared from the land.

England found parts of the country ungovernable, lawlessness prevailed.

The Bishops assisted by the Government rode roughshod over the people.

The Bishops were noted for their greed and immorality.


The Reformation in Ireland

1: In 1537 the Irish Parliament voted that the Church of Ireland should become Protestant.

2: The people, however, had to be won over to the Protestant faith.


Protestantism Politicised

By law preaching could only be conducted in English, not the local Gaelic.

The penal laws were introduced which degraded the Catholic people.

As a result Protestantism became regarded as the religion of the conquerors, not the gospel of freedom.


Saved By A Pack Of CardsUnder Henry 8th and Edward 6th the Reformed Faith made little progress.Under Mary the Church of Ireland was returned to Popery.Dr Cole, Dean of Saint Paul’s was sent to Dublin to oversee the burning of heretics.At Chester a Protestant lady stole the Royal Commission replacing it with a a pack of cards.This was not discovered until he reached Dublin.Mary died before a new commission could be obtained.


During the Reign of ElizabethAs the Church of Ireland clergy were no better morally or spiritually than the priests Protestantism could make little progress.The country was in a constant state of revolt.By Elizabeth’s death the last rebel had been defeated.Also Trinity College Dublin was established, one of the first students being the future Archbishop James Ussher.


The Flight of the Earls

In September 1607 O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone and O’Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell flee Ireland to seek asylum in the continent.

They represented rebellion against the British.

Their departure opened a new era in Irish history.

An opportunity now presented itself for a radical new policy to be introduced and followed through.

Could the power vacuum be filled?


The Plantation of Ulster

The earls were Ulstermen who now left behind vast areas of land which the crown now held.

It was decided to fill these districts with English and Scottish settlers.


The Plan

The land was divided into estates of 1,000 1,500 and 2,000 acres.

The owners of the larger estates had to erect a castle and bawn for security and plant 48 able bodied men.

The rent was charged at a rate of 1 penny per acre.


The Attraction

Cheap land was a major incentive.

For the Scottish Presbyterians freedom from persecution was important.

Ireland became both the refuge from oppression and the place of a new beginning that America was later to become.


The Results

Communities such as Belfast, Londonderry, Coleraine, Ballymena and Newtownards owe their formation to the Plantation.

Ulster became the most prosperous part of Ireland.

This province also became the most British and the most loyal in all of Ireland.


What Brought the Presbyterians to Ireland?

James 6th of Scotland appeared to be a staunch Presbyterian.

He showed signs of popery as Scottish King.

When he became James 1st of England he abolished Presbyterianism in Scotland.

James Melville, successor to Knox, was confined to the Tower of London for 4 years.


Janet’s LugIn 1625 Charles 1st was crowned.With the help of Archbishop Laud a prayer book was introduced in Scotland.A peasant called Janet Geddes flung her stool at the Dean of Edinburgh when the book was introduced crying out, “dost thou say Mass at my lug”.Many godly Scots tired of the strife saw Ireland as a more peaceful place to worship God.


The Fathers of Irish PresbyterianismEdward Brice, Broadisland near Larne, he ministered as a Church of Ireland minister and was permitted to worship according the Presbyterian model.1621, Rev Hubbard brought his London congregation to Carrickfergus!Carrickfergus – James Glendinning was a powerful but eccentric preacher.1623 Robert Blair arrived in Bangor. He had been a Professor in Glasgow University. He came to Ireland for freedom but explained he could not serve under an Episcopalian Government.


The Fathers of Irish Presbyterianism

1625 James Hamilton was settled in Ballywalter.1625 Robert Cunningham was installed in Holywood.Josias Welsh pastored in Oldstone and Templepatrick. He was nicknamed “The Cock of the Conscience” because of his gifts. He was the grandson of John Knox.George Dunbar who suffered imprisonment in Scotland but enjoyed a prosperous ministry in Killinchy.


Archbishop UssherLargely due to this godly man’s influence the climate was favourable to the arrival of the Presbyterians.Having been tutored by Presbyterians he had a deep respect for their principles.He drew up the Irish Articles in 1615 which were Calvinistic and Evangelical. They accepted the ordination of Presbyterians, opposed the practice of lent and make no mention of the orders of Bishop, Priest and Deacon.


The First Irish RevivalRev James Glendinning of Oldstone preached firmly against sin and warned of God’s wrath.Many people in the Sixmilewater Valley were deeply convicted of their sins.Rev Glendinning could go no further and did not reveal the grace of the Gospel.Local ministers came to lead the people to Christ and a monthly Friday meeting instituted to feed the new converts in Antrim.This awakening had a deep influence for good both in the Sixmilewater and further afield.

2 nd March 2008Clogher Valley Bible Class History of Christianity in Ireland.

Documents

Transcript of 2 nd March 2008Clogher Valley Bible Class History of Christianity in Ireland.