Columba Press, with its reputation for publications of great excellence, in inviting and persuading Finlay Holmes to write The Presbyterian Church in Ireland - A Popular History, has provided a great service for the reading public in general, Presbyterians in particular, and the Ecumenical Movement, this last because the reader cannot fail to learn about Presbyterians in Ireland, their distinctive, reformed policy and beliefs, and their ambivalent contribution to life, especially political life, in Ireland today.
Histories of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland are extant in those of Latimer, Stewart and Barkley and others, and Finlay Holmes has already provided a noteworthy history in 1985, entitled Our Irish Presbyterian Heritage at the invitation of the Publications Board of the church, with Presbyterian Church members mainly in mind.
But in responding to Columba Press, Holmes has succeeded in effectively revising his earlier work and simplifying it. It has, the authority of one who has taught his subject with great success for more than 33 years in Magee University College, in Derry, Union Theological College, Belfast, and the Queen's University Faculty of Theology.
In a chapter entitled First Presbyterians in Ireland it is acknowledged that Presbyterianism is not an indigenous Irish phenomenon. The Plantation of the early 17th century and succeeding developments are themes. A second chapter deals with the laying of the foundations of the church, with the formation of Presbytery and Synod. Century by century is then presented in chapters down till today, each taking account of salient matters such as the United Irish Rebellion, Tenant Right, Home Rule, Partition, a Union of Synods (1840) and an emerging Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Unionism and Republicanism, Overseas Mission, the Ecumenical Movement and much more.
Holmes has a playful sense of humour and his narrative is spiced with restful, humorous, quotations.
The book has an index and a helpful, short, discriminating bibliography. It has 168 pages and sells for £7.99. We presume that at the current rate of exchange it must be a bargain for Northerners especially. Columba Press must be congratulated on its beautiful presentation, and Bill Bolger in particular for his artwork on the cover. The Burning Bush, a symbol of Presbyterianism is a happy, colourful choice.
The majority denomination in the Republic must be encouraged to buy and read. Columba Press might be encouraged to do the same for other denominations, for example the Methodists, the Church of Ireland - a popular history. Ecumenism would be served.
The Rev James Haire, former member of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, sometime an overseas worker on the Indonesian Island of Halma Hera returned to Australia, where he is a professor in the Uniting Church, on February 13th to report on the desperate state of life of Christians there. He reports that "unless there is an urgent peace agreement and ceasefire" the Christian community of 150,000 there could be wiped out. Already hundreds have been killed and half are refugees or displaced from their homes. Sporadic violence rages throughout the East Indonesian Malukas (Spice Islands). Muslim extremists on a Jihad aim at driving out all Christians from these islands, their homes for centuries.
The Oversees Board of the church has appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Mrs Mary Robinson, and the British and Irish governments to exert whatever pressure they can on the Indonesian government.