Free in Aberdeen

Yesterday I attended public worship at Aberdeen’s Free Presbyterian Church. Unlike most of the regulars, I wore a brown suit rather than black, so I may have been marked out as a man of questionable theology. Still, I was the only one present to wear a black mask, and that must count for something. It was good to gather with people sensible to reverential worship. The church’s minister wore a rather charming frock coat and the preacher, another minister, gave an encouraging and thoughtful exposition of Exodus 29:42 and the sacrificial lambs. The church was having its communion service after the sermon, and I excused myself beforehand. Not being of their order, nor having a minister who could vouch for my good standing, it would have been inappropriate to remain.

Salem Chapel and the ‘Wee Frees’ as they are colloquially called, both sing psalms from the Psalter, but they exclusively so. Whereas we are sometimes pitied by more modern churches for still singing hymns, they would not even do that. They sang unaccompanied, but two men at the front set their respective psalms’ tune and tempo, and a very pleasing sound the congregation made. Some harmonised, others provided a deep-throated volume, but the overall effect was most beautiful. More importantly, the great God of heaven will surely have delighted in hearing His people make melody to Him. It would have been disrespectful for a visitor like me to have sung as lustily there as I might have at home, but I pray the Lord accepted my heart-felt worship. Unusually, they stood for prayer and remained seated for song. As I pondered such things, I was mindful of the great Oliver, a fellow English Congregationalist, attending the preaching of the presbyterian James Durham at Glasgow. Though our nations and churches be different, I find more common ground among strict, Scotch presbyterians than among some fellow Englishmen who claim the name of Christ but make their services of public worship more akin to some third-rate cabaret.  

May the Lord bless Aberdeen’s Free Presbyterians.