Books
Here's a selection of books you may like to look at. All of these are available on loan from members of the church or from Cornerstone Bookshop or Amazon. You may also like to visit the Faith Mission Bookshop at 36 Barnton Street, Stirling.
Topical Books
Follow this link to the Scottish Christian book page.
 St Saviour's at 150
J. Malcolm Allan
assisted by W. F. T. Anderson
Published by St Saviour's Scottish
Episcopal Church, Bridge of Allan
Paperback, £5.00
Malcolm Allan, a member of the Holy Trinity congregation, has written this lively history of St Saviour's, where he was formerly organist.
St Saviour's at 150 is a well-produced book with lots of illustrations, many in full colour, that tells the story of the Scottish Episcopal Church in Bridge of Allan. Malcolm Allan skilfully weaves his narrative in the most enjoyable way. The first Rector, after having been invited by Bishop Wordsworth of Perth to be the first incumbent of a continuing mission at Bridge of Allan, accepted, despite there being no worship centre, no house and no stipend! The Rev. J. T. Boyle began a heroic twenty-five years work establishing St Saviour's. Those who suceeded the first Revtor seem largely to have been cast in the same mould, which was just as well, for many were the disappointments and disagreements. There are three very good reasons for getting a copy of this book. Firstly, it is a good read. Secondly, we are reminded of how tough and determined our predecessors were. Had they not been so, the SEC would have disappeared long ago. Thirdly, when we look at our present-day situation, we can only be glad that we live in the twenty-first century. Our church owes a great debt to all those who take on the job of producing parish histories. There is little in the way of reward for these writers, other than the appreciation of their fellow parishioners. These parish histories are important historical documents that become ever more valuable as the years roll by. St Saviour's at 150 can be obtained from W. F. T. Anderson, 7 Kenilworth Road, Bridge of Allan, Stirling FK9 4DU. The cost of £6.25 includes postage and packing. Cheques are to be made payable to 'St Saviour's Church'.
Rev. Ron Fleming
 The Way Ahead
Ian M. Fraser
Published by Wild Goose Publications
Paperback £8.99
My first encounter with Ian Fraser was in the early days of Scottish Churches House in the 1960s when he sought to earth his vision of ecumenism in the pioneering work of the House. This book continues to challenge the church’s thinking. He reaffirms that vision of Christian unity as about the world’s needs and not simply an exercise in ‘ecclesiastical joinery’; and he calls us to see ministry as the task of the whole people of God, not reserved to the few. At a time when it is too easy for the church to retreat into some pietistic huddle, Ian reminds us of the mission imperative which takes the world seriously; and moreover, he writes with a sense of hope and expectation.
Rt Rev. Bruce Cameron, former Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Book Review
The Twilight of Atheism:
The Rise and Fall of Disbelief
in the Modern World
Alister McGrath
Published by Rider, paperback £7.99
ISBN 184 413 1556
Faith communities often find themselves on the back foot, warding off attack from those who dismiss their beliefs as unprovable, dangerous or just plain irrelevant. Or perhaps they did once, when rationalism ruled. McGrath's provocative thesis would cut atheism down to the size of a passing dream, an episode in the intellectual history pf the West, which troubled religion but could never destroy it. Sweeping through intellectual history from the French Revolution to the American Atheists of the 21st century, he argues that atheism was attractive only in a negative way - as a critique of institutionalised religion. Atheism could not satisfy human longings, nor did it inspire great moral heroism. As a political force, it died with the fall of the Berlin Wall, a victim of "the uninhabitability of modernism". By contrast, the church is no longer privileged and static, he argues, and now engages with science, offers experiences of the sacred, and creates community. McGrath writes in a racy, anecdotal style which bounces along with verve and confidence. Inevitably, some of the complexities are lost. Towards the end, his argument degenerates into mudslinging against the likes of Madalyn Murray O'Hair. McGrath openly admits that he is exploring his own faith journey from atheism to Christianity on the broader canvas of modern cultural history; the historian in me feels uneasy, but the apologist cheers.
Rev. Dr Alison M. Peden, Rector
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church has a range of publications:
General publications
Inspires magazine
Liturgical publications
All should be available from Cornerstone Bookshop. If you can't find any of these titles on Cornerstone's website, please contact them by following this link.
The Bible
The most fundamental of all Christian books. In church, we normally use the New Revised Standard Version, but we don't say that this is the version that you must read at home: many others are available. While considering which one to buy, have a look at the website of the Scottish Bible Society. You can also browse a good selection of Bibles in the Faith Mission Bookshop at 36 Barnton Street, Stirling.
Bible commentary
The Bible for Dummies, by Jeffrey Geoghegan and Michael Holman, published by John Wiley, ISBN 0-7645-5296-1. Another entry-level guide from the 'for Dummies' series. Takes you through the Old Testament, Apocrypha and New Testament book by book in the jocular plain English style for which the series is famous. This makes it particularly suitable for teenagers and young adults.
Every Day with Jesus, by Selwyn Hughes, published bi-monthly by Crusade for World Revival. Small, A6-sized daily devotional. One page for each day of the year, containing a recommended short Bible reading and a few paragraphs of incisive comment which will certainly make you think!
The Lion Handbook to the Bible, edited by David Alexander and Pat Alexander, published by Lion Hudson, ISBN 0-7459-5094-9. Clearly written and lavishly illustrated in full colour, this guide will set you on the way to a deeper understanding of the Bible. The most recent (2002) edition has been updated with much new material.
Christianity
Christianity for Dummies, by Richard Wagner, published by John Wiley, ISBN 0-7645-4482-9. This is as entry level as it gets, assuming absolutely no foreknowledge of Christianity whatsoever. Written in a jocular plain English style, it's particularly suitable for teenagers and young adults.
Christianity: The Complete Guide, edited by John Bowden, published by Continuum, ISBN 0-8264-5937-4. Massive 1,364-page mini-encyclopaedia that will keep you amused for hours. Excellent to dip into - just open it anywhere and start reading!
Teach Yourself Christianity, by John Young, published by Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 0-3408-5961-X. Written by a Canon of York Minster and a member of the General Synod of the Church of England, this book presents the main elements of Christianity in a clear and informative way.
This is our Faith, edited by Jeffrey John, published by Redemptorist Publications, ISBN 0-8523-1149-4. Glossy magazine-size publication that packs an astonishing amount of information around its many pictures. Thoughtful, and at times searching, explanation of the fundamentals of the Christian faith from an Anglican perspective.
Christian Prayer
Christian Prayer for Dummies, by Richard Wagner, published by John Wiley, ISBN 0-7645-5500-6. Not quite as entry level as other titles in the series. A more serious book than the trademark jocular, plain English style would suggest.
Prayer and Action, edited by Marion Chatterley, published by Scottish Episcopal Church, available from Cornerstone Bookshop. Superbly demonstrates the relationship between prayer and social action in twelve key areas: homelessness, health, asylum seekers, racial justice, Christian Aid, peace & justice, the environment, the elderly, domestic violence, prisons, HIV & AIDS and children & young people. Excellent prayer material and useful contact lists for charites and other organisations.
Life changing Christianity
The Cross and the Switchblade, by David Wilkerson, published by Zondervan, ISBN 0-3102-4829-9. First published in 1963, this remains an insprirational book for Christian missionaries. It tells the breathtaking story of Rev. David Wilkerson's evangelical mission among the Puerto Rican gangs of New York, taking Jesus' own ministry as its model. One of Wilkerson's young converts, Nicky Cruz, went on to become an inspirational Christian writer himself.
Nine o' Clock in the Morning, by Rev. Dennis J. Bennett, published by Bridge-Logos, ISBN 0-8827-0629-2. Originally published in 1970, this book describes how Rev. Bennett, a priest of the Episcopal Church of the USA (ECUSA), experienced Baptism in the Holy Spirit, after which he and his wife, Rita, launched a campaign for Christian renewal which spread across America and has inspired millions of Christians worldwide.
Chasing the Dragon, by Jackie Pullinger with Andrew Quicke, published by Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 0-3404-8569-1. First published in 1980, this is the remarkable story of Jackie Pullinger's mission among the gangsters, prostitutes and drug addicts of Hong Kong's notorious 'Walled City'. The Wilkerson (The Cross and the Switchblade) influence is obvious, yet Pullinger is able to present an original and powerful story of her own.
The Heavenly Man, by Brother Yun, with Paul Hattaway, published by Monarch Books, ISBN 1-8524-4597-X. Published as recently as 2002, this is the story of Brother Yun, a figure reminiscent of one of Paul's companions, building and inspiring the house-church movement in China, despite relentless persecution. We uphold the rights of Christians worldwide to worship in our own way. This book shows just how difficult that can be and also how the apparent difficulties can be overcome!
History
A Brief History of Christian Worship, by James F. White, published by Abingdon Press, ISBN 0-6870-3414-0.
A Church for Scotland, by Rev. Gerald Stranraer-Mull, published by Scottish Episcopal Church, ISBN 0-9055-7342-0. Available to read online by following this link.
History of Christianity, edited by Tim Dowley, published by Lion Hudson, ISBN 0-7459-3690-3. 688 lavishly-illustrated pages give an excellent introduction to the development of Christianity from the 1st century onwards.
Steps to Freedom, by Rt Rev. Edward Luscombe, published by Scottish Episcopal Church, ISBN 0-9055-7362-5.
Studies in the History of Worship in Scotland, edited by Duncan Forrester and Douglas Murray, published by T & T Clark, ISBN 0-5670-8504-X.
The Scottish Episcopal Church in the Twentieth Century, by Rt Rev. Edward Luscombe, published by Scottish Episcopal Church, ISBN 0-9055-7312-9.
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