Gilcomston South Church
Encyclopedia
Gilcomston South Church is a congregation in the Church of Scotland
. The recently refurbished church buildings are located in Union Street, Aberdeen
.
. The Rev William Still, minister
of the congregation 1945-1997, developed this approach and gained international recognition. The systematic preaching of the entire bible, verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter, was then an innovation in the Church of Scotland
; some others have subsequently copied this approach. The Rev William Still was close friends with the brothers Rev James Philip of Holyrood Abbey Church
in Edinburgh
and Rev George Philip of Sandyford Henderson Memorial Church in Glasgow
, where similar approaches in ministry were also developed.
This Aberdeen
church is well attended, especially by students responding to this distinctive type of Christian ministry and witness. The current minister (since 1998) is the Rev Dominic Smart. In June 2011, Rev Dominic Smart indicated that the congregation were considering leaving the Church of Scotland due to the General Assembly's decision to move towards the ordination of homosexuals to the ministry. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/06/10/scots-congregation-set-to-quit-the-kirk-over-gay-minister-row-86908-23191987/
Usual meetings are:
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. The recently refurbished church buildings are located in Union Street, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
.
Overview
The church almost closed during World War II, but a subsequent new approach proved controversial but ultimately highly influential. The church became one of the Church of Scotland’s most notable evangelical congregations, with a strong emphasis on biblically based expository preachingExpository preaching
Expository preaching is a form of preaching that throws light upon the meaning of a particular text or passage of Scripture. As "throwing light," this term is more general than exegesis, which is used for more technical and grammatical exposition, a careful drawing out of the exact meaning of a...
. The Rev William Still, minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
of the congregation 1945-1997, developed this approach and gained international recognition. The systematic preaching of the entire bible, verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter, was then an innovation in the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
; some others have subsequently copied this approach. The Rev William Still was close friends with the brothers Rev James Philip of Holyrood Abbey Church
Holyrood Abbey Church
Holyrood Abbey Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is based in a late-Victorian church building on London Road, Abbeyhill, around north of Holyrood Abbey...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Rev George Philip of Sandyford Henderson Memorial Church in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, where similar approaches in ministry were also developed.
This Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
church is well attended, especially by students responding to this distinctive type of Christian ministry and witness. The current minister (since 1998) is the Rev Dominic Smart. In June 2011, Rev Dominic Smart indicated that the congregation were considering leaving the Church of Scotland due to the General Assembly's decision to move towards the ordination of homosexuals to the ministry. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/06/10/scots-congregation-set-to-quit-the-kirk-over-gay-minister-row-86908-23191987/
Services
- Sunday Morning Service 11am with Creche and Sunday School
- Sunday Evening Service 6.30pm with tea and coffee served after the service
- Tuesday Lunchtime Service 12:45pm (Now every week!)
- Fortnightly Prayer Breakfast: 7:30am - Enter by the last door on Summer Street
- Wednesday Bible Study 7:30pm - Enter by the "Boiler House" door, half way along Summer Street
- Saturday Prayer Meeting 7pm - Enter by the last door on Summer Street