EDWARD IRVING WAS BORN TO DEVOUT, GOD-FEARING PRESBYTERIAN PARENTS IN ANNAN, SOUTH-WEST SCOTLAND IN 1792.

AS A SIGN OF HIS EARLY PIETY AND HIS YOUNG DEVOTION TO THE THINGS OF GOD, EDWARD IRVING AT THE TENDER AGE OF 10 YEARS, INSTEAD OF WORSHIPPING AT THE LOCAL CHURCH OF SCOTLAND IN ANNAN, PREFERRED TO WALK 6 MILES TO THE NEARBY VILLAGE OF ECCLEFECHAN TO JOIN IN WORSHIP WITH THE CHURCH OF THE SECEDERS.

Below - River Annan near to the Birthplace of Rev. Edward Irving-

THE SECEDERS WERE A BODY OF BELIEVERS WHO HAD SOME YEARS EARLIER, SEPARATED FROM THE NATIONAL CHURCH, OVER DOCTRINAL ISSUES AS WELL AS A STAND AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL LAXITY, THEY FELT WAS ENDEMIC IN THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND OF THE TIME.

THE MINISTER AT THE CHURCH OF THE SECEDERS, THE REV. JOHN JOHNSTONE PREACHED WHAT WAS KNOWN AS A `SALVATION MESSAGE`, THAT IS , THAT MAN IS LOST IN SIN AND NEEDS A SAVIOUR TO REDEEM HIS LOST SOUL FROM HELL.

YOUNG EDWARD SAT UNDER THIS MINISTRY IN THOSE TENDER YEARS OF HIS LIFE AND BEFORE HE HAD REACHED THE AGE OF TWELVE, HAD A FIRM CONVICTION THAT GOD HAD REVEALED TO HIM HIS DESTINY, `EDWARD IRVING` WAS TO BE A MINISTER OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND SO THAT HE COULD BRING HOPE AND RENEWED LIFE TO THE NATIONAL CHURCH.

ON REACHING THE SCHOOL-LEAVING AGE OF 13 YEARS, YOUNG EDWARD IRVING, ALONG WITH HIS 15 YEARS OLD BROTHER, JOHN, SET OUT TO TRAVEL ACROSS SCOTLAND FROM ANNAN TO EDINBURGH, IN ORDER TO ENROL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, JOHN TO STUDY MEDICINE AND EDWARD TO PREPARE FOR THE MINISTRY.

Photo-Annan Town Hall-Scotland

 FOUR YEARS LATER EDWARD, AT THE AGE OF 17 GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY, RECEIVING HIS MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE, AND WINNING SPECIAL COMMENDATIONS FROM 2 OF HIS PROFESSORS, SIR JOHN LESLIE AND PROFESSOR CHRISTISON, BUT ALTHOUGH HE HAD COMPLETED HIS COURSE IN ARTS , HE STILL HAD TO DO HIS COURSE IN DIVINITY AS A FURTHER STEP TOWARDS RECEIVING ORDINATION AS A MINISTER. OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, AND SO EDWARD TOOK A PART-TIME JOB TEACHING AT A LOCAL SCHOOL IN ORDER TO SUPPORT HIMSELF AND DID THE REQUIRED STUDIES UNDER HIS OWN MANAGEMENT WHILST MAKING PERIODIC VISITS TO EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY IN ORDER TO TAKE THE EXAMINATIONS.

 THIS ARRANGEMENT MEANT THAT HIS STUDY COURSE WOULD TAKE 6 YEARS TO COMPLETE.

 AT THE AGE OF 23 YEARS EDWARD IRVING COMPLETED HIS DIVINITY COURSE AND RECEIVED `LICENCE TO PREACH`. THIS WASN`T `ORDINATION` HOWEVER, IT ONLY PERMITTED HIM TO PREACH IN THE CHURCH WHEN INVITED TO DO SO BY A FULLY -ORDAINED MINISTER, AND TO MAKE `TRIAL AND PROOF OF HIS GIFTS`, WITH A VIEW TO BEING CALLED TO A CHURCH AND THEREBY AT HIS INDUCTION RECEIVE ORDINATION

Photo : Ecclefechan High Street

(Eaglais Fheichein in Gaelic meaning `Small Church`)

THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND AT THE TIME WAS SUBJECT TO THE `PATRONAGE` SYSTEM, THAT IS, THAT FOR THE MOST PART, A CALL TO A CHURCH WAS AT THE DISPOSAL OF CERTAIN INFLUENTIAL PERSONS OF THE PARISH AND VERY OFTEN A ROLE OF SERVILITY WAS EXPECTED FROM THE WOULD-BE MINISTER IN ORDER TO CURRY FAVOUR. EDWARD IRVING REGARDED THE CALL TO THE CHURCH TOO HIGHLY TO DEGRADE IT BY CURRYING UP TO SOME INFIDEL OR FAWNING BEFORE AN UNBELIEVING VILLAGE COUNCIL. HE HAD TOO MUCH OF THE SPIRIT OF THE SECEDERS IN HIM TO SUBMIT TO SUCH A POSITION AND DETERMINED IN HIS HEART TO WAIT IT OUT TIL HE WAS CALLED ON HIS OWN MERITS, AND SO HE CONTINUED TEACHING AT SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY, PREACHING WHEN INVITED TO DO SO AND ATTENDING AND LISTENING TO PREACHERS IN THE PULPITS OF THE CHURCHES OF SCOTLAND AT EDINBURGH, BUT THIS ONLY RESULTED IN HIM BECOMING MORE STRONGER IN THE BELIEF THAT THE CHURCH TRULY NEEDED FIRE FROM HEAVEN.

EDWARD WAS THOROUGHLY TIRED OF TEACHING AND WAITING FOR A CALL, BUT DURING A TRIP TO IRELAND, HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SCOTLAND INVITING HIM TO BECOME THE ASSISTANT TO SCOTLAND`S MOST CELEBRATED MAN, THE REV. DOCTOR THOMAS CHALMERS D.D. OF ST. JOHNS CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, GLASGOW. THE YEAR WAS 1819, HE WAS NOW 27 YEARS OLD AND OVER 14 YEARS HAD PASSED SINCE HE FIRST LEFT HOME TO WALK WITH HIS BROTHER JOHN ON HIS MISSION TO BE A MINISTER, BUT THE LONG WAIT WAS OVER AND THE CALL HAD COME, AND EVEN THOUGH HE WASN`T A MINISTER IN THE FULL SENSE , HE FELT THAT THAT STEP WAS NOW VERY NEAR.

Photo :                                                                                                                                                                           REV. DOCTOR THOMAS CHALMERS D.D.     

AFTER ASSISTING DR CHALMERS FOR A FEW YEARS EDWARD IRVING AT LONG LAST RECEIVED A CALL.

THE CALEDONIAN CHURCH AT HATTON GARDENS LONDON WAS SEEKING A MINISTER AND HAD DECIDED ON EDWARD IRVING. THE CHAPEL ITSELF WAS IN A FAIRLY RUN DOWN AREA AT THE TIME, HAD LOST ITS MINISTER 12 MONTHS BEFORE, AND THE NUMBERS HAD DWINDLED TO 50, BUT TO EDWARD IRVING IT WAS AN EXCITING CHALLENGE, HIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE TO HIMSELF HIS CALLING AND DESTINY. HE PLUNGED HEAD FIRST INTO HIS MISSION WITH TREMENDOUS JOY AND ABANDONMENT, PREACHING, VISITING THE SICK AND HOMES OF HIS PARISH AND BEING AVAILABLE AT ALL HOURS FOR THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE.

WITHIN SIX MONTHS THE CALEDONIAN CHAPEL WHICH SEATED 500 ATTRACTED ALMOST 3 TIMES THAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET IN HOURS BEFORE THE SERVICE BEGAN. THE ARISTOCRATS OF THE CITY JOSTLED WITH THE POOR AND BEGGARLY TO GET A SEAT. LAWYERS, DOCTORS , ACTORS AS WELL AS POLITICIANS, AND ALONG WITH THEM, ONE OF BRITAINS GREATEST STATESMEN OF THE TIMES, THE HONOURABLE GEORGE CANNING (LATER PRIME MINISTER), WERE AMONG THOSE SEEKING TO HEAR THE FIERY AND ELOQUENT SERMONS THAT POURED FROM THE LIPS OF THE REV. EDWARD IRVING.

IT WASN`T LONG BEFORE THE TRUSTEES OF CALEDONIAN CHAPEL DECIDED THAT A NEW, BIGGER BUILDING WAS REQUIRED TO ACCOMMODATE THE MULTITUDES SEEKING ADMISSION AND SO A VENTURE TO BUILD AN 1800 SEATER CHURCH WAS BEGUN IN REGENT SQUARE, LONDON, AND SOON AFTER, THE MAGNIFICIENT SCOTCH NATIONAL CHURCH, UPON COMPLETION, THREW OPEN ITS DOORS TO A SEEKING LONDON MULTITUDE.

Below..CALEDONIAN CHAPEL, HATTON GARDENS, LONDON

EDWARD IRVING RETURNED TO SCOTLAND IN ORDER TO MARRY HIS CHILDHOODSWEETHEA RT ISABELLA MARTIN OF KIRKALDY IN OCTOBER OF 1823 AND THEN BROUGHT HIS NEW BRIDE WITH HIM TO LONDON AND THERE THEIR JOY WAS COMPLETE WITH THE BIRTH OF THEIR FIRST-BORN SON, LITTLE EDWARD.

EDWARD IRVING WAS A MAN WHO WAS NOT EASILY SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO, HE WAS ALWAYS SEEKING A DEEPER EXPERIENCE IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS AND IT WAS SO THAT HE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH SOME BELIEVERS OF AN ARISTOCRATIC BACKGROUND WHO FERVENTLY BELIEVED THAT THE 2^ND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST WAS VERY IMMINENT.

THEY SHOWED HIM FROM THE BOOKS OF DANIEL AND REVELATION THAT THE END-TIMES WAS AT HAND. WITH GREAT FERVOUR AND ZEAL EDWARD IRVING ACCEPTED THIS `NEW TEACHING` AND BEGAN TO PREACH IT FROM HIS PULPIT AT THE SCOTCH NATIONAL CHURCH

THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 4 YEARS , HE DEVOTED HIMSELF TO THE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURAL PROPHECIES RELATING TO THE SECOND ADVENT OF JESUS CHRIST, AND THE END OF THE AGES, AND THEN IN 1828 CAME INTO CONTACT WITH CHARISMATIC BELIEVERS, CHRISTIANS WHO BELIEVED THAT THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, SUCH AS TONGUES AND HEALINGS WERE ABOUT TO BESTOWED ONCE MORE UPON THE CHURCH AS A SIGN OF THE SOON COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Photo...THE NATIONAL SCOTCH CHURCH 

Later known as ...REGENT SQUARE CHURCH

BUT GREAT TRAGEDY WAS ABOUT TO ENVELOPE THE IRVING HOUSEHOLD AND CHANGE FOREVER THE LIFE OF EDWARD IRVING AND HIS MINISTRY.

WHEN HIS WIFE ISABELLA WAS EXPECTING THEIR SECOND CHILD , SHE TOOK A TRIP TO SCOTLAND TO VISIT HER PARENTS AND BROUGHT ALONG WITH HER, LITTLE EDWARD. WHO WAS ILL AT THE TIME. IT WAS THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS THE SCOTTISH AIR WOULD IMPROVE HIS HEALTH, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS NOT TO BE AND HE TOOK SERIOUSLY ILL. EDWARD IRVING ARRIVED IN KIRKALDY TO BE WITH THE FAMILY AND FOUND HIS YOUNG SON`S HEALTH WAS DETERIORATING RAPIDLY, DESPITE THE CONSTANT CARE, ATTENTION AND INTERCESSORY PRAYER.

ISABELLA GAVE BIRTH TO A HEALTHY BABY GIRL, BUT TEN DAYS LATER LITTLE EDWARD SLIPPED AWAY FROM THIS LIFE IN THE ARMS OF HIS HEART-BROKEN AND WEEPING FATHER.

THIS DEVASTATING EXPERIENCE WAS TO BE HAVE A MOST SINGULAR EFFECT ON EDWARD IRVING FOR HE BELIEVED THAT SATAN WAS THE AUTHOR OF LITTLE EDWARD`S SICKNESS AND THAT HE HAD ROBBED HIS SON OF HIS YOUNG LIFE . HE REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO TEACHING THAT `THE LORD HAS GIVEN AND THE LORD HAS TAKEN AWAY`.

HE ENTERED INTO A PERIOD OF VERY DEEP HEART-FELT SEARCHING AND PRUNING OF HIS SPIRITUAL LIFE AND A HUNGER AND YEARNING WAS CREATED IN HIM FOR THE RETURN OF THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, THE GIFTS OF PROPHECY, TONGUES, HEALINGS AND AN `OUTPOURING OF THE `LATTER RAIN`, AND SO, ON AN ITINERANT PREACHING TOUR OF SCOTLAND IN 1830 HE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A CERTAIN MARY CAMPBELL WHO, A DRESS-MAKER BY PROFESSION, WAS VERY ILL WITH A SEVERE CASE OF T.B., WAS LOOKING TO GOD FOR DIVINE HEALING AND ALSO BELIEVED THAT SHE WAS SOON TO RECEIVE THE `GIFT OF TONGUES` AND THAT THIS GIFT WAS ABOUT TO BE POURED OUT ON OTHERS.

EDWARD IRVING RETURNED TO LONDON AND TOLD HIS CONGREGATION OF THESE THINGS AND SOON AFTER, ON A SUNDAY EVENING, IN THE MONTH OF MARCH 1830 , MARY CAMPBELL ALONG WITH A FEW FRIENDS BEGAN TO `UTTER WORDS IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE`. THIS WAS AN HISTORIC MOMENT FOR IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT SUCH AN EVENT HAD HAPPENED IN THE `IRVINGITE MOVEMENT`. SOON AFTER THIS EVENT MARY AROSE FROM HER BED CLAIMING THAT SHE HAD BEEN HEALED OF HER SEVERE T.B. BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST.

MEANWHILE, DURING THESE MOMENTOUS HAPPENINGS IN SCOTLAND EDWARD AND ISABELLA IRVING UNDERWENT ANOTHER DEVASTAING EXPERIENCE, FOR THEIR 4^TH. CHILD, SAMUEL, BY NAME HAD TAKEN GRAVELY ILL AND SEEMED NEAR TO DEATH. 2 PHYSICIANS WERE CALLED IN AND ALONG WITH MUCH PRAYER BY EDWARD IRVING, INTERCESSION WAS MADE TO GOD FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE CHILD. SADLY, THE LITTLE LIFE WEAKENED AND SLIPPED AWAY.

EDWARD IRVING WAS CONVINCED THAT SICKNESS AND DEATH WAS IN THE CONTROL OF SATAN AND HIS BELIEF THAT THEIR RESORTING TO DOCTORS INSTEAD OF FULLY RELYING ON THE FAITH OF THEIR PRAYERS ALONE , TO GOD, BROUGHT GOD`S DISPLEASURE AND AN OPEN DOOR FOR SATAN TO ENTER AND TAKE THE LIFE OF THE CHILD.

OF THE HISTORIC EVENTS HAPPENING IN SCOTLAND EDWARD IRVING RECEIVED THE NEWS JOYFULLY THOUGH IN A STATE OF UTTER SORROW FOR THE LOSS OF HIS SECOND SON.

AS NEWS OF THESE SUPERNATURAL EVENTS SPREAD THROUGH THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND IN LONDON, EDWARD IRVING WAS ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT GOD WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE TONGUES AND HEALING, AND SO THE NEWS OF THESE HAPPENINGS WERE SOON CARRIED TO OTHER CHURCHES IN LONDON, AND A DELEGATION OF LAWYERS AND PHYSICIANS WERE SENT BY A LOCAL CHURCH OF ENGLAND, TO SCOTLAND TO INVESTIGATE THE HAPPENINGS AND MAKE A CONSIDERED REPORT ON THE MATTER.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 1830, THIS DELEGATION SPENT 3 WEEKS IN THE HOMES OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THIS `NEW PENTECOST` TAKING NOTES, INTERVIEWING AND RECORDING THE EVENTS. ON THEIR RETURN TO LONDON THEY PRESENTED THEIR FINDINGS . THE PARTY HEADED BY A LAWYER, J.B.CARDALE, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE AND SISTER AND A PHYSICIAN, MR THOMPSON, BY NAME, AND 2 OTHER PROFESSIONAL MEN, STATED..`AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THE GIFTS ARE SUPERNATURAL. THE PEOPLE INVOLVED ARE ABOVE ANY SUSPICION OR DECEPTION AND WE EMPHASISE OUR BELIEF THAT THE `TONGUES` ARE ACTUAL LANGUAGES.

THESE OPINIONS COMING FROM SUCH A PROFESSIONAL BODY CARRIED A TREMENDOUS WEIGHT OF AUTHORITY AND SETTLED IN THE MINDS OF THE MAJORITY OF INTERESTED PERSONS, IN LONDON, THAT THESE WERE TRULY GENUINE GIFTS OF SUPERNATURAL OCCURRENCES.

MRS CARDALE AND OTHERS BEGAN TO HAVE SPECIAL PRAYER MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE AUTUMN AND WINTER OF 1830/31 PRAYING FOR AND SEEKING THE SAME SUPERNATURAL EVENTS TO OCCUR IN THEIR OWN CHURCH OF ENGLAND. AND IN THE SPRING OF 1831 THE LONG-AWATED OUTPOURING CAME. FIRST, MRS CARDALE, THE LAWYERS WIFE , AND THEN OTHERS SPOKE IN TONGUES. IN THE MINDS OF MANY THIS WAS THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THE RESTORATION OF THE LONG-LOST GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST IN ENGLAND.

OF COURSE, NEWS QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE SCOTCH NATIONAL CHURCH AND MEMBERS OF EDWARD IRVINGS CHURCH BEGAN ALSO TO RECEIVE THE ` OUTPOURING` AND SPEAK IN TONGUES AND TO GIVE `INTERPRETATION AND PROPHECIES`.

THEIR JOY KNEW NO BOUNDS. THE GIFTS WERE SOON ALLOWED TO BE MANIFEST IN THE SERVICES.

MOST OF THOSE PROMINENT IN THE GIFTS WERE HIGH IN SOCIAL STATUS, LAWYERS, PHYSICIANS ETC, SO AN AIR OF CONSIDERABLE AUTHORITY WAS GIVEN, BOTH TO THE GIFTS AND PARTICIPANTS. EDWARD IRVING HIMSELF HAD NOT AS YET RECEIVED ANY `SUPERNATURAL` GIFT BUT WAS NEVERTHELESS CONVINCED THAT GOD WAS SOON TO INFUSE HIM WITH A `MIGHTY SEIZURE OF THE HOLY GHOST` AND THAT NOT ONLY WOULD HE SPEAK IN TONGUES BUT RECEIVE A BAPTISM OF FIRE THAT WOULD GIVE HIM THE POWER TO WORK `ALL KINDS OF MIRACLES AND HEALING`

.UNFORTUNATELY, FOR HIM, NOT ALL OF HIS CHURCH WERE HAPPY WITH THE SITUATION; UNDERSTANDABLY, MANY RESENTED WHAT THEY FELT WAS NOISY INTERRUPTIONS IN THEIR DIGNIFIED AND RESPECTED SABBATH MORNING SERVICES; FOR MANY THEIR IDEA OF WORSHIP WAS A QUIET, REVERENT AND OFTEN SILENT APPROACH TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, FOR THIS WAS, AS WE HAVE TO REMIND OURSELVES 1830`S ENGLAND, AND A FORMAL SCOTTISH PRESBYTERIAN STATE CHURCH.

BY SEPTEMBER 1831 THE SITUATION OVER THE CHARISMATIC GIFTS HAD BECOME INTOLERABLE FOR MANY, AND THE DIVISION WAS GREAT.

THE OLD-TIME PRESBYTERIANS DENOUNCED THE MANIFESTATIONS AS A DISGRACE TO THE HOUSE OF GOD WHILST THE `TONGUES` PEOPLE DECLARED THE CRITICISM OF THE MANIFESTATIONS WAS `BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST`.

REV. IRVING WAS ASKED BY THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHURCH TO FORBID THE SPEAKING OF TONGUES IN THE MAIN `SABBATH MORNING` SERVICE. THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE HAPPY FOR HIM TO ALLOW THE TONGUES IN THE EARLY MORNING PRAYER MEETING, BUT NOT IN THE WORSHIP SERVICE. THIS WAS ALL THEY ASKED, BELIEVING THAT PEACE COULD RETURN TO THE CHURCH IF THIS WAS FOLLOWED.

EDWARD IRVING COULD NOT IN ALL HONESTY AGREE TO THIS REQUEST, FOR HE FELT THAT THIS WOULD BE AN ACT OF SILENCING THE HOLY GHOST AND HE WOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER THE MATTER.

IN APRIL OF 1832, REV. EDWARD IRVING WAS ORDERED TO STAND TRIAL BEFORE THE CHURCH PRESBYTERY ON THE CHARGE OF `ALLOWING THE SERVICES OF THE CHURCH TO BE DISTURBED, BOTH BY PERSONS WHO WERE NOT MINISTERS AND BY FEMALES`. THE TRIAL LASTED 2 FULL DAYS, AND EACH DAY FOR 4 HOURS EDWARD IRVING DEFENDED HIMSELF. THE VERDICT, UNFORTUNATELY FOR EDWARD, WAS THAT WHICH WAS EXPECTED…….”THE PRESBYTERY HAVING SERIOUSLY AND DELIBERATELY CONSIDERED THE COMPLAINT AND THE EVIDENCE ADDUCED…DO FIND…THAT THE SAID EDWARD IRVING HAS RENDERED HIMSELF UNFIT TO REMAIN THE MINISTER OF THE NATIONAL SCOTCH CHURCH AND OUGHT TO BE REMOVED THEREFROM…”.

TO EDWARD IRVING, A MAN WITH A TENDER HEART, A DEEPLY LOVING AND CARING SHEPHERD OF HIS FLOCK, THIS WAS AN ALMOST FATAL BLOW. HE SUFFERED A CRUSHING AND DEVASTATING EXPERIENCE AS HE WAS FORCED TO LEAVE HIS BELOVED CONGREGATION WHICH BY NOW NUMBERED ALMOST 3.OOO, AND THE GREAT AND MAGNIFICIENT BUILDING IN WHICH HE HAD LABOURED SO EARNESTLY.

BUT EDWARD DID NOT GO ALONE, ALMOST 800 PEOPLE WENT WITH HIM TO BEGIN A NEW WORK FOR GOD. THEY SECURED A LARGE HALL IN WHICH TO GATHER. BUT THESE SERVICES WERE TO BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM HIS PREVIOUS CHURCH, FOR IN THE NEW `MOVE` THE `PROPHETS` WERE IN CHARGE AND EDWARD IRVING BEING A MERE MINISTER WAS SUBORDINATE TO THEM, BUT EDWARD, SINCE HE BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE THE `VOICE` OF GOD HUMBLY SUBMITTED TO THEM.

THE REVEREND EDWARD IRVING

SOON AFTER THEY PROCURED A LARGE PICTURE GALLERY IN NEWMAN STREET, WHICH THEY SET ABOUT RENOVATING.

THE PLATFORM WAS VERY UNUSUAL IN THAT IT HAD 6 LEVELS; THE TOP LEVEL WAS WHERE THE `APOSTLES ` SAT, NEXT LEVEL DOWN WERE THE PROPHETS, AND THEN IN DESCENDING ORDER WERE THE ELDERS, EVANGELISTS, AND DEACONS, AND THEN RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM LEVEL WAS WHERE EDWARD IRVING THE MINISTER WAS PLACED.

THE CHURCH WAS LATER ON GIVEN THE NAME `THE CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH`, (NO RELATIONSHIP TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH).

EDWARD IRVING UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE PROPHETS HAD HIS MINISTRY CURTAILED AND COULD ONLY DO WHAT THEY TOLD HIM. HE WAS FREQUENTLY SENT ON EVANGELISTIC TRIPS TO WHICH HIS WEAKENED BODY COULD HARDLY WITHSTAND. ALSO, SINCE HE WAS NO LONGER A MINISTER OF A CHURCH OF SCOTLAND CONGREGATION AND BECAUSE OF DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES WITH HIS FORMER CHURCH, HIS STATUS AS A MINISTER OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND WAS WITHDRAWN.

NEVERTHELESS EDWARD IRVING IN HIS FERVENT HEARTFELT BELIEF THAT THE GIFTS AND OFFICES OF APOSTLES AND PROPHETS WERE OF GOD CONTINUED TO SUBMIT HIMSELF TO THE `PROPHETS`

.MOREOVER AT THIS TIME, 1833, EDWARD AND ISABELLA FACED FURTHER CRUSHING HEARTACHES, THEIR INFANT SON, EBENEZER, SUCCUMBED TO DISEASE, BECAME GRAVELY ILL AND AGAIN IN SPITE OF INTERCESSORY PRAYERS, THE LITTLE ONE PASSED AWAY. EDWARD DID NOT ACCUSE GOD BUT TOOK THE BLAME ON HIMSELF, DECLARING HIS OWN LACK OF FAITH BEING THE REASON WHY THE CHILD WAS NOT HEALED.

NOT LONG AFTER THIS, IN SEPTEMBER 1834, EDWARD IRVING IN A VERY TIRED, WEAKENED AND SICK STATE, WAS SENT BY THE PROPHETS OF THE CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH TO GLASGOW TO DO SOME WORK FOR THE ORGANISATION. THE FREEZING WINTER WEATHER HAD A DREADFUL TOLL ON HIM, AND HIS WEAKENED BODY SUCCUMBED TO FURTHER DETERIORATION.

IN DECEMBER HIS FAMILY WERE CALLED TO SEE HIM AND THEY FOUND A MAN WHO WAS VERY CLOSE TO DEATH. HE SEEMED AT TMES TO BE IN A COMA, SOMETIMES AWAKE, OFTEN-TIMES DURING THOSE FINAL DARK DAYS HE WAS HEARD QUIETLY MURMURING TO HIMSELF, IN SOME UNKNOWN TONGUE.

HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, DR MARTIN REALIZED HE WAS UTTERING THE 23^RD. PSALM IN HEBREW. DEATH DREW CLOSER TO REV. EDWARD IRVING, AND HE WAS HEARD RECITING, `THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR THOU ART WITH ME..`.. AND THE LAST INTELLIGENT WORDS HE WAS HEARD TO UTTER WERE, `”IF I DIE, I DIE UNTO THE LORD, AMEN”.

AS THAT WINTRY SABBATH DAY OF 1834 APPROACHED AND CAME TO ITS CLOSE, THE SPIRIT OF EDWARD IRVING HEARD THE HEAVENLY SUMMONS TO CEASE FROM ITS EARTHLY CARES, TOILS AND STRUGGLES AND TO `COME UP HIGHER`. HIS SPIRIT QUIETLY OBEYED AND EDWARD IRVING FELL ASLEEP IN JESUS.

AS HE WAS CARRIED TO HIS FINAL RESTING PLACE AT THE CRYPT AT GLASGOW CATHEDRAL, A HUGE THRONG OF MOURNERS ATTENDED THE FUNERAL, AND AMONG THEM ALMOST ALL THE MINISTERS OF GLASGOW CITY, AND THOUGH MANY HAD DISAGREED WITH HIM IN LIFE, THEY DEEPLY MOURNED HIS PASSING IN DEATH AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A SAINT AND MARTYR HAD ENTERED INTO HIS HEAVENLY REST.

Below - Glasgow Cathedral where Rev Edward Irving is interred-

EDWARD IRVING WAS ONLY 42 YEARS OF AGE WHEN CALLED HOME TO GLORY, BUT HE LEFT A STIRRING TESTIMONY OF FAITH, HOPE AND BELIEF THAT WITH GOD THE BEST IS YET TO BE.

THE CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH FOUNDED BRANCHES IN ENGLAND, EUROPE AND THE USA, BASED ON THE UTTERANCES OF THEIR PROPHETS, ON TONGUES, HEALINGS AND A BELIEF IN THE SECOND ADVENT.

THE SCOTCH NATIONAL CHURCH IN LONDON CONTINUED ITS FAITHFUL WITNESS IN THAT GREAT CITY AFTER LOSING EDWARD IRVING, AND TODAY IS STILL A VIBRANT LIVING TESTIMONY TO THE GRACE OF GOD .

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