Remembering Dr Henry Cooke

Today, 13th December 2018, marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Dr Henry Cooke. Dr Cooke was the great Protestant, Presbyterian Protagonist in this part of Ireland for half a century.

It has been said of Dr Henry Cooke that for half a century his life was a large portion of the religious and public history of Ireland.

During his days of public ministry for the cause of Jesus Christ he stood against the Arians and defended the doctrine of the Trinity; he argued for a thoroughly Christian education to be provided the schools of his day and he was unapologetically a Protestant and a unionist.

Church History Anniversaries - 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Amy Carmichael

Amy Carmichael was born on 16th December 1867 in Millisle, Co-Down, Northern Ireland. She is best known for her labours in Belfast and also for her missionary endeavours, particularly in Dohnavur, southern India, which included an orphanage.

She served the Lord on various mission fields for 55 years without any furlough time at home. She died, aged 83, on 18th January 1951 in Dohnavur, India, where she had laboured for over 40 of those 55 years.

For the last 20 years, of that missionary service, she was an invalid, confined to her room in the orphanage she was instrumental in seeing built 30 years earlier (1901). It was in 1931 that she suffered what seemed a fairly minor accident. However, this accident ended up crippling her. Confined to her room for those 20 years she was not inactive. From bed of sickness she organised, counselled and wrote numerous books. She wrote between 30 to 40 books during her lifetime.

Here is the link to other church history anniversaries that have been commemorated over recent years. Sermonaudio - Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church - Church history anniversaries

Church History Anniversaries - 150th Anniversary of the death of William Chalmers Burns

The third church history anniversary commemorated was that of William Chalmers Burns. This year, 2018, marks the 150th anniversary of his death.

'Willie' Burns was saved from a careless life as a youth and devoted himself to the service of the Lord. He wrote: From the first moment of this wonderful experience [ie. his conversion] I had the inspiring hope of being saved by a sovereign and infinitely gracious God; and in the same instant almost, I felt that I must leave my present occupation and devote myself to Jesus in the ministry of the glorious gospel by which I had been saved.

He endured much in the land of China for the sake of his Lord and Master. The story is told how that on one occasion he was arrested and told to bow before the chief magistrate. His response was: Your Excellency, I will render to you the same obeisance as I would to my Sovereign Queen Victoria, humbly on a bended knee, but I will only kneel on both knees to God, the King of Kings.

Here is the link to other church history anniversaries that have been commemorated over recent years. Sermonaudio - Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church - Church history anniversaries

Church History Anniversaries - 300th Anniversary of the birth of David Brainerd

The second church history anniversary commemorated was that of David Brainerd. This year, 2018, marks the 300th anniversary of his birth.

David Brainerd was the missionary who took the Gospel to the Native Americans. He wrote in his diary: Here am I, Lord, send me. Send me to the ends of the earth. Send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness. Send from all that is called comfort in earth or earthly comfort. Send even to death itself if it is be in Thy service and to promote Thy kingdom. I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts.

It was his love for Jesus Christ that constrained him to labour as he did. Again he wrote: If I had a thousand lives, my soul should gladly have laid them all down at once to have been with Christ.

Here is the link to other church history anniversaries that have been commemorated over recent years. Sermonaudio - Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church - Church history anniversaries

Church History Anniversaries - 400th Anniversary of the Synod of Dort

Every August, as the Lord leads, relevant church history anniversaries are commemorated. It is important to remember the mercies of the Lord towards past generations. Events which took place that advanced the caused of Jesus Christ are worthy of remembrance. The raising up men and women of God who served the Lord with distinction is again something that ought to interest every child of God. We can say with the Psalmist: The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage, Psalm 16:6.

This year the following church history anniversaries were marked:
1. 400th anniversary of the commencement of the Synod of Dort
2. 300th anniversary of the birth of David Brainerd
3. 150th anniversary of the death of William Chalmers Burns
4. 150th anniversary of the birth of Amy Carmichael

Here is the consideration of the first of those anniversaries to be marked - 400th anniversary of the commencement of the Synod of Dort. One historian said of the Synod of Dort: The convocation and proceedings of the Synod of Dordt may be considered among the most interesting events of the seventeenth century. The Westminster Assembly was indeed more immediately interesting to British and American Presbyterians, yet the Synod of Dordt had a species of importance peculiar to itself and altogether pre-eminent. It was not merely a meeting of select divines of a single nation, but a convention of the Calvinistic world, to bear testimony against a rising and obtrusive error; to settle a question in which all the Reformed churches of Europe had an immediate and deep interest.


Here is the link to other church history anniversaries that have been commemorated over recent years. Sermonaudio - Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church - Church history anniversaries

Special Church History Anniversary meetings

Church History Anniversaries - Mary Slessor

During the month of August a series of messages was preached marking Church History Anniversaries.

This sermon marks 100th anniversary of the death of Mary Slessor who laboured in Calibar [Nigeria]

Church History Anniversaries - China Inland Mission

During the month of August a series of messages was preached marking Church History Anniversaries.

This sermon marks 150th anniversary of the commencement of The China Inland Mission, by Hudson Taylor.

Church History Anniversaries - The Salvation Army

During the month of August a series of messages was preached marking Church History Anniversaries.

This sermon marks 150th anniversary of the commencement of, what we now know as, The Salvation Army, by William 'General' Booth.

Church History Anniversaries - Justin Martyr

During the month of August a series of messages was preached marking Church History Anniversaries.
This sermon is marking 1850th anniversary of the death of the Christian Apologist Justin Martyr.

Church History Anniversaries 2015

1850th anniversary

June 165 AD - Justin Martyr, the Christian Apologist, was believed to have been martyred for his faith on this date. 

800th anniversary

November 1215 - The fourth Lateran Council was convoked. It promulgated the the doctrine of Transubstantiation which claims that the substance of the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, with only the appearances of bread and wine remaining. Thomas Aquinas later expanded upon this doctrine firmly establishing it as part of Romish teaching. 

Church History Anniversaries

On Lord's day evenings during August DV a special series of messages will be preached marking Church history anniversaries during 2014

10th August 

1950th anniversary of the commencement of Emperor Nero's persecution against 1st century Christians. [AD64] 

17th August

300th anniversary of the death of Matthew Henry. [June 1714] 

24th August

300th anniversary of the birth of George Whitefield. [December 1714] 

31st August

100th anniversary of the ordination of Gresham Machen, the defender of orthodoxy at Princeton Seminary. [June 1914]

Church History Anniversaries 2014

Pre-Reformation Times

1950th Anniversary

July 64 AD - The Roman Emperor Nero initiated a persecuting reign of state terror against the early Christian New Testament Church, whose members he executed with sadistic tortures.  

600th Anniversary

November 1414 - The Council of Constance convened in Germany. Before it closed, it ended the Great Schism by deposing three rival popes, executed reformers John Huss and Jerome of Prague, and condemned the teachings of the English reformer John Wycliffe.