Mull Baptist Church
Bunessan,
Isle of Mull,
PA67 6DP
Contact
website: n/a
email : info@mullbaptist.co.uk
Elvyn Blomfield 01681 700398
elvynblomfield@btinternet.com
Baptist missionaries were active in the Ross of Mull early in the 19th century and a young man from Bunessan was the first native born Baptist on Mull. Soon more
were baptised and the movement grew rapidly, the first meeting house was built
in 1823. However theses early Baptists were persecuted and driven out of their
chapel. The duke of Argyll, worried by the solidarity of theses Baptist crofters,
evicted the local schoolmaster from his house because of his Baptist beliefs and
threatened anyone who helped him with the same fate.
The Baptists continued to worship in a cave below the high water line, and
schooling took place in a cave on the shore, a place of interest to walkers on
Ardalanish beach.
A revival came in the 1860s, the Ross Baptists being prominent in this movement.
One was Mary MacDonald of Ardtun who wrote the Gaelic Christmas Carol Leanabh
an aigh. The tune Bunessan is probably best known as Morning has broken. A
new church was built in 1891 where we worship today.
In 1977 Bob and Joy Hardwidge arrive on Mull and eventually they found themselves
restoring the Baptist Church building and running groups for children, young mothers
and fellow Christians.
The Baptist Church still stands firm with a small membership but insufficient funds
to support a minister. We bought a static caravan enabling visiting preachers to
have a week's holiday in return for preaching and a small payment – a bargain
package! We enjoy lunch with our visitors after the service each week, a wonderful
time of fellowship when we feel very much part of the world wide family of God.
Dear Bob at 94 still makes piles of sandwiches for lunch. He also writes lovely
Christian poetry (see below) and paints beautiful wild life watercolours.
To Mull – Bob Hardwidge
Here, “nothing seems to matter”,
That’s the beauty ....
At east, that’s part of it
No stress, nor sense of pressure, nor
Of bounden duty,
Must be the heart of it.
Yet, greater than its tempo,
Shall we say, or,
At most, the lack of it,
The beauties of the sea and hills,
The night, the day,
Lie at the back of it.
Fairest of all the unspoilt isles,
As yet you stand –
(is this the root of it?)
Fresh as your first morning, from
Your Maker’s hand
Aye! That’s the truth of it.
________________________________________________________________________________
Back to Argyll Churches
Bunessan,
Isle of Mull,
PA67 6DP
Contact
website: n/a
email : info@mullbaptist.co.uk
Elvyn Blomfield 01681 700398
elvynblomfield@btinternet.com
Baptist missionaries were active in the Ross of Mull early in the 19th century and a young man from Bunessan was the first native born Baptist on Mull. Soon more
were baptised and the movement grew rapidly, the first meeting house was built
in 1823. However theses early Baptists were persecuted and driven out of their
chapel. The duke of Argyll, worried by the solidarity of theses Baptist crofters,
evicted the local schoolmaster from his house because of his Baptist beliefs and
threatened anyone who helped him with the same fate.
The Baptists continued to worship in a cave below the high water line, and
schooling took place in a cave on the shore, a place of interest to walkers on
Ardalanish beach.
A revival came in the 1860s, the Ross Baptists being prominent in this movement.
One was Mary MacDonald of Ardtun who wrote the Gaelic Christmas Carol Leanabh
an aigh. The tune Bunessan is probably best known as Morning has broken. A
new church was built in 1891 where we worship today.
In 1977 Bob and Joy Hardwidge arrive on Mull and eventually they found themselves
restoring the Baptist Church building and running groups for children, young mothers
and fellow Christians.
The Baptist Church still stands firm with a small membership but insufficient funds
to support a minister. We bought a static caravan enabling visiting preachers to
have a week's holiday in return for preaching and a small payment – a bargain
package! We enjoy lunch with our visitors after the service each week, a wonderful
time of fellowship when we feel very much part of the world wide family of God.
Dear Bob at 94 still makes piles of sandwiches for lunch. He also writes lovely
Christian poetry (see below) and paints beautiful wild life watercolours.
To Mull – Bob Hardwidge
Here, “nothing seems to matter”,
That’s the beauty ....
At east, that’s part of it
No stress, nor sense of pressure, nor
Of bounden duty,
Must be the heart of it.
Yet, greater than its tempo,
Shall we say, or,
At most, the lack of it,
The beauties of the sea and hills,
The night, the day,
Lie at the back of it.
Fairest of all the unspoilt isles,
As yet you stand –
(is this the root of it?)
Fresh as your first morning, from
Your Maker’s hand
Aye! That’s the truth of it.
________________________________________________________________________________
Back to Argyll Churches
