150 years on

I don’t normally post photos of people but I have permission for this one from the group.

We had a special service at church this morning to mark 150 years since the missionary, Rev John Ross, arrived in China. Towards the end of his life he was an elder in our church and as a result we regularly get visitors from the Far East. He is most noted for organising the translation of the New Testament into Korean. Many Koreans, living in China, began to convert to Christianity and it is said that as a result of his work and mission he is the father of Presbyterianism in the far east.

Another of his tenets was that it was for the local communities themselves to develop their Christianity.

Todays service involved 2 Korean congregations in Edinburgh and representatives of the Chinese Evangelical Church in Edinburgh. The service was live streamed and we understand was being viewed in Korea and China.

John Ross was born in the parish of Nigg and grew up in Easter Ross and there is a visitor centre about him in Balintore. A recent biographer - The Rev Dr John Stuart Ross (no relation) - spoke about his impact in creating disciples in north east China and Korea and promoting the spread of Christianity there which still thrives today.

The Rev John Ross died in 1915 and is buried in Newington Cemetery. I have posted a photo of his grave in the past but today. Some of us gathered to reflect on his life.