This chapter is divided into six sections.
The author writes, “as in America, there was a decline in Calvinism early in the 20th century, but a resurgence in the second half. The rediscovery was due in part to a renewed interest in Calvin, Spurgeon, and especially the Puritans.” I think it is likely that the resurgence of Calvinism in the UK was produced by the most prominent of the 20th century British preachers, D Martin Lloyd Jones. Having been a trained physician, who had no formal theological training, he was strongly influenced by and popularized to a modern audience, the Puritans.
The Anglicans. Three paragraphs. W. H. Griffith Thomas (1861–1924)
was one of several “Low Church” Anglicans that carried on the tradition of J. C. Ryle,
Charles Simeon, and Thomas Scott. They adhered closely to The Thirty-Nine Articles. Griffith Thomas helped found Dallas Theological Seminary late in life, with cofounder Lewis Sperry Chafer.
Mention is made of T. H. L. Parker, Philip Edgcumbe Hughes, John R. W. Stott,
and J. I. Packer,
who wrote Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, Fundamentalism and the Word of God, and Knowing God.
Other English Calvinists. Mention is made of Peter Toon, Paul Helm, Alan Clifford, Anthony N. S. Lane., Peter Masters,
the longtime pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Ernest Kevin, Gospel Standard Baptists, Arthur W. Pink,
who wrote The Attributes of God, The Sovereignty of God, and several Gleanings titles. John Blanchard, Errol Hulse,
The Banner of Truth Trust, Iain H. Murray,
and Jack Cullum are mentioned.
Wales. Two paragraphs. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones,
originally from Wales, G. Campbell Morgan,
Welch Calvinistic Methodism, Geoffrey Thomas, Hywel Jones, Omri Jenkins, and the Evangelical Movement of Wales.
Northern Ireland. Mention is made of the Evangelical Free Presbyterians, Ian Paisley,
W. J. Greer, and The Christian Bookshop in Belfast.
Scotland. Three paragraphs. Mention is made of the Church of Scotland, David F. Wright, William Still, James Philip, Eric Alexander, Sinclair Ferguson,
Ronald Wallace, the Free Presbyterian Church, John MacLeod, R. A. Finlayson, G. N. M. Collins, Douglas MacMillan, and Donald MacLeod. Jack Seaton
and Nicholas Needham are numbered among a tiny sprinkling of Reformed Baptists in Scotland. Calvinism is still alive and well in Scotland.
Conclusion. “British
Calvinists are still a small minority of the population, but they exert a
far-reaching influence around the world. They are not likely to disappear in
the foreseeable future but may well experience revival and flowering again.”
