The Year is 1887

(the following text is taken from the 50th anniversary Jubilee brochure)

Hopehall or as it was known then - Hope Hall Mission Church, was founded  in 1887 by the late Robert Kerr, a gifted and saintly business man. He was converted in 1857 through the instrumentality of Mr. Brownlow North, the heir-presumptive to an earldom, who, as an evangelist, witnessed marvellous spiritual results, particularly among the wealthy classes. Few of his converts proved to be so successful in after years as this tall, dignified young man of who’s subsequent career Mrs. Todd-Osborne (of The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Homes’ fame and one of his converts) said, “His life was lived for God."

In his early years of religious work he found ample scope for his undoubted abilities in the city of Glasgow, but in the course of time business claims brought him into more intimate and continuous association with Paisley, a town which lay only three miles away from Crookston Hall, the family residence.

His education which had been completed in the Madras College, St. Andrews, and the actual contacts which he subsequently made with the social and commercial life of the West of Scotland had combined together to develop a unique personality into a quiet but commanding Christian worker of tremendous power and influence. As a speaker, he had a rich conversational style with a pure and cultured diction.

A keen and penetrating Bible student, he demonstrated its truths with clarity and lucidity. By a clear and comprehensive understanding, he unravelled all doctrinal and prophetic mysteries with unmistakable charm and accuracy, and, all the while, a sense of reverence never failed to pervade his every discourse. He was a true gentleman, a gifted leader, an effective evangelist, and proved to be an ideal pastor. His qualities are beautifully summarised in the memorial tablet that was erected to his memory on the walls of the Church (shown on right), after his death on 23^rd August, 1915: “ He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith." ................................

Growing Quickly!

Around Mr. Kerr the new Church sprang up spontaneously, yet almost imperceptibly, there being no violent upheaval. Its members came from many congregations, and their numbers were supplemented by numerous young converts. The first meeting-place in New Street soon became too small: so did the Railway Hall (on the site of the existing L.M.S. Booking Office at Gilmour Street Station picture on left). A new place was found in High Street, but, pending its adaptation to requirements, the congregation worshipped in the Good Templar Hall (pictured below)

On Saturday, 15th January, 1887, the new place was opened with a characteristic Bible Conference the subjects of which dealt with the fundamentals of the faith. The new building was on Weighhouse Close. Access off the High Street was through the gap at the umbrella and bag shop (pictured below).

The building was originally a joiners workshop (see map below) and consisted of a large hall, accommodating about 600, small hall about 150, and the usual ante-rooms. As became a Church which had come into effective being without fuss or excitement, it was quietly named "Hope" Hall. Undoubtedly, due regard was had to the three Graces in giving it this name, but the primary and more obvious reason was that one of the founder’s daughters was named "Hope."

(below picture Paisley High Street late 1800's)

Why did these folks detach themselves from existing congregations and found a new Church? The critic is entitled to a reply to this very reasonable question. There were two outstanding reasons. This new Church held the view that insufficient emphasis was being given then to the preaching of the Gospel in the pulpits, and that persons who made no profession of conversion were being too readily admitted to membership of the Churches.

They held that sermons which were no more than literary essays on moral and ethical considerations, however excellent and commendable, would sooner or later weaken the faith of believers without awakening conviction of any kind among unbelievers. They also held that the admission to the full communion of these Churches of persons who afforded no evidence in their private lives and conduct of having accepted Christ as their Saviour automatically and inevitably weakened the whole fabric of the Church militant. Finally, they held that these unbiblical practices were destined to lead to “empty" churches.

Looking around to-day, who could seriously challenge the accuracy of their prognostications? .............. to be continued

Hopehall,The Titanic,and China!

(the following has been taken from the Hopehall 'Jubilee brochure' with some amendments and additions)

The paramount and all-important function of this Church is the proclamation of the Gospel, and its whole organisation has shaped itself to that end. Methods may have changed, but the message never. The Church is truly democratic, and is composed of a Pastor, Managers, and Congregation, with adherents and sympathisers who, although belonging to other congregations, lend a hand in the " Evangel."

The Pastor and Managers are elected by the Congregation direct. The Managers hold office for only three years, but the Pastor holds office so long as he wishes to do so, and is remunerated on a whole-time basis like any other clergyman.

The membership has seldom been less than 200, or more than 250, and in the main very few of these are "sleeping" partners. The Church has a Sabbath School, Church Choir, Bible Class, Saturday Evening Meeting, Women’s Meeting, Children’s Meeting, Senior Christian Endeavour Society, Junior Christian Endeavour Society, Berean Study Circle and last, but by no means least, a Silver Band.

This does not do justice to the many other meetings that take place, such as Prayer Meetings and Open-Air Meetings, but the former organisations are referred to specially because they are not under the direct and immediate control of the Managers, but are supervised by separate sets of office-bearers. It would be impossible to enumerate all these additional minor but important units.

In this Church the members are generally known as "workers," and compared with most Churches they really, truly and literally “work" from ten o’clock in the Sabbath morning to ten at night is the usual "working " day. The Lord’s Table (Sacrament) is celebrated weekly, and is restricted to believers only. All its organisations, finances and resources aim to concentrate and converge on the Sabbath Evening Gospel Service. When the Band discourses selections, the; Choir sings anthems, or a vocalist sings solos, it is all aimed solely and exclusively at creating a favourable and receptive atmosphere for the Gospel address.
The final test of the efficiency of its office—bearers, or the excellence of a new method, are judged primarily in relation to the creation of conditions best likely to attain success when " We preach Christ crucified." This policy is further accelerated by the conducting of " Special Missions " twice every year. In the old days when suitable sites were plentiful in the town, one of the Campaigns was conducted in a huge canvas tent, and many have happy memories of the "Tent Missions." For Special Missions experienced Evangelists are engaged for periods of two or three weeks, and they preach every night (with perhaps Friday off)!

Notable preachers-clergymen and laymen—have taken part in these Missions. One of these preachers was the Rev. John Harper (pictured left) who lost his life on board the Titanic. - 'Rev. John Harper was minister at Paisley Road Baptist Church, in Plantation area of Glasgow, near Govan, (now the Harper Memorial Baptist Church) before moving to London. He travelled with his daughter Nina Harper and Miss Jessie Leitch from London enroute to Chicago. Rev Harper was on his way to Chicago to begin a series of revival meetings at the Moody church located on West Chicago and La Salle Avenue. He had been at the church during November, December and January of 1911/12 and his success there resulted in his being recalled to conduct a second series of meetings.On the evening of April 14 the Reverend Harper and Miss Leitch were standing on deck admiring the sunset. "it will be beautiful in the morning," remarked rev Harper before retiring for the night. After the collision, Harper awakened his daughter, picked her up and wrapped her in a blanket before carrying her up to A deck. There he kissed her goodbye and handed her to a crewman, who put her into lifeboat 11 with Miss Leitch. Rev Harper went down with the ship.'

Other notable preachers at Hopehall included  Rev. ]ohn McNeil, William Thomson, W. D. Dunn, Richard Weaver, and J. Hudson Taylor (Pictured below right - founder of the China Inland Mission - CIM now OMF International).

Successful as these Missions have been, however, the main burden of preaching Christ crucified has always devolved finally on the Pastor. Evangelists reaped, but the Pastors sowed! The Church has always been particularly fortunate in its choice of Pastor, an onerous though privileged office.
All of them, without exception, have been men noted for their piety and sincerity who have believed that "He that winneth souls is wise." Converts and former members of the Church are to be found all over the world. As a result of its unique but tolerant attitude to the denominational question its former members are found, too, in every kind of evangelical pulpit, missionary society, or kindred organisations.

Viewing the history of this Church, coolly and calmly, weighing up all the evidence available carefully and dispassionately, and without being influenced by bias or sentiment, it cannot be denied that Hope Hall Mission Church has had a successful existence. It set out to preach Christ crucified; it has kept the faith. Its weight and influence have far exceeded its apparent strength. Were all its former members, converts, and adherents to withdraw from other and distant spheres, like the ancient Roman legionaries who returned to defend their great city when its safety was threatened, their loss would be nearly irreparable in the localities!

Next instalment....... the Pastors of 'The old hall'.........