Edward Irving an outline History

These notes are taken from a paper put forward by Mr. Alan Dodds entitled:

"EDWARD IRVING 1792 - 1834 A MAN FOR OUR TIME?"

1792
Born in Annan on 4th August.

1811
Went to University at 13 years old.

1818
Moved to Edinburgh, after being licensed as a Minister, soon became Dr.Chalmers assistant in Glasgow.

1822
Became Minister to the London Caledonian Chapel.

Irving preached God as father of all mankind, not just the Church and that God should be sought in the ordinary rather than the grand. He condemned many of his upper-class listeners as exploiters of workers, collectors of immoral profits and of being callous and uncaring towards the poor and homeless.
His preaching emphasized the work of the Holy Spirit and he proclaimed the early second coming of the Lord.
He differed from the church, of the time, on many things and tended to accept instead the 1560 Confession of faith of the Scottish Church which was no longer in use.
Some people found his preaching unpalatable and moves against him were initiated.

1830
Put on trial by the London Presbytery for preaching heresy, it was alleged that he had preached that Christ was a sinner. Found guilty, he continued to preach in an independent church with the backing of his trustees. It was during this ministry that he allowed his congregation to speak in tongues and to express prophetic utterances during services.

1831
The General assembly instructed the Presbytery of Annandale, as that which ordained him, to call him to trial again for heresy.

1832
On trial by the London Presbytery for leading worship against the terms of the Deed of trust. Found guilty he was removed from his charge.

1833
Trial was set for 13th March 1883 in Annan Old Parish Church. He was found guilty and deposed as a minister.

1834
Died on 7th December after contracting a chill en-route to Glasgow, there is some belief that he may have already contracted TB.

Other reading
The transforming of the Kirk A.C.Cheyne A Church History of Scotland Burleigh The Pentecostal Theology of Edward Irving Strachan Fathers of the Kirk Selby Wright Ed. The Scottish Church 1688-1843 Drummond and Bulloch The Church in an age of Revolution Vidler