Perhaps the most famous book ever written in Stranraer is Messiah the Prince, by William Symgington (minister here from 1819-39). First published in 1839, it has been republished numerous times since. It has now been translated into Portuguese and is available to buy in Brazil from Publicações O Pacto.
Stephen contributed the following endorsement:
“It was said many centuries ago that while ‘other churches have asserted and contended for Christ’s priestly and prophetical offices, the lot seemeth to have fallen upon Scotland to assert and wrestle more eminently than many others for the crown and kingdom of Jesus Christ’. The reference was to the struggle of the seventeenth century Covenanters, and there is no greater summary of their principles than this work by William Symington. Written in the South West corner of Scotland, this book was timely in its day, being published four years before the ‘Disruption’ of the Church of Scotland. I pray that its republication will be similarly timely for Portuguese-speaking churches in our own day as they seek to proclaim the kingship of Jesus Christ over their own nations.”
