Scotland’s oldest sports shop has opened for the first time on a Sunday in its 100-year history, with its owner blaming “an Americanised culture” for the move. Greaves Sports began a seven-day operation from January 3 at its store in Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street.
Euan Murray wraps his arms around his 18st body and shivers. The Northampton Saints and Scotland tighthead prop is a mountain of a man, but he looks vulnerable when facing the subject of his religious choices. This Sunday, as Scotland take on France at Murrayfield in their first match of the Six Nations, the 29-year‑old will not be on the pitch.
ONE of the new faces of the BBC's football coverage refuses to work on a Sunday because he is a devout Christian. Dan Walker insists on observing the Lord's Day even though there are top-flight matches almost every Sunday this season. Here 32-year-old Dan - who fronts magazine show Football Focus this Saturday at 12.15pm on BBC1 - explains why he WON'T be covering those games.
The Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh has been closed to visitors on the Christian Lord’s day from the beginning of February 2008. It receives thousands of people a week but only about 400 on the Lord’s day and this has led to the decision to close it off to tourists. It is estimated that the closure will save around £100,000 every year. This action by the Scottish government highlights once again that money and not conviction or principle rules the way our secular society is run.
Around 500 spectators applauded, cheered, whistled and whooped as the MV Isle of Lewis let go her mooring ropes and slipped off her berth in Stornoway harbour at precisely 2.30pm today.
A group from the Free Church Continuing, sang Psalm 46 - God is our refuge and our strength - as passengers boarded and vehicles drove onboard.
Sunday Ferry Sailings to Lewis
Around 500 spectators applauded, cheered, whistled and whooped as the MV Isle of Lewis let go her mooring ropes and slipped off her berth in Stornoway harbour at precisely 2.30pm today.
A group from the Free Church Continuing, sang Psalm 46 - God is our refuge and our strength - as passengers boarded and vehicles drove onboard.
The Rev Timothy McGlynn, formerly of Scalpay Fee Church Continuing in Harris but now of Aberdeen, led the 20-strong group in worship and prayer outside the terminal building. A statement from the group said: “We are a group of local Christians who care deeply about our island. We are here to testify that to run this ferry service on the Lord’s Day is against the 4th Commandment, and so is displeasing to the living and true God.” Rev McGlynn stressed numerous others who opposed to the change were “in a difficult position” as they did not want to protest on the Sabbath as a matter of conscience. After finishing a prayer on the pier he said: “Many people are in their homes worshipping God and wanting to keep today special. “One and two of us have come to make a token representation of the feelings which run deep and are profound within the hearts of many men and women throughout this island.
“The blessed heritage of the Lord’s Day has being taken from us and it will be easier to take than it will be to restore - that’s what is breaking the hearts of many people throughout the island today. He said feelings of “deep sadness and deep disappointment “ dominated the day.
He stressed that Cal Mac was over-ruling elected councillors: “Sadly those who are not elected and do not represent this community have taken it upon their own shoulders to change the ways of this people and do so unilaterally.
“It is a sad indictment upon our nation today that the one thing that is not preserved is the place of God’s law in the land of of that one day being kept special throughout.
He warned that Cal Mac would make new recruits work seven days “creating an incremental change in employment opportunities either intimidating them into breaking their conscience or leave them finding it more and more difficult to gain employment .”
Hundreds of islanders crowded onto the ferry terminal to witness the historic sailing. Car parks around the town centre were full as people clambered to find a good viewing space.
Four police officers monitored the masses with a pair of constables guarding the ticket office entrance. Another group of police officers were to sail onboard but they were off-duty and returning to Lochabar from the Hebridean Celtic Festival.
Cal Mac announced the Sabbath-breaking sailings last week - coinciding with the anniversary events marking John Calvin birth 500 years ago, the theologician whose teachings have strongly influenced islands’ Presbyterianism.
But some islanders are reluctant to publicise their support as they are communicant church members and are likely to take advantage of the Sunday ferry. One said: “This is our highway across the Minch. The crew are employed and working anyway. We cannot drive across the sea and we need the ferry to travel.” Another said they would use it very soon.