Chapter 9
GAMRIE
The rugged coast
of
Pennan and Gardenston,
the latter locally known as Gamrie, have been the
homes of many well-known fishermen. They
were experts in driftnet fishing, especially in the lochs of
Looking along the shore at Gamrie.
(Picture: G. NIcolson, Peterhead.)
As the folks left
their comfortable homes in the two villages, little did they realise that many
of them would return two months later as "new creatures in Christ",
putting their trust in the Blest Rock of Ages.
One night as Douglas Brown preached on the left water pot, from John chapter 4, the Holy Spirit moved through the building, many fell prostrate before under mighty conviction. A number of Pennan and Gamrie men were saved that night. In my possession is that sermon which was preached. I treasure it very much.
Another
characteristic of the
After the herring season ended, the inhabitants of Gamrie and Pennan eagerly awaited the return of their loved ones. No one could argue against the changed lives of hardened drunkards who had been transformed by sovereign grace.
Wise old men who
had known the power of Christ in their lives for many years gathered the young
converts together for fellowship in a building called "Castle
Grant". This three-storied building
was owned by a man called Francis Wiseman, or "Fish Francie"
as he was named. It had been used mainly
as a net store. Precious times of
blessing were experienced in the middle story.
Crowds would sit on herring "nets drinking in the words of
life. Young converts were taught the
Word of God, while hardened sinners found salvation to be the answer to their
long search for peace." "Fish
A leading part in these meetings was taken by a man called "Soldie" Watt of the steam drifter Gowan Bank. Another of the stalwarts was Willie "Shippie" West. His grandson, Alex Jack, tells in a gospel leaflet the story of "Shippie" crossing to Shetland one stormy night when the steamer struck a rock. As a fisherman he knew the danger they were in, so he made his way along the passenger deck towards the lifeboats and there he saw a lady sitting there quite composed. Going across to her he said, "What a night to be on a rock." Quickly she replied, "It is grand to be on The Rock on a night like this." "Shippie" knew exactly what she meant as he had experienced the truth of Isaiah chapter 32, verse 2. "A man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and as a covert from the tempest." Earlier in life he realised that in the gathering storms of time there was only one safe refuge - Jesus Christ.
There were also some light moments in Castle Grant. One night as the meeting progressed, a bag of potatoes burst and scattered all over the floor. As the crowd picked them up, someone started to sing, "What a gathering".
Today, after almost 60 years, the effects
of the revival are still visible in the Church of Scotland, which is
outstanding in its evangelical testimony, and a thriving Brethren Assembly.