Archibald Cook (1788 - 1865) was a Free Church of Scotland minister whose preaching attracted thousands of people and was later published; his main ministry was in

Daviot, Highland Daviot (Gaelic: ) is a village in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is about south east of the city of Inverness, next to the A9, the main road to Inverness. Etymology The name ''Daviot'' was recorded as ''Deveth'' in 1206–33, and ...

Inverness-shire from 1844 until his death. Many of his sermons from Daviot were recorded in a form of short-hand adapted for the

Gaelic Gaelic (pronounced for Irish Gaelic and for Scots Gaelic) is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". It may refer to: Languages * Gaelic languages or Goidelic languages, a linguistic group that is one of the two branches of the Insul ...

language and later published in 1907 and 1916 with a later 1946 reprint. An English translation appeared in 2015. The American theologian B. B. Warfield once compared Cook's sermons to those of

Archibald Alexander Archibald Alexander (April 17, 1772 – October 22, 1851) was an American Presbyterian theologian and professor at the Princeton Theological Seminary. He served for 9 years as the President of Hampden–Sydney College in Virginia and for 39 year ...

. Born on the farm of Auchereoch in the

Isle of Arran The Isle of Arran (; ) or simply Arran is an island off the west coast of Scotland. It is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde and the seventh-largest Scottish island, at . Counties of Scotland, Historically part of Buteshire, it is in the ...

, he experienced Christian conversion during the revivals associated with

Calvinism Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyteri ...

in the southern end of the island. His

Caithness Caithness (; ; ) is a Shires of Scotland, historic county, registration county and Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area of Scotland. There are two towns, being Wick, Caithness, Wick, which was the county town, and Thurso. The count ...

ministry in the bilingual missionary charge of Bruan-Berriedale also affected thousands of seasonal

Herring Herring are various species of forage fish, belonging to the Order (biology), order Clupeiformes. Herring often move in large Shoaling and schooling, schools around fishing banks and near the coast, found particularly in shallow, temperate wate ...

fishermen from the west Highlands and the

Isle of Lewis The Isle of Lewis () or simply Lewis () is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. The t ...

, for whom he organised Gaelic services in

Wick Wick most often refers to: * Capillary action ("wicking") ** Candle wick, the cord used in a candle or oil lamp ** Solder wick, a copper-braided wire used to desolder electronic contacts Wick or WICK may also refer to: Places and placenames ...

. In 1837 Cook moved to

Inverness Inverness (; ; from the , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness") is a city in the Scottish Highlands, having been granted city status in 2000. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highland ...

after a strong section of the East Church there left it to create a new 'North' charge in the town; they followed Cook into the

Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900) The Free Church of Scotland is a Scotland, Scottish Christian denomination, denomination which was formed in 1843 by a large withdrawal from the established Church of Scotland in a schism known as the Disruption of 1843. In 1900, the vast major ...

at the

Disruption of 1843 The Disruption of 1843, also known as the Great Disruption, was a schism in 1843 in which 450 evangelical ministers broke away from the Church of Scotland to form the Free Church of Scotland. The main conflict was over whether the Church of Sc ...

but saw him leave for Daviot in 1844. Archibald Cook was popular with the ordinary people who found him sympathetic and approachable. He himself paid tribute to the influence of his mentor in student days in Glasgow, Dr John Love of Anderston Chapel of Ease. Like Dr Love, Cook's preaching was seen as 'searching' (challenging) and 'experimental'(experience-focussed). Archibald's brother Finlay Cook was a minister in Achreny (Caithness), Cross (Isle of Lewis), Inverness and

Reay Reay (, ; , ) is a village which has grown around Sandside Bay on the north coast of the Highland council area of Scotland. It is within the historic Parish of Reay and the historic county of Caithness. The village is on the A836 road some we ...

(Caithness).Sidelights on Two Notable Ministries; Ed Alexander MacPherson; Inverness, 1970; pp. 10, 16, 17.

References

1788 births 1865 deaths 19th-century ministers of the Free Church of Scotland 19th-century Scottish Presbyterian ministers {{Scotland-reli-bio-stub