Saints and Scholars

This episode is an interview with Dr Karina Bénazech Wendling about the subject she will be addressing at the Irish Baptist Historical Society on Thursday 13th May 2025 at 5:45pm This lecture will dive into the long and complex history of Gaelic suppression in Ireland—from medieval laws designed to crush Irish culture, to the radical shift brought by Baptist missionary movements determined to bring the Bible to Irish-speaking Catholics in their native tongue. Drawing from rare archival material spanning Oxford, Dublin, and the Vatican, our speaker reveals how unlikely religious alliances and colonial strategies reshaped the relationship between faith, identity, and language in Ireland. Discover how the Irish language—once seen as rebellious—became a tool for conversion and cultural negotiation, and how Baptist innovations opened the way for a new appreciation of the Irish language by Protestants, at least in Ireland.  Karina Bénazech Wendling is Associate Professor at the University of Lorraine and a member of IDEA research team, as well as Associate Researcher at LEM-CNRS. Since she got her PhD in contemporary history from PSL prepared at EPHE/GSRL-CNRS, she has been working on a postdoctoral project entitled ‘Emancipation and education in the transatlantic space: circulation of ideas and struggles for influence, 18th-19th century,’ prepared under the direction of Hubert Bost, Director of Studies at EPHE-PSL. She has published several articles in international journals and has two forthcoming books: Converting Ireland: religious education, language and nationalism, Manchester University Press, and De la Bible au soupérisme: éducation, missions protestantes et nationalisme en Irlande au premier XIXe siècle, Honoré Champion. She also manages the MIRCOM research project, which inverstigates the role of the Jewish and Protestant minorities in redefining national identities in France, Ireland and Italy (1789-1948).

Dr David Luke will be speaking on “Jonathan Edwards and the Lord’s Supper” for the Irish Baptist Historical Society Autumn Lecture 2023. This video is a primer discussion with Dr Luke about Edwards’ view of the Lord’s Supper and its relevance to churches today

Brannockstown Baptist Church has a long and rich history. It was founded around 1870 by John La Touche, master of the Harristown estate (the La Touches were wealthy and influential aristocrats in France until the Huguenot expulsion). John La Touche became a Christian and was baptised by the well-known Rev. C. H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. Wishing to share the good news of Jesus and call people to follow him, John gathered a small congregation, which in its infancy met in a cottage in the village. In 1882 a gothic chapel of limestone and red sandstone was erected, followed in due course by the manse next door. John La Touche taught and cared for the church family, and later made provisions for the continuation of the church following his death in 1904. This episode interviews the current pastor of Brannockstown, Richard Blayney, about the rich history of the church. Richard is married to Steph, and they have three children. He comes from Coleraine and went to Brannockstown following studies at the Irish Baptist College. A short presentation on the history of the church by Richard Blayney was also recorded on the occasion of the church’s 150th anniversary for the Irish Baptist Historical Society and can be viewed at https://youtu.be/GU7pZ4Px0ec

This episode considers the history and work of Baptist Youth (a department of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland) by interviewing Matt Campbell the Director of Baptist Youth. Matt has been working as Baptist Youth Director since January 2016. He was born and raised in Ballymena. Matt’s responsibility is to oversee the work of Baptist Youth and promote the work of the department among the churches of the Association. After studying Maths at Queens University, he began a Theology degree, at the Irish Baptist College.

This episode considers the history and work of Irish Baptist Women (a department of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland) by interviewing Gail Curry the Baptist Women’s Director. Gail is married to Steven Curry who is pastor. After studying at Belfast Bible College they went out with Baptist Missions to plant Ballymoney Baptist before serving in Bethany Baptist Church Bangor and now are at Ballymena Baptist Church. Gail has been working as the Director of the Baptist Women’s Department for over 12 years and serves on the committee for the Irish Women's Convention

In this episode Dr Crawford Gribben discusses the complex and quickly dismissed theologian John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) and the Brethren movement on the island of Ireland. Dr. Crawford Gribben teaches history in Belfast and is the author of numerous books.

Thomas Patient was active in establishing some of the first Baptist churches in Ireland during the mid-seventeenth century. This is the second in a two-part interview. This episode considers Thomas Patient's contribution to Baptist Ecclesiology and highlights several lessons for the modern church. Micah Caswell is married to Kristen and they have two children. He is the author of Thomas Patient: The Father of the Irish Baptist Church, and he is the pastor of Redeemer Church in Denton, Texas which he planted in 2013.

This is the first of a two-part interview. This episode considers who Thomas Patient was and the planting of Baptist works in Waterford and Dublin. Micah Caswell is married to Kristen and they have two children. He is the author of Thomas Patient: The Father of the Irish Baptist Church, and he is the pastor of Redeemer Church in Denton, Texas which he planted in 2013.

This extended episode with Dr. Paul Coulter recalls the history of the rapidly changing law and thinking around abortion provision in the North and South of the island and considers how Christians should think and respond. Dr. Paul Coulter has worked as a doctor, cross-cultural pastor, lecturer in practical theology at Belfast Bible College, and currently as a mentor, trainer and manager for Living Leadership. Paul has Medical degrees from Queens University Belfast and a PhD in Divinity from Aberdeen University. You can find out more about him and his work at: https://www.paulcoulter.net/ For more information about NI Voiceless see: https://www.nivoiceless.com/about

In this episode Dr Crawford Gribben discusses the complicated issues of Baptist Origins, Oliver Cromwell, and how glorious was the Glorious Revolution? Dr. Crawford Gribben teaches history in Belfast and the author of numerous books.