Letters of William Still Selected by Sinclair B. Ferguson

A selection of over 400 pastoral letters to his people at Gilcomston South Church of Scotland, Aberdeen, where the author ministered for more than fifty years. Sometimes stirring, or provocative, sometimes written with joy, sometimes with a deep anxiety for others, these letters reveal a man of unusual pastoral affection mingled with a deep determination to be faithful to Christ and his Word. It is unlikely that the name of William Still will feature prominently in the official annals of the Church of Scotland. He has never been Moderator of its General Assembly, or convener of any of its major committees. He has not often featured in the religious media. In fact, almost all of his life has been lived in the city of Aberdeen, somewhat 'off the beaten track', even in days of North Sea oil. Yet it is doubtful whether any other individual in his Church during this time has had such a profound and widespread influence. Certainly no Professor in the Divinity Colleges could claim the love and loyalty of his former students to the extent that scores of ministers would look to William Still as their friend and counsellor. Some of them would openly confess that they learned far more about the work of the Christian ministry from him than they did from their theological teachers. In many ways, of course, that is how it always should be. But in William Still's case it is true to a very remarkable degree.