John Ritchie

John Ritchie was born in the village of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire on 10th
September, 1853. His parents were associated with the Free Church of Scotland, which they regularly attended, and sat under the preaching of George Garrioch, a believer who preached the gospel. His Sunday School teacher was the local doctor, Dr Robert M’Killiam, who weekly instructed his class in the way of salvation. From very early days, therefore, John Ritchie heard the gospel.

On leaving school he obtained employment as a grocer’s assistant in his home town and continued his church attendance. His employment later took him to Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, and he seemed set to fit into the life of the area like the majority of the population who were born and lived their lives in the locality. In 1871, however, his life was changed. After the great revival of 1859 the spiritual life of large areas of Scotland and the north of Ireland was turned upside down. The effects of the revival made an indelible impression on thousands, and thousands of others were saved. The dry religious life which had passed for Christianity was seen to be a sham, and preachers raised the banner of the gospel as it had not been seen for generations. A number of gospel preachers worked throughout Scotland, faithfully bringing the Word to men and women. One of them, Donald Munro, who would later render sterling service in the gospel in the United States, accompanied by others, came to Inverurie to preach.

It was not an easy time for the evangelists. Opposition was strong, physical violence was encountered, and it was clear that there was little liking for the gospel, even amongst those who attended church regularly. But God was working. In one memorable week over 20 young people confessed faith in Christ and John Ritchie was among them. He made the great decision on 2nd April, 1871, and the remainder of his life was evidence of the reality of what took place on that day.

These young believers continued their attendance at the ÒchurchesÓ where they were members, but soon found that they were not satisfied with the spiritual diet which was offered there. They met together regularly to pray and study the Scriptures, and the lessons which they learned from the Acts of the Apostles made them increasingly dissatisfied with their ÒchurchesÓ. At this point Donald Ross, a worthy evangelist and teacher, came to the area to have meetings in the near-by village of Old Rayne. John Ritchie and his friends attended these meetings and found there a company of believers who practised what they had read of in the Acts. Amongst other things, they witnessed the Breaking of Bread, and, as they observed what took place at Old Rayne, they became persuaded that this was the scriptural pattern of gathering. They saw put into practice what they had discussed so often amongst themselves. This was another turning point in the life of the young convert. Shortly after this he and others were baptized and started to gather to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and to preach the gospel.

The young man, showing that he possessed the gift of the evangelist, tackled the work of the gospel with zeal and determination. He preached in homes, in barns, in the open air, in shops and workshops, and wherever there was an opportunity. This, together with the study of the Scriptures, increasingly filled his time, and his area of service gradually widened beyond Aberdeenshire. His gift was recognized by others, and soon he was commended to work full time in preaching and teaching.

In 1877 he married Miss Liveston from the town of Forfar and they set up home in Dalmellington, Ayrshire. John Ritchie had been involved in a work there, and a large number of believers who were young in the faith needed care and shepherding. He and his wife gave themselves wholeheartedly to this work and his name became well known in the south-west of Scotland. In 1879 they moved to the nearby town of Kilmarnock where Alexander Marshall and others had been preaching, resulting in many being saved. This was to become the centre of his work for the next fifty-one years.

When reading of this period in Scotland it can be seen that the mighty work for God which had commenced with the revival was still continuing. Evangelists were preaching to crowded meetings and large numbers were being saved. Many assemblies were planted as is evidenced by the many which held ÒcentenaryÓ meetings in the last twenty-five years.

John Ritchie laboured as a young man in this era. As he preached the gospel and taught the Word of God, he perceived that there was a great need for sound biblical literature. Teaching was vital and literature was not as readily available as it is today. The budgets of most households could not stretch to the purchase of expensive volumes. If literature was to be widely used it had to be published in a form which made it affordable by the majority. Thus it was that magazines and small books, tightly packed with truth, were necessary. In 1884 he commenced publication of The Young Watchman, a magazine for the young. Working alone, he wrote the magazine, carried out the task of editor, arranged the printing, and was responsible for the distribution. All this he did from his home, and the publication became very popular. From this beginning sprang the publication work which is continued today by John Ritchie Ltd. Other titles were soon added. Our Little Ones’ Treasury for younger children, The Sunday School Workers’ Magazine, and The Believer’s Magazine, commenced in 1891, all increased the workload. He also became a prolific tract writer, and it is reckoned that over 180 books, tracts and booklets come from his pen. Still used today are From Egypt to Canaan, The Tabernacle in the Wilderness, and booklets on foundation truths. Eventually, premises had to be obtained to carry on the work. These were located at Sturrock Street, Kilmarnock where the work was based until the early 1970’s at which time it moved to Beansburn, also in Kilmarnock.

From his writing it can be seen that John Ritchie was a man of strong convictions who did not hold back from stating them and putting them into practice. He might, like so many pioneers in the gospel, have been single minded and not as easy to work with as some would have liked, but no-one doubted his sincerity and the passion with which he held to his beliefs. The truths of the Scriptures were dear to him and compromise was a pathway which he never considered.

The considerable responsibility involved in the rapidly growing literature side of his work did not result in preaching being neglected. John Ritchie was often seen in Ayrshire pushing a barrow loaded with literature to points where he preached in the open air and distributed tracts to the listeners. In the summer he arranged groups of young believers to spend time in gospel work. Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire, Stirling, and areas of the north of England were visited, and door to door work, open airs, gospel meetings and systematic literature distribution took place. The influence of this work was felt beyond the confines of the British Isles. Some of the young men who helped in the summer gospel work would later take the gospel to far-off shores. Fred Stanley Arnot and Charles Swan, both of whom would serve in Africa, were, as young men, associated with this work.

As the years progressed, John Ritchie’s ministry took him throughout the British Isles. He was in great demand to speak at conferences and series of ministry meetings. A glance at the early copies of The Believer’s Magazine reveals something of the extent of that work. He travelled extensively, but never lost his interest in his home assembly in Kilmarnock where he continued to contribute no matter how busy he was on other engagements. He had a special place in his heart for young believers, and Bible Readings were regularly held to help those young men and women who had an interest in the Word of God.

As age began to take its toll he was forced to cut back somewhat on his schedule, but still his pen was kept working and helpful publications were produced. He passed into the presence of the Lord on 19th March, 1930, his wife having predeceased him in 1924. He left behind a rich store of written truth and an example of how to serve the Lord with determination and devotion. .

Ye olde John Ritchie ...................................and pics of present Kilmarnock HQ.