A cord

of three
strands is
not quickly
broken
Ecclesiastes 4:12, NIV

“Balanced, biblical city-centre ministry is crucial but still rare in our day.
David Robertson and St. Peter’s are carrying out the very kind of multi-dimensional work that
we need — evangelism, student work, expository preaching, and concern for the welfare of
the whole city.”
Tim Keller
Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City

stpeters-dundee.org.uk
3
The purpose of the planned re-
development is the Ministry of the
Word.

Our vision: The building should be

used every day for the proclamation
of the Word of God to bring more and
more people to know Jesus Christ.
strands
Learning from the past, looking to the Future
bringing Christ to Dundee

Taking the message to the wider world

Bringing Christ to Dundee Learning from the Past,

looking to the Future
our History: St. Peter’s is a famous
historical building, yet many are
unaware of the amazing things that
happened within its walls.

If only these walls could speak! Well

now they can.
Take the message
to the wider world
OUR MISSION: St.Peter’s is
actively involved in the defence
of the Christian faith, evangelism
and church planting, through the
leadership of the Minister, David
Robertson.

This work has led him to travel

This includes preaching, Bible study,
discussion groups and education,
as well as opening the church to
more community groups such as the
international café, youth groups and
children’s clubs, mums and toddlers,
family support work etc., some of
which already use the church.
Listen to ‘The Vision for St. Peter’s’
–a sermon explaining the reasons
for the redevelopment in a biblical
and historical context.
stpeters-dundee.org.uk
We intend to establish a historical
centre which will tell the story of
McCheyne, Bonar, Chalmers Burns
and the great missions that took
place.
We believe the wider Christian
Church can learn much from what
went on in St. Peter’s and can apply
the lessons to the future. Revivals are
not restricted to the past. They can
and will occur again.
extensively throughout Scotland,
the UK, Europe and the US. The
redevelopment will enable more of
this work to take place in Dundee.
We aim to establish a Centre for
Public Christianity which will provide
training for Christians in evangelism,
interaction with the secular media
and a base for further evangelism
and church planting. Already we are
involved in two church plants in
St. Andrews and Montrose.

With Logie & St. John’s church, David’s book ‘The Dawkin’s
Dundee, St. Peter’s organises Letters’ is a response to
‘Quench’ – a well attended Dawkin’s ‘The God Delusion’
series of discussions in a Dundee and directly engages with the
bookshop coffee lounge, which atheist viewpoint of Richard
tackle contemporary issues Dawkins. Translated into six
from a Christian standpoint and languages it has triggered a
actively invite debate. wide response and debate.
St. Peter’s Free Church
in Dundee is one of Scotland’s
best known churches.
It is the church of Robert Murray McCheyne,
visited by hundreds of Christians from all
over the world each year.

In disrepair, it was on the point of being turned into

housing when the Free Church bought it.

For the past 17 years, there has been continual growth,

with people coming from a wide variety of backgrounds.

The congregation is a youthful one with the vast majority

being under 40 years old.
The main elements Ground Floor Plan
of the redevelopment are:
1 Improving access and approach to the
church and opening up the entrance
area

2, 3 Removal of the organ and pews and

introducing flexible seating

4 Better linking of the hall and sanctuary

and of internal and external spaces.
Improving access to the upstairs hall &
installing a lift

Proposed
Development
Work 5, 6 Subdividing the ground floor hall to
allow use as 2 separate rooms and re-
locating the kitchen. Redeveloping the
upper hall for youth work and seminars
First Floor Plan
7 Redesigning the courtyard as a safer
children’s play area

8 Creating an historical display area

Cost of Development: The current estimated cost for the project is £734,000 excluding VAT and fees.

“... this ministry of St. Peters, which is “The re-establishment of an evangelical

knowledgeable and appreciative of the past
and is forward-looking and engaging of our
times and culture without being trendy or
faddish, is just what we need to proclaim
faithfully the gospel in the 21st Century.
“I whole-heartedly endorse this work and
commend it to all gospel-loving, Christ-
exalting, culture-engaging Christians.”
Ligon Duncan
Minister of First Presbyterian Church
Jackson, Mississippi
witness at St. Peter’s, Dundee, in these recent
years has been a tremendous encouragement
and a spiritual blessing to many in Dundee
and far beyond. The vision the church has
for the development of its strategic witness is
worthy of the widest possible support.”
Derek Prime
former Pastor
Charlotte Chapel Baptist Church, Edinburgh
The Centre for Based on the Australian
model of the same name led
by John Dickson, it would

Public Christianity be a separate Christian

charitable company run by
a board with a full time di-
rector being employed. It
When the building is completed we propose to establish would be a partnership of
a Centre for Public Christianity. groups interested in the
communication of Christi-
The centre’s aims Include providing: anity.

Contact with the media and the public It seems the Lord has set be-
Training for church leaders and missionaries in various branches fore us an open door and we
of evangelism & apologetics would like to walk through
it. These are days of great
Development of other forms of communicating the Good News; challenge and opportunity
e.g. Visual Arts, Music and Literature throughout the United King-
A yearly conference and some training weekends dom and Europe. The forces
of secularism are also hard
Encouragement for planting new church groups at work in the United States
of America.
“I see this entire project at St. Peter’s as a further example of what the
Lord did in 1560, in 1836–1843, and in1910… extending the knowledge We believe a centre of this
of His glory in Christ until it covers the earth as the waters cover the sea type could be a significant
(Isa 11:9 & Hab 2:14). I will personally support this project and I urge factor in meeting these
all other reformed and evangelical Christians to do so as well.” challenges and opportuni-
ties. The redeveloped build-
Dr Sam Logan ing would provide an ideal
International Director of the World Reformed Fellowship base for this centre.
President Emeritus of Westminster Theological Seminary
“One of the greatest
needs in the UK today is
biblical teaching which
relates meaningfully to the
culture… I can’t think of
anything better to support
right now than this new
development at St. Peter’s
Dundee.”
Ranald Macaulay
Christian Heritage, Cambridge.

Under McCheyne, St. Peter’s became an active Robert

church with a large programme of outreach, Murray
McCheyne
care for the poor and church extension. (1813-1843)
Inducted to the new
McCheyne’s success is often attributed to his devotional In 1843 McCheyne was appointed to be a commissioner charge of St. Peter’s,
life. He made prayer, meditation and self-discipline key to the General Assembly. However, he contracted typhus November 1836, his
aspects of his work throughout his life. and after two week’s illness he died on 25 March. ministry was innovative
and radical:
On Sundays, his practice was to spend six hours in prayer McCheyne was the right man in the right place. His
He saw the prime need
and devotional reading. McCheyne felt so strongly about spirituality, training, poetic and musical gifts, his youth, as evangelism.
private and family worship that he devised a yearly and his experience in the poorer areas of Edinburgh made
calendar for his people to enable them to read the Old him an ideal minister for St. Peter’s. The combination of He preached simply.
Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms McCheyne and St.  Peter’s was a powerful and potent He preached with
twice. This calendar is still widely used today. one, felt far beyond the boundaries of the parish. authority.
 How you
can help
Why not make a one-off
donation or become a
Friend of St. Peter’s?
The congregation have What does it involve?
pledged to raise one Firstly, it involves you covenanting to pray regularly and faithfully for
third of the cost. the work of the Gospel here. In our prayers, we come to the Lord and
cry out to him – O Lord, do it again! It is the essence of our faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ that the latter days will be greater than the former.
We are thus looking for
support from the wider What does it cost?
church throughout the Anything you want! We would suggest a minimum monthly donation
world to raise the rest. or loan of £10, $15 or €10 for a period of 12 months. This could be
renewed annually. Of course, if it is possible, you could give a one off
We Would very much donation, or a larger sum each month.
welcome any assistance
in funding. What do I get?
We would provide you with a regular friends prayer/newsletter, a free
You can donate or make a loan copy of Awakening, David’s modern biography of McCheyne and keep
on-line at: you in regular contact with the work of the Lord here. You would also
stpeters-dundee.org.uk/ have unrestricted access to our members section on our website.
donate
or in writing to O.K. So How do I join?
Marie Henderson, To become a ‘Friend of St. Peter’s’ and receive information about the
Church Secretary, with the history and ongoing work of the church then please contact David
attached pledge form at the (darobertson@blueyonder.co.uk) or Marie
address below. (office@stpeters-dundee.org.uk) or write to our postal address below.

St. Peter’s Free Church Offices. 4 St. Peter’s Street, Dundee, DD1 4JJ. Tel: +44 (0)1382 807004

“I don’t know if I have witnessed many churches like St. Peter’s who have set such an example as is
being carried out at the present time. I will personally support their new project by putting my money
where my mouth is, and I would urge others to do so - on both sides of the atlantic.”
Dr. R. T. Kendall
former minister, westminster chapel, london

© St. Peter’s Free Church May 2009. St. Peter’s is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SCO 38144. Architectural illustrations courtesy of CRGP Limited. Design & Photography: owendaily.net