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The History of the Shetland Christian Bookshop at 30 Market Street, Lerwick – PART 1

We have come together tonight to celebrate 40 years of the Shetland Christian Bookshop! Some of our more mature members of the congregation here might be thinking “I mind the bookshop a lot earlier dan 40 year fae syne” which is true! So we will need to go a bit further back to tell you how we come to be celebrating the 40^th Anniversary!

The first information we can find about how the Bookshop premises came to be where it is today, starts with a story away back in the 1880s. 

In 1886 Henry Nicolson, who was a 56 year old farmer in Tingwall, relocated to Lerwick where he and his son William had built a house at number 13 Market Street.  Henry and his wife Catherine moved in with their son William and his wife Margaret, their four children and some of William’s siblings too!  It would have been a houseful!

Number 13 Market Street as it stands today.

 

The reason they bought the house in Market Street was because William was working as a joiner in the workshop across the street at number 30 Market Street - which is the site on which the Christian Bookshop now stands! Isn’t it great to think that God had a plan for the Bookshop even back then!?

Now, as we heard, William & Catherine had four children:  The eldest of whom was Florence. 

When Florence was 8 years old, her baby sister Christine died. 

When she was 9 years old both her grandparents on her mother’s side died. 

When Florence was 12, her younger brother James died. 

When Florence was 14, her aunt (who stayed with them) died.

When Florence was 15, her mother died. 

Two months later, her paternal grandmother (who lived with them) also died. 

In November the same year: 1909, her father William died. 

And only 18 months later, her paternal grandfather who she helped care for, died as well.

15 year old Florence was left to look after her one remaining younger brother Henry –who later, incidentally also passed away at a relatively young age of 30 years.

So, Florence knew grief, pain and suffering. She was left with plenty of money and possessions but no family. How her heart must have been broken.

Florence and her young brother Henry inherited the two buildings in Market Street; No. 13 - the family home, and also their father’s workshop at No. 30.  Understandably, after all the tragedy they experience, they moved down to Quendale to stay with two aunts at Hillwell.  It was here that Florence met and married Magnus Robert Flaws from Quendale, where they settled into married life.

Florence rented out the House and The Workshop which was turned into a Blacksmiths, to several different individuals over the years.  We know during the First World War, there were three Orkney men that ran the blacksmiths and later during the 1920s, Mr James Papley was the blacksmith and Cartwright using 30 Market Street. 

J.W. Papley Blacksmith circa 1920

 

This is the first picture we have of the premises at 30 Market Street.  It is incredible to still see the similar outline to the current bookshop!  This picture from the Shetland Archives is dated around 1920.

One calm evening in May 1922, there was a large explosion which was heard over the town.  Sadly it was at the Smiddy. Witnesses said flames and smoke could be seen for a distance from the substantial fire which destroyed most of the building and contents therein. 

We do not know if the entire building had to be constructed again, but we do know there were certainly major renovations required, following the explosion and fire.

After Mr Papley moved back down South, the late Billy Isbister rented the Smithy from Florence, and we’re thankful to Billy’s daughter Margaret Stout for supplying us with this photo - which is the first picture we have of the rebuilt building from around 1930.

Billy Isbister, Blacksmith at 30 Market Street, Lerwick circa 1930

 

The building continued to be used as a Blacksmiths until the late 1940s, with Alec Irvine & Sons being the last known tenant.

You may be thinking well that is a lot of information about how the building came to be, but how does it link in to the story of the Christian Bookshop?  Well... Florence the young girl we heard about who had lost all her family became a Christian by trusting the Lord Jesus as her own Saviour.  She realised that death is not the end for the believer.  She knew of the hope of eternal life that is available to everyone who believes, regardless of how long or short life on earth may be. Florence knew that the eternal life that the Lord offers could change lives – even lives that had been ravaged with sin, sorrow and sadness.  Florence wondered how she could get more folk in Shetland to know about her Lord who had brought such peace and comfort to her heart. 

In the late 1934, a Colporteur (which was a person who travelled around to sell or publicise Bibles and other religious tracts and books) from the Metropolitan Mission in Glasgow, was in Shetland going from door to door with Christian literature.  The Colporteur visited Quendale where she met Florence, who at this point would have been about 40 years old.

Florence had developed a heart for the spiritual needs of all Shetlanders and wanted to help spread abroad this good news that is available to all.  The lady who came to her door selling the Message of Victory magazine found a friend for life!  Florence was delighted to know there were other people with the same desire to spread the gospel around Shetland.  Soon she was instrumental in helping other local believers to get involved in the work of the Metropolitan Mission too.  There were even three young friends of Florence’ who joined up to help with the Mission throughout Scotland and even as far South as London.  Those three ladies were: Peggy Aitken, Jean Ward and Margaret Smith.

In 1950 Florence transferred both premises in Market Street over to the Metropolitan Mission.  Number 13 Market Street was to be used to house more colporteurs or temporary missionaries who came up from the Glasgow Metropolitan Mission. The property was also partly used as a storage facility for the missionaries where they kept books and literature which they would take all over Shetland. 

The premises at 30 Market Street was no longer running as a blacksmiths, it was just a store facility so with Florence’s help and encouragement, the Metropolitan Mission turned it into a Christian Literature Shop which opened to the public in 1952 – making it more than 70 years now since the Christian Bookshop first opened in Shetland!  In some ways, we could really be celebrating 70 years of the bookshop tonight!

God was able to use the life of a young lass, who experienced such heartbreak in her early years. She matured into a lovely Christian lady with a heart of kindness and care and empathy.  She wanted everyone to have the ability to access Bibles and helpful Christian literature.  All thanks and glory to God for Florence and her heart of love for her Lord and the people of Shetland!  The Christian Bookshop began all because of the generosity of Florence and her desire for the people of Shetland to be told about the love of God!  

The History of the Shetland Christian Bookshop at 30 Market Street, Lerwick – PART 2

Florence Flaws passed away in May 1957, aged 63 years.  She and her husband had no children.  After ensuring her relatives were left a gift, she bequeathed the house at 13 Market Street along with the shop premises at 30 Market Street, to the Metropolitan Mission of Glasgow. 

The Metropolitan Mission ran the shop from 1952 until 1963 when at that time, the Metropolitan Mission was dissolved and the two properties were taken over by an organisation called; the Message of Victory Evangelism Trust (M.O.V.E).  Therefore this year marks the 60^th Anniversary from when the bookshop was initially established as a Trust.  We give thanks to God for this milestone too!

We are thankful that some of the reminiscence of former workers, who are sadly no longer with us, was recorded.  One of the earlier workers was Betty Gates from Glasgow. Betty began working with the Glasgow Metropolitan Mission shop in Shetland in 1955.  She was assigned to assist Phyllis McKane, who was also new to Shetland.  Betty arrived in Shetland during a prolonged snow storm.  She recalled that there were so few customers for three weeks that they began to wonder how they would have enough money to buy the errands to keep them going that week.  Thankfully the Lord knew their need and as they prayed, a Vicar from the Church of England came by the shop to pay his overdue invoice!  The shop clearly started off with humble resources, but God was proving His faithfulness right from the start.

Betty and Phyllis worked week about in the shop, while the other carried out colportage work all over the islands.  They gradually became involved in other Christian activities; visiting the Brevik Hospital, helping at the Salvation Army and attending Florence Flaws’ Bible Study at her home.  In the spring of 1955 they were requested to provide a bookstall for the Billy Graham Campaign relays in Lerwick.  This is the first record we have of the Christian Bookshop providing bookstalls out with the shop - a service which the Bookshop still enjoys providing today. (So if you ever need a bookstall organised for your events, just let us know!)

The following year, in 1956 Marshall and Martha Russell from Northern Ireland came to do Missionary work through the Glasgow Metropolitan Mission too.  Marshall visited many homes with Christian literature, where he would often pray and encourage lonely Christians.  Martha continued to run the bookshop following the departure of Betty and Phyllis.  Over the past 70 years, we wonder how many prayers have gone up from the bookshop and how many lonely Christians have received a word of encouragement through popping in to the shop, or even by receiving a little card which was bought there?  We should never underestimate the power of a verse on a card or gift.

Another couple who came after Mr & Mrs Russell was Tommy and Aeronwy Murdoch.  Some of us will perhaps remember them, especially Mrs Murdoch who was a devout member of the Baptist Kirk in Lerwick right up to her death in 2013, aged 97 years. 

Mr Tommy Murdoch - 1973

 

Aeronwy first came up to Shetland in 1952 to visit Margaret Wilson who was a Glasgow Metropolitan Missionary who lived at 13 Market Street and was one of the first ladies who helped in the bookshop across the road.  But in 1962 Aeronwy was newly married to Tommy Murdoch, who had been asked by the Met Mission to come and take over the bookshop in Lerwick.  Aeronwy was delighted to be coming back to Shetland, as she had such fond memories from her earlier visits.  She got a job as a nurse at the old Gilbert Bain Hospital whilst Tommy was very dedicated to running the bookshop.

Tommy also enlisted the help of a few local Christians including George Peterson (Eric’s Dad) and George Keith (Anita’s Granddad) to read many of the books that were to be sold, to ensure they were solid material! Tommy didn’t want anything that he deemed unscriptural to be sold from his counter!

Perhaps we should add in here that over the years there have been so many people who have volunteered their time and used their abilities to help at the bookshop. 

Right back in the early days some of you may remember Mr & Mrs Hatting who were up for some time working in the shop and doing evangelical outreach. 

And even in the past 20 years, names of faithful volunteers that come to mind include:

Ruth Catterall, Francis Prittie, Ruth Munro, Mark Wiseman, Lorna Jamieson, Richard Fowler, Jackie Shearer, Anthony Skelding, Mairi Graham, Hazel Adamson, Amanda Shearer, Chris & Jo Jackson, Hazel Mair, Ruth Einarsson, Kirsten Hawick, Dawn Smith, Tracy Mundie, Sarah Smith, Fiona Halcrow, Kerry Peterson, Janet Crooks-Jones, Jane Gentle, Jessica Johnson, Matthew Dorratt, Davina Gakere, Ruth Miculaiciuc & Bronwyn Miller. 

And others who helped with Bookstalls and with Stocktaking: Wilma Burgess, Grace Sutherland, Sheila Dare, Gwyn & Sue Stoyle, Christine Tonge, Jane Puckey, Marjory Dawson, Glenys Robertson and Alexis Keith.

Marshall & Martha Russell, Jean Ward, Margaret Smith, Mary Smith, with volunteers & trustees circa 2000

 

All these people willingly offered their time and talents to the work of the Christian Bookshop.  And we are so thankful to all of those mentioned and perhaps many others who may have escaped our memories, but their labours will certainly never be forgotten by God and we are grateful for each and every person who has helped in any way.

We’re thankful too for the legal advice that Eric Peterson has been able to provide over the years and also Martin Tregonning for guidance with the accounts over the past few years as well.

The bookshop is run as a Charitable Trust and has had a board of Trustees to whom the manager reports back to on a regular basis.

Some of the original Trustees included several men from England who worked for the M.O.V.E Trust.  In 1997, the MOVE Trust was dissolved.

At this point, the Tanglewood Trust was established.  The Trustees were Malcolm Adamson and Eric Peterson, Mary and Nelson Smith, along with Nelson’s sister-in-law Myrtle Anderson-Smith, Monty Georgeson and John Mitchell.  When Monty and John retired, Aubrey became a Trustee. 

Later on, Anita Keith joined the Trustees and following Nelson, Mary and Myrtle’s retirement, we were thankful to have Deborah Anderson and Paul Williamson join us too.

And we give thanks to all the Trustees for their time, input, finances, guidance and help over the years.

 

Trustees and volunteers at Mary & Nelson’s leaving do - 2019

 

It is amazing to see how God has brought along the right people at the right time, to work together and it just shows how important it is to have fellow Christians with a desire to unite to share the love of our Lord in our community.

The Christian Bookshop is not owned by an individual or a church or denomination or any organisation.  The purpose of the shop is to assist anyone with their spiritual needs, whether that be a Christian or non-Christian, male, female, old or young, rich or poor.  It does not matter what background, beliefs or burdens any customer has.  The goal of the Christian Bookshop is to point everyone to Christ and His word and His people.

The History of the Shetland Christian Bookshop at 30 Market Street, Lerwick – PART 3

Let’s get back to the story of the building... By the late 1970s the Bookshop at 30 Market Street was in poor shape even though Tommy Murdoch had worked hard to keep it watertight.   As time passed by, it was evident that a major rebuild was required if the bookshop was to continue.  Sadly Tommy passed away in September 1980 so he never saw the new bookshop being built.

When Tommy passed away, Jean Ward returned to Shetland after years of being away working for the Message of Victory Evangelism Trust throughout Scotland and England and she was delighted to take on the running of the Christian Bookshop.  However, Jean knew the strength of winter gales and she prayed for much help and guidance about the building. 

One day, as Jean prayed, a gentleman called Mr Bunn came into the shop as a customer. He heard of the intention to rebuild the premises and volunteered his help.  He was an architect technician with the Shetland Islands Council and he was certainly an answer to prayer!  Mr Bunn drew up plans and gave them as a donation to the work of the bookshop.  The plans were approved by the SIC in December 1982.

Malcolm Adamson and his twin Billy have always been a huge help.

 

Another answer to prayer was the help from young Christians from Cunningsburgh.  Malcolm Adamson offered to do the electrical wiring with the help of his twin brother Billy.  He also helped in the appointing of a reliable building firm; Gair & Smiths.  Malcolm is still our main building expert.  Whenever there is an issue or a job to do, a phone call to Malcolm is all it takes!  We really are indebted to Malcolm for all his work over the years.  So thank you Malcolm.

1983 – Construction begins!

 

So, in 1983 the rebuild was under way! 

All the stock had to be moved over to number 13 Market Street.  (Sheila Halcrow and friends were a huge help to Jean with that mammoth task)  Jean continued to run the bookshop from the living room at number 13 Market Street whilst the Bookshop was rebuilt!  Customers continued to be faithful and were very understanding about the temporary arrangement.

Over at number 30, part of the building was demolished, all the interior cleared and the roof removed.  Jean recalled that Malcolm would turn up just at the right time to consult with the builders, much to her relief!

At this point the Trustees decided to put the premises at Number 13 Market Street up for sale and the money from the house sale along with a grant of £5800 from the Shetland Islands Council helped with the cost of the Bookshop rebuild and with new interior fixtures and fittings.

The new premises were to include not just the Bookshop, but living accommodation and a secure garage to the rear of the property too.  Once the builders had the building secured to wind and watertight stage, all the interior fittings, finishings, flooring, decorating and shelving had to be completed.

Once again, Malcolm and Billy and other Christian Friends from Cunningsburgh gave help and advice along with John and Peggy Black who volunteered 6 weeks of their time to help on the project.

All was completed in a remarkably short time.  Everyone was full of praise for what had been accomplished as they saw full shelves in a bright and inviting shop. 

What seemed like an enormous, insurmountable task for Jean Ward a few years previously, had come to fruition.  Jean had prayed for guidance, finance, workers and friends to help - and God answered every prayer.  His desire was that the shop could and would be rebuilt and able to continue for years to come. 

That was 40 years ago!  And that is why we are here tonight to Thank God for His faithfulness since the building was rebuilt.

We have an awesome God who is able to do above all that we can ask or even think! 

Jean was absolutely thrilled to be working away in the lovely new premises and staying in the living accommodation at the back of the shop. Truly God’s provision was evident yet again!

Jean was delighted when her friend Margaret Smith returned to Shetland, after working with MOVE Trust for many years, as Jean had done.

Margaret began helping Jean in the shop in September 1989 and when Jean retired, it was Margaret who took over the manager role.  Jean continued for some time to work 2 days per week to enable Margaret to still do some door-to-door work.  Margaret enjoyed taking bookstalls to different Christian events, which always helped to increase awareness of what the shop had to offer.

Margaret was delighted to meet a young couple who visited the bookshop, while they were up on holiday from England in the early 1990s.  They introduced Margaret to Bookaid.  Bookaid is a Christian organisation which passes on second hand Christian literature to Missionaries in English speaking countries predominantly in Africa.  Over the past 25 years there have been thousands and thousands of books shipped away from the Shetland Christian Bookshop.  It is quite humbling to think that God is able to us here in the far North to reach people in Africa with good solid literature even today, as that ministry continues through the shop today with the donations of books we receive every week.  And so we are very thankful for Margaret’s encounter with that couple on holiday who introduced her to Bookaid.

During the 1990s, 100s of Eastern European Fishing Vessels, known as “Klondykers”, were moored around Lerwick Harbour during the fishing season.  Some of the men would visit the shop.  Margaret remembered one occasion when a man came in and was saddened there was no children’s bible in Russian.  Margaret started praying!  She was soon able to supply many Bibles and children’s Books and Bibles in Russian and other languages.  She was told that often the men were seen on the boats reading the children’s bibles themselves before they got them home. 

Jean Ward died in March 2021 just a few months before her dear friend Margaret Smith, who died in July of the same year. Close companions who served God together and were soon together in glory to hear those words: “well done good and faithful servant”.  We give thanks to God for both of these ladies and all the work they did for Him especially at the Christian Bookshop.

In 1997 MOVE Trust was wound up.  The future of the Christian Bookshop in Lerwick was uncertain.  But God had someone in mind!  Mary and Nelson Smith were approached and Mary agreed to take on the running of the shop.

We are thrilled that they have come up this week to join us for this Celebration and we will now invite them up to hear about their time at the shop...

The History of the Shetland Christian Bookshop at 30 Market Street, Lerwick – PART 4

In February 2011 Anita Keith began volunteering in the shop and later became a worker 2 days a week.  When Mary and Nelson retired in 2019, they left the day to day running of the shop to Anita and she become a full time employee in 2020.

Over the past four years, there have been numerous changes – especially to the building – which has had a major overhaul with roof repairs, new windows and complete renovations to most rooms throughout. 

The intention of upgrading the building was not just to make it more aesthetically pleasing, or to modernise the building, but to encourage folk to feel welcome and the freedom to use the premises, for purposes that will glorify God.

Every fortnight, a Granny’s Prayer Group meet and use the front room for prayer.  It is so important to try to encourage the younger generation to understand how much they are loved by God and His people. In a world when so many of them have experienced much hurt and sadness and confusion already in their short lives.  Isn’t it a joy when we get the opportunity to tell them of a hope that is available to them?  To be able to point them to one who can transform lives.  We must keep praying for the younger generations coming behind us.

There are other groups such as the Bairns Bible Book Group - parents and their toddlers who regularly meet together with others, with the aim of trying to encourage children from the youngest of ages to get a love for reading and learning stories from the Bible. 

And there is a young lady’s Bookclub who also meet from time to time in the Bookshop sitting room.   It is so lightsome to know that there are young folk wanting to meet and learn from a Christian book together.

Often there are people who come along to the shop who need to sit and chat or ask for prayer.  Sometimes, people just need to have some company or want to shelter from the rain and have a cuppa.  Whatever folks needs are, our door is open to all and we will try to help if we can.

It wouldn’t be possible for all this to be done without the help of the volunteers who regularly give their time to be in serving at the shop.  We are particularly thankful to Grizel McGregor, Margaret Henry, Lois Lewis, Deborah Anderson, Mairi Graham, Freda Johnson and John Yianni who are our current staff team.  We are hugely indebted to them for all the time and effort they put in every week and have done now for many years. We thank God for each one of them.

Over the years there have also been changes that were necessary to keep up with the ever progressing world of technology. 

Last year the Bookshop was delighted to finally have a new website up and running – which has an online store facility meaning the shop is not only accessible to customers in Shetland, but all over the country too!  Locals are able to choose their required items from the comfort of their own home and have them delivered in Lerwick, or collected in store at a convenient time, or get them posted out like the orders for the rest of the UK.  Please do have a look online at the website (DETAILS ON SCREEN) to keep up to date with what is new and available to purchase, and encourage folk to use it if you can.

Footfall in Christian Bookshops all over the country, have decreased significantly, especially since the Covid Pandemic.  The Online Shop is just one way that the Shetland Christian Bookshop is hoping to increase income.  Many people often order from online giants such as Amazon or even some of the bigger Christian Retailers such as Eden.  But we would ask if your church fellowship is ever ordering online, please do get in touch with Anita before you place your order.  Quite often we are able to procure the same titles that are available from these online suppliers, at the same price.

Three years ago, we were delighted to receive Grant Funding for the managers wage to ensure the bookshop could continue.  The funding is due to cease in February next year.  From an Accountant’s perspective, the shop should realistically only survive another couple of years.  But we believe God had a plan more than 130 years ago, when that first building was erected on the site at 30 Market Street.  Even explosions and storms and pandemics couldn’t close down this little Mission right here in Lerwick!  When income was so sparce that the staff didn’t know how they were going to buy their messages, or when the MOVE Trust was wound up, or when the building was such poor condition that the rain was collected in buckets – when the future was uncertain more than 40 years ago, people prayed with faith... and God answered those prayers!

We believe God still has a plan and can use the Shetland Christian Bookshop for His purposes in our islands today and in the years to come. 

He has been so faithful to us over many, many years.  It is our prayer that we will continue to be faithful to Him and serve Him through the bookshop.

When ideas were coming together to design a new logo and marketing slogan, there were two phrases suggested that were used to describe what we are about.  The first being: “Here to serve you” and the second: “So much more than a bookshop...” We think that sums up perfectly what goes on.  The whole aim is to be a witness in our community to point people to the Lord and what a privilege it is that He is able to use us to do that.

We thank God for all of you who do support us, whether that is by coming into the shop to purchase items, or by regular financial support and especially for those who pray for us.  That is our biggest need to be able to continue here.  We believe God will provide for our every need in the future.  We would ask that you pray with us that He will - all for His honour and glory.

 

This is HIStory of the Shetland Christian Bookshop, so far...