The Country Parson

The independent spirit of the country parson has been a vital part of the British and American social landscape for centuries.  While the title has changed over the years, and the job description is updated from time to time, the chief role of the country parson has not changed.  He is there to feed the flock of God in rural areas, painstakingly attending to the spiritual needs of his neighbors.  At the same time, he is more often than not also the frugal custodian and gardener of the church building and his home, the parsonage.

This Bible is a tribute to the hardworking country parsons and village preachers, both then and now.

“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight (thereof), not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.  Neither as being lords over (God’s) heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” ~I Peter 5:2-3

The Circuit Rider

Legendary in nineteenth century American history, the circuit rider played a vital role in bringing the Gospel to the people of the ever-shifting frontier lands.  Also known as the saddle bag preacher, the circuit rider would travel by horseback from town to town, holding meetings wherever he could find shelter.  For the circuit rider, a cabin, barn, or even the shade of a wide oak tree became the House of God as he fulfilled the great commission of our Lord and Savior.  Following in the footsteps of Francis Asbury, the circuit riders brought stability to many settlements offering regular though infrequent spiritual guidance as he visited from house to house.

His Sunday morning services were usually well-attended by those eager to hear the Scriptures taught, and equally eager to hear news of his travels and to fellowship with distant neighbors.

The circuit rider was a man of strength and determination, filled with the love of God and the spirit of adventure.

“How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” ~Romans 10:14.

The Sunday School Teacher

There was a time when Sunday School was a questionable thing.  Its beginnings were more of an effort to fill the educational needs of the very young workers of England, with Scripture tucked in where appropriate.  Yet over time, it became a movement focused on teaching through the Scriptures.

By the twentieth century, many, if not most churches had a Sunday School.  Classes were usually arranged by age group, both for children and adults, and were taught by both men and women.

While special Sunday School programs and lessons were often used, there was a great need for Bibles that contained notes, concordances, maps, thumb tabs, and other Bible helps.  Many publishers picked up on this need and began making Bibles designed for teaching.  The Sunday School teacher often had little formal Bible training, and heavily depended on these Bible helps.  For many Sunday School teachers, the classroom was not just a place to teach, but rather a place to share with others what God had been teaching them.

While today’s Sunday School is often called Children’s Church or Youth Group, and a teacher’s Bible is called a Study Bible, there is still great reward for the layman who simply teaches the Word of God.  We hope our cover design for the 20th Century Sunday School Teachers Bible represents the simplicity of that era and honors the men and women who put their hearts into preparing those weekly lessons.

“And the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” ~II Timothy 2:2