• Born: 16 August 1916, Newmilns, Ayrshire, Scotland
• Marriage (1): Jane Moore DUNN on 5 June 1941 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland
• Died: 8 September 1965, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland at age 49

   Another name for Thomas was Rev. Tom MOORE.

  General Notes

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Allan

Tom Allan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas (Tom) Allan was a minister and evangelist of the Church of Scotland, broadcaster, author, columnist and pioneer of practical church outreach in social work, primarily in the city of Glasgow. His notable achievements were recognised with one of the city's highest honours, the St Mungo Medal and Prize in 1964.

Tom Allan
Contents

    * 1 Ayrshire roots and studies
    * 2 RAF service
    * 3 North Kelvinside
    * 4 Broadcasts
    * 5 Tell Scotland and Billy Graham
    * 6 St George's Tron
    * 7 The Media
    * 8 The End Years
    * 9 References
    * 10 Categories

Ayrshire roots and studies

Tom Allan always cherished his Ayrshire roots. Born in Newmilns, he benefited from the rich music and singing traditions of the valleys and participation in the life of the local church. He also there met Jean Dunn from the same community and school. They were married in 1941. All studies came easily to him and he completed a First Class Honours in English at Glasgow University in 1938.

RAF service

When WW2 began he left his exempted divinity studies and volunteered for service in the RAF. Eyesight faults prevented flying. He was sent for officer training and on to Intelligence work. 1945 saw him at Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in Reims and Frankfurt. War experience struck at the youthful faith of home and led him to an uncomfortable agnosticism and doubt. That was changed forever by an experience at an Easter Day service in Reims. Amid the ruins and devastation of war an African American soldier rose to sing the solo 'Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Unexpectedly this proved to be the turning point, the conversion, of his whole life. Now his future was set. He returned to home and family, to an intense year of study at the Department of Divinity in Glasgow University, winning incidentally the prize in New Testament studies.

North Kelvinside

Tom Allan's first parish was North Kelvinside in 1946. It was an inner city area of mainly tenement buildings housing 10,000 people. The statistics about his seven-year ministry are impressive. Membership tripled from 400 to 1200 and all else prospered. A most important aim of his ministry was the emergence of a Congregational Group from all ages, sexes and backgrounds committed to the work of evangelism. This was achieved and a demanding training in prayer, bible study and application in Christian service, followed. However, he wrote an honest assessment of this ministry in 1954 called 'The Face of My Parish'. It was quickly used and still is by the Practical Theology Departments of Universities. Translated into several European languages it brought Tom Allan to the attention of the World Council of Churches and an invitation to become a member of the Council's 'Commission on Evangelism' 1954-1964.

Broadcasts

As early as 1947 the BBC was impressed by the audience response to 'A Family Prayers' series by Tom Allan. So began eighteen years of effective radio and later television broadcasting. An unusual development by the Religious Department of the BBC was called 'Radio Missions' and he became the leading missioner. The local churches were invited to set up listening groups and discuss, assess and act on the content of the broadcasts. A resulting highlight was achieved when Tom Allan led a series called 'The way to Live' for enquirers. An audience research gave it an 'Appreciation Index' several points above any other Scottish broadcast, religious or secular'.

Tell Scotland and Billy Graham

The North Kelvinside story and the broadcasting helped the emergence of the Tell Scotland Movement. Tom Allan was asked to leave the parish to become 'Field Organiser' of this Movement. The post war churches throughout all Europe shared a consensus that mission must be the priority and this was the Scottish response. Three principles were agreed and Tom Allan travelled every area in Scotland to communicate them and inspire churches to embrace them. Viz. Mission is not occasional but continuous; the Agent of Mission is the Church itself; the place of the Layman is decisive. A three-year plan was initiated of preparation, training and practice with the aim of achieving nationally, not parish missions but missionary parishes. This would be strongly supported by BBC broadcasting and the interest by the churches of all denominations (except the Roman Catholic church) was encouraging. But in 1955 the coming of Billy Graham and 'mass evangelism' put this plan on hold. The Graham Crusade in England made a visit to Scotland inevitable. The Tell Scotland Executive and a meeting of senior Church leaders were divided about their response. Tom Allan came to believe that an 'All Scotland Crusade' could fit in to the Tell Scotland programme by inspiring many more lay people to commit themselves to undertake local church evangelism. Finally Billy Graham was invited to conduct a crusade under Tell Scotland and he agreed. The All Scotland Crusade 1955 (Tom Allan-Chairman) ran in the Kelvin Hall Glasgow for six weeks from March to April with well planned access assured for all Scots by broadcasts, land-line relays, and special transport. Later analysis of the Crusade was positive and negative. Undoubtedly many new Christians were won and many others inspired to enter more deeply into the work of their local churches. But the Crusade had not penetrated much beyond the existing church allegiance and many others opted for the way of mass evangelism rather than way of local witness and service.

St George's Tron

Tom Allan left a now very divided Tell Scotland and, in September 1955 became Minister of the city-centre church of St George's Tron. Immediately he resumed the role of evangelist as in North Kelvinside. Preaching the message was paramount and that gathered many hearers by its quality and power. Saturday night Evangelistic Rallies were organised and the response was dramatic. A congregational and area group was formed opened to all who wanted to equip themselves better for the work of evangelism and service. Teaching and training were intensive. They soon realised that the application to the realities of a city centre area was demanding. The members and 4,000 residents needed attention; other categories were the thousands of workers crowding daily into the city centre; a different kind of invasion came for entertainment and retail; the rampant social problems of the city, often revealed in late night and early hours, included homelessness, prostitution, alcohol abuse, criminal activity and ex prisoners. St George's-Tron Church sought to first survey and then adapt its life to be in contact with these issues. Of course, normal church structures could never be adapted to impinge much on the variety of deep-seated social problems. Tom Allan got in touch with the then Social Responsibility Department of the Church of Scotland (now called 'Crossreach'. A partnership was formed with the vision of setting up a counselling and rehabilitation facility in the city. Yes, money was a difficulty. He guaranteed a £10,000 (at 1960 value) 'starter' from the Church. It acted like a magnet for other donations, City Council and Central Church Funding. The Lodging House was a partner for help with homelessness. The Tom Allan Counselling Centre was an accessible short-term help with all types of problems and a link with Rehabilitation was able to offer residential assistance. At the heart of all this were volunteers from the Church. Some were medical and social professionals others provided stand-along-side friendship. All were trained to be able to share their faith in a natural sensitive witness. No wonder St George's-Tron became a 'help' symbol in the city. The congregation, perhaps for the first time, began to truly reflect every part of wider society regardless of class or wealth.

The Media

A very different kind of 'pulpit' opened up for Tom Allan when he was asked to write a weekly column for the Glasgow Evening Citizen. His multi-talented gifts once again evoked a very positive response. He was sent to Russia, The Holy Land and Rome to write a series on each one for the newspaper. BBC broadcasting resumed at St George's Tron using Tom Allan at the great Festivals of the Christian Year and culminating in a full-length TV film called 'Meeting Point in the City Centre'. A lesser but important programme that the City Council requested of him was to initiate an anti-smoking 'clinic'. He took on the challenge although he was himself a very heavy smoker from RAF days. With all the new evidence he stopped and many, mainly men, stopped with him and the BBC broadcast it effectively.

The End Years

All this work load was 'paused' when Tom Allan suffered a heart attack in 1961. He had to give up everything. However, it was found that the heart damage was not serious and slowly over a year, he was able to pick up all the tasks as before. There was a great flowering of fresh interest in his ministry and a new wave of effectiveness including invitations to USA and Canada. Now, at the height of his powers a second very serious heart attack made total retirement an immediate necessity. He died in September 1965. But in 1964 the City of Glasgow awarded him the St Mungo Medal and Prize as the person who had done most in the last three years to make the city 'more beautiful, healthier and more honoured'. His name and mission lives on in the 'Tom Allan Counselling Centre' in Glasgow and in the memories of the many hundreds of people whose lives were changed and influenced.

References

   1. http://www.csglasgow.org/services/Library_Services/The_Mitchell/ St Mungo Prize List Ref. F001.440941443 GLA. Also in 'The Mitchell' Archives, Glasgow Herald newspaper report of the award of the St Mungo Prize, issue 12 December 1964, Page 6. See also the obituary 9th Sept 65 Pages 1 and 9.
   2. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk Birth Records Thomas Allan, Ayr, Newmilns, 1916
   3. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk Marriage Records Allan/Dunn, Ayr, Newmilns, 1941
   4. http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/archives/ University of Glasgow Degrees list/MA 1st Class Honours English 1938 Thomas Allan. Also College Courant - Journal of Glasgow University Graduates 1965 Pg85/ Tom Allan obituary
   5. RAF Postings in own handwriting now with his daughter: Aug 15/1940 - Oct 29/1945
   6. 'A Fraction of His Image', a tribute book, Published 1965 by Magazine Ctee, St Georges Tron Particularly Pages I-4, 7-8, 10-13, 22-23, and a variety of personal tributes by notable people
   7. http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive 'Why I Believe' Radio Series of Interviews & repeated posthumously as a tribute broadcast presented by Wilson Anderson. Also in print,'Why I Believe', St Ninians Book Department/DP Thomson, no ISBN
   8. http://en wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Kelvinside Tom Allan a notable minister
   9. 'The Kilt Beneath My Cassock' Ronnie Falconer Paperback ISBN 0 905312 02 3 Handsell Press. http://www.handselpress.co.uk Out of print, used copies for sale in Amazon. Index Page 243 re Tom Allan, 127,129,161. Radio Missions 71,73-75. 'Tell Scotland' 75,77. Billy Graham 77,78, 82
  10. 'The Face of My Parish' 1954 SCM Press-no ISBN: also 1984 Edition ISBN 0 947892 01 X
  11. 'The Face of My Parish' 1984/Foreword by A Whyte, Prof. Practical Theology, St Andrews
  12. World Council of Churches/1954, appointed a member of the 'Working Group of the Department on Evangelism' www.oikoumene.org WCC, 150 route de Ferney, 1218 Geneva CH.
  13. 'Tom Allan in a Nutshell' Bill Shannon ISBN 1 871828 538 Handsell Press http://www.handselpress.co.uk Out of print but listed in the 'Booklets' of Handsel Press2010 for more info, bgaultshannon@hotmail.co.uk
  14. Tell Scotland pamphlet 'The Congregational Group in Action' Introduction, by Tom Allan
  15. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_George's-Tron_Church. Tom Allan a notable minister.
  16. 'Tales from the back green' by Bill Paterson (actor) ISBN 978 0 340 936825 http://www.billpaterson.co.uk Also www.hodder.co.uk EAN: 9780340936825 6th Aug 2009
  17. 'Tom Allan Counselling Centre'(from 1962) 23 Elmbank St. Glasgow G2 4PB Tele: 0141 221 1535 email: tomallan.cos@uk.uumail.com Managed by Church of Scotland 'Crossreach' http://www.crosssreach.org.uk
  18. Weekly column in the Saturday Magazine and the Friday 'Looking at life' feature 1954-64 for the Glasgow Evening Citizen, now archived in 'The Mitchell'. Sent to Russia, Rome, and 'The Holy Land' for a series on each. 9th Sept 1965 death announced page1, Reprint of Easter Article Page 4, Editorial Tribute page 6, http://www.csglasgow.org/services/Library_Services/The_Mitchell/

Categories

Religion, Protestant or Reformed Churches, Presbyterian, World Presbyterian Alliance, John Knox, Church of Scotland. Glasgow Presbytery, Glasgow Newspapers, The Glasgow Story, BBC Scotland/Archives, Glasgow Churches, Glasgow Districts,
Categories: Ministers of the Church of Scotland

    * This page was last modified on 14 July 2010 at 06:43.

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  Recorded Events in His Life

• Parents: William Allan and Agnes Jordan.

Thomas married Jane Moore DUNN on 5 June 1941 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. (Jane Moore DUNN was born in 1919 in Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland and died in 2001 in Glasgow (Martha St), Glasgow City, Scotland.)