The following is a monthly article written by Rev Kenneth Stewart to the Stornoway RPCS congregation…

RP International Holiday Conference

Dear congregation,

I am writing this having just recently returned from the 2026 RP International Holiday Conference. As we intimated at the time of advertising the conference, both the American and Irish RP churches organise an International Holiday conference every four years. To avoid an unwelcome clash, there is a conference held every two years either in America or in Ireland.

Occasionally, the Irish conference moves beyond Ireland (some of you were in Gartmore, Scotland in 2014) and this year the conference was held for the first time in Wales from the 13th to the 20th July.

The larger photo contains most of those who attended the conference while the smaller one is a photo of the Scottish contingent. The eagle-eyed among you should be able to spot members of our own congregation in the smaller photo: as well as my better half and I, you will see Elaine, Flo, John-Ross, Mairi, Iain-Alasdair and Rhoda.

The photos themselves have much to say.

First, they show that the conference was very well attended with more than 450 present. This gave everyone an opportunity to meet a tremendous amount of like-minded people in a wholesome setting of Christian friendship and fellowship. The communal mealtimes were especially useful for such meetings.

Second – and this is only the case if you know some of those present – the photos show that the conference was truly international with representation from RP churches across the world. Some of these people travelled distances ranging from significant (Scotland, Ireland, England, and France) to vast (Canada, many part of America – from Wyoming to Pennsylvania – Canada, India, and Australia). It was particularly encouraging to see all the Scottish congregations represented.

Third, as the title and setting suggest, it was a holiday conference. Although there are always substantial addresses and seminars throughout these conferences, they are designed to be genuine holidays as well. That’s why, as the photographed schedule shows, there were many opportunities for recreation of various kinds, including competitions in table tennis, volleyball, football and so much more.

Again, and with this in mind, the Cefn Lea Conference Centre and Holiday Park venue was a very suitable one, located in picturesque mid-Wales and possessing very good facilities – although some of the cabins were perhaps a little too basic in comfort and equipment. And, as the photos show, all this was helped by very favourable weather – although the high twenties was too much for some of us…

Fourth, although it is not designated as a family holiday, the photos show that it was full of families. It is obvious that it was not only organised to accommodate families but with families very much in mind. Out of the 450 attendees, there were nearly 200 aged 18 or under and, of these, 176 were under 16. All the parents we met there were delighted with the provisions made for their children: As well as a structured creche for 0-3, there were Pathfinders (4-5), Trailblazers (6-8), Voyagers (9-11), Teens Ignite (12-15) and Powerhouse (16-25). All these were very well organized and equally well run. And as a family conference, the conference was highly successful – so  much so that it is easy to see why so many families either make these conferences their main annual holiday or build their holiday around them.

Of course, there is so much more that the photos don’t say.

First, the singing – these conferences are worth attending for this alone! It is of such high quality and so hearty that it cannot fail to engage even those whose hearts are not yet turned to the Lord. Clearly, there are so many covenanters who know their musical parts well and who can elevate the praise to another level altogether. And it is so uplifting on a holiday to begin a morning by singing the Lord’s praise in the fellowship of the Lord’s people!

Second, the main addresses led us profitably in a study of the rapid growth of the early church in the Book of Acts in a way which was specifically designed to encourage us in the face of adversity and hostility at an official level. These addresses were complemented by a wide variety of seminars which had something for everyone (see the attached photo). The worship, addresses and seminars made it easy to speak of spiritual matters with many different people at all times throughout the conference and, again, elevates the holidays into something more like the holydays which they originally were.

Third, the self-sacrificial labour of those who organized and ran the conference was quite remarkable: for them, we have no doubt that it was a labour of love (that showed) but it was still a labour and one which was done well – and one which, surely, will not lose its reward.

Fourth, the whole atmosphere was very hospitable and friendly. It felt more like one large family than a collection of families and, as far as we can tell, no one was made to feel that they did not belong.

Two concluding thoughts:

If the Lord spares us, the next International Conference will be held in the States in 2028. Would you consider attending?

Also – and this is something I just throw out there! – in the light of the organisational talent within our own churches, is it beyond us to host something like this in Scotland?

Your minister