Plymouth Brethren
The Aberdeen Incident
The story behind the last major schism of the Plymouth Brethren, known as the 'The Aberdeen Incident'
In 1970, the 3 day meetings were held over various weekends. James Taylor Jnr, the then leader was in the UK and he had already ministered in Reigate and Preston. It was towards the end of July when he arrived in Aberdeen to minister at a further 3 day meeting. At that time the leader would stay with one of the 'elders' in the area and so it was that Taylor Jnr was a guest of leading Aberdeen member James Alec Gardiner, at his home in Abbotswell Crescent in the Tullos/Kincorth area of Aberdeen. Earlier in his UK visit Taylor Jnr had stayed in Harrow with English brethren couple Alan & Madeline Ker. The Ker's had taken a flight to Scotland and were also present in Aberdeen. On Saturday 25th July, Taylor Jnr ministered the 3 day meeting at the Music Hall in Aberdeen, it was reported that his speech fuelled by Whisky, his lubricant of choice, included swearing, blasphemy and was rambling, and somewhat incoherent. The congregation responded with laughter, sometimes hysterically.
It was during that evening, back at the home of James Gardiner that events transpired, which would further ignite the flames. Gardiner and another leading brethren member Stanley McCallum had become concerned at the amount of time Taylor Jnr was spending alone in his bedroom with Madeline Ker. On the Saturday evening they had knocked multiple times on the door over period of time, without response, they then later opened the bedroom door to find Taylor Jnr in bed with a naked Mrs Ker. Taylor Jnr left the following morning and returned to New York.
The story however was to receive national press coverage and through a series of denials and changes to Taylor Jnr's version of events, the story rumbled on. There was even a picture of Taylor Jnr with Mrs Ker whilst her husband Alan was away on business. It was clearly of significant importance to the brethren worldwide as news of what had happened spread. It culminated in Taylor Jnr ex-communicating communities from fellowship and many communities shunning Taylor Jnr in return. It was particularly noticeable in Scotland, where the followers of the Taylor Jnr brethren left in huge numbers. In total it is believed approximately half of the global Taylor Plymouth Brethren left fellowship in the following weeks.
Taylor Jnr passed away just a few months later in October 1970 and the new leader James Symington, a farmer from North Dakota, claimed the Aberdeen incident was a revival for the Exclusive Brethren. On the Plymouth Brethren website they state, Taylor Jnr, after ministering on four different continents in the months before his death, was "physically exhausted".
In a final Aberdeen 1970 plot twist, the grandson of the late Madeline Ker, is today employed by Sante Group, the company that was awarded Covid contracts of circa £950 million under their previous name Unispace.
Madeline & Alan Ker went on to become directors of the now long established family business Orthene Chemicals. Which is now ran by their son Charles. Techniclean Supply was part of Orthene Chemicals prior to being sold to two other brethren families in 2018. Techniclean Supply was also awarded a large PPE contract for £20 million in 2020.
It was during that evening, back at the home of James Gardiner that events transpired, which would further ignite the flames. Gardiner and another leading brethren member Stanley McCallum had become concerned at the amount of time Taylor Jnr was spending alone in his bedroom with Madeline Ker. On the Saturday evening they had knocked multiple times on the door over period of time, without response, they then later opened the bedroom door to find Taylor Jnr in bed with a naked Mrs Ker. Taylor Jnr left the following morning and returned to New York.
The story however was to receive national press coverage and through a series of denials and changes to Taylor Jnr's version of events, the story rumbled on. There was even a picture of Taylor Jnr with Mrs Ker whilst her husband Alan was away on business. It was clearly of significant importance to the brethren worldwide as news of what had happened spread. It culminated in Taylor Jnr ex-communicating communities from fellowship and many communities shunning Taylor Jnr in return. It was particularly noticeable in Scotland, where the followers of the Taylor Jnr brethren left in huge numbers. In total it is believed approximately half of the global Taylor Plymouth Brethren left fellowship in the following weeks.
Taylor Jnr passed away just a few months later in October 1970 and the new leader James Symington, a farmer from North Dakota, claimed the Aberdeen incident was a revival for the Exclusive Brethren. On the Plymouth Brethren website they state, Taylor Jnr, after ministering on four different continents in the months before his death, was "physically exhausted".
In a final Aberdeen 1970 plot twist, the grandson of the late Madeline Ker, is today employed by Sante Group, the company that was awarded Covid contracts of circa £950 million under their previous name Unispace.
Madeline & Alan Ker went on to become directors of the now long established family business Orthene Chemicals. Which is now ran by their son Charles. Techniclean Supply was part of Orthene Chemicals prior to being sold to two other brethren families in 2018. Techniclean Supply was also awarded a large PPE contract for £20 million in 2020.
