Biography: A brief overview of the life of Pastor Jack Glass

Pastor Jack Glass was an entirely unique servant of God. He was a pastor, teacher, worshipper, protester, and spiritual father to his congregation. Anyone who knew his manner of life could testify that he was a man of God, and a prophet to his generation.

This was written in one of Pastor Glass' early bibles and signed in his own blood. Click to enlarge.

Early Life

Pastor Jack Glass was born John Thomas Atkinson Glass in Dalmarnock, Glasgow 1936. His father, Samuel, was a brushmaker and Church of Scotland elder while his mother, Isabella, was a housewife. He was the Dux of his local Springfield school, which gave him an automatic scholarship to the private school, Allan Glen’s, Glasgow, which he turned down because he did not want to be separated from his working class friends. He attended Riverside Senior Secondary instead. He married Margaret (Peggy) in 1958 at the age of 21 (the couple had three children). He lived in Dennistoun for about five years, then moved to Ruthven Street in Glasgow’s Hillhead area and finally to the quiet village of Killearn.

Born Again

Pastor Jack Glass was "born again" at the age of 11 in a Salvation Army Sunday School, dedicating himself wholly to the Lord at the age of 16. These events shaped the rest of his life.

Working Life

After completing his Apprenticeship as a Stationer and Guillotine Cutter at Pickering & Inglis (now Wesley Owen), a biblical publisher in Glasgow, he was called up for National Service in 1959. He completed the required two years with the RAF during which he was promoted to position of Corporal. On his return to work, he was given a staff position working as travelling salesman as well as assisting the works’ manager.

Called to the ministry

It was an experience in his early twenties that drove him into the arms of God. He collapsed in Jamaica Street, Glasgow, due to the erosion of a blood vessel. While lying in hospital recovering he felt the call to the ministry. He was ordained to the ministry in 1968 after studying Moral Philosophy and English at the University of Glasgow, plus a three-year theological course in the Free Church College in Edinburgh. There, he obtained the College Diploma for his "proficiency in the subjects required". During his studies he was awarded with a distinction in homiletics and firsts in the subjects of Greek and Hebrew. Previous to this, Pastor Glass had left the Baptist Union College due to its unscriptural, ecumenical involvement.

Zion Baptist Church

Pastor Glass went on to minister at Zion Baptist Church, the church he founded in 1965. The church is Calvinistic, Baptist and Separatist. The church met first at Edrom St, Shettleston followed by a spell at the Woodside Halls and then onto the present premises in Polmadie, Glasgow. He was the editor of the magazine, the Scottish Protestant View, an Evangelical Protestant newspaper started by the Pastor in 1969.

Protesting Protestant

Over the next number of years he was to become well known for his protests against Ecumenism. These protests took him all over the world to Rome, Sweden, Switzerland, Kenya, Vancouver, among other countries, and also at a local level throughout the UK.

This culminated in a series of protests against the Papal visit to Britain in 1982, the first time a reigning Pope had set foot on this Protestant Island. Alongside this, the Pastor was debating at many Scottish and English universities, including Durham and Cambridge on a number of issues against many distinguished opponents. Consequently, he built a reputation as a man who was interested only in what the scriptures say.

He has campaigned against blasphemy on many occasions. Where ever his Lord was vilified, he protested. This included films (The Last Temptation of Christ), plays ( Corpus Christi ), musicians (Marilyn Manson) and comedians (notably Billy Connolly’s crucifixion skit). His last protest was exposing Connolly’s blasphemy.

Local Revival

In 1985, Zion Baptist experienced a time of local revival and many were added to the church and have continued in the faith. Many young people in particular were “set on fire” for God and their voices were heard ringing out in the prayer meetings, and their enthusiasm for evangelism was greatly increased.

Preacher and Teacher

In the period since, Pastor Glass had a lower public profile due to media opposition, and while he was still protesting against ecumenism and the sins of an increasingly ungodly generation he plunged ever deeper into the word of God. On a regular basis, he was bringing out "things old and new", preaching at least six hours a week over four sermons, the deep things of God.

Pastor Glass was undoubtedly an academic, but he approached his study of the word of God prayerfully and sought to bring the word to his congregation that was God’s will. Several important themes pervaded his ministry through the years: The Doctrines of Grace, the True Sonship of Christ, the Apostolic Foundation, the Mysteries of God, a stunning commentary on the book of Ephesians, and his studies into the One Israel teaching of scripture. Pastor Glass was a dedicated and meticulous theologian, but hand in hand with this went a one hundred per cent devotion to the practical outworking of truth. Pastor Glass absolutely practised what he preached, as those who knew him best can testify. Most of the Pastor’s sermons are available on cassette and CD, and some can be downloaded from this website.

Final Chapter

In January 2003, Pastor Glass was diagnosed with lung cancer. Throughout his intense treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he amazed all by continuing to preach twice weekly, protesting and taking part in hours of filming with the BBC (they had requested to document his life). The documentary "The Devil and Jack Glass" screened on January 2004, turned out to be the Pastor’s final message to our nation.

On 24th February 2004 , Pastor Glass was called home, age 67.

He was called to the ministry from Jeremiah 1: "I have called thee to be a prophet to the nations", and Pastor Glass fulfilled that role in its entirety.