John of John, Psalms & Sabbath Chains

 Then [Jesus] said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath,  so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

                                          Mark 2: 27-28 NRSVue

One of the most talked about novels of 2026 is John of John by Douglas Stuart. His debut novel, Shuggie Bain won the Booker Prize and some critics claim John of John is comparable. 

In the 1990s young John Calum returns to the remote isle of Harris after four years at art school on the mainland, essentially tricked into coming home by his stern father. The novel's title is explained when Cal is asked by an elderly passenger on the boat "Who do you belong to?" He replies: "John of John of Ian of Ian the Breabadair" — breabadair meaning weaver, a reference to his family's crofting heritage. Calum returns with long dyed hair and odd clothing, much to his father's chagrin. 

I won't go too deeply into what is a compelling story dealing with family secrets and long-standing tensions in a tight-knit and claustrophobic community. Harsh Presbyterianism is lurking in the background, almost another character in the book. John Sr. is a precentor in the dying local congregation, leading in the unaccompanied singing of the psalms in both English and Gaelic which are central to worship.

The result in the Gaelic speaking churches has been the beautiful, haunting, evocative sound of Gaelic psalm singing. Often considered a musical reflection of the surrounding environment, emulating the ebb and flow of the sea, Gaelic psalmody is an iconic symbol of the Hebrides – much in the same way that Male Voice Choir singing is symbolic of Wales. It is hard for outsiders to consider the possibility that this will not go on for ever as a musical expression of culture and faith.

There is also mention of putting the "Sabbath chains" in place. Puzzled, I did some research and discovered that the tradition of strict Sabbath observance on these Hebridean islands meant that playground swings and other equipment literally went under lock and key on Sundays, a day reserved for worship, rest, and presumably mind-numblng boredom. 

This brought to mind the friendly warnings I received as the new mainland minister when I took up duties in 1980 in several outport Newfoundland communities. Forget about using the canoe or the cross-country skis on Sundays that arrived in the moving van, hardly a temptation given that I had three services, morning, afternoon, and evening. No one would hang out laundry on Sunday or be seen berry picking. Shops were closed regardless of the religious convictions of the owners for fear of lost business. 

The biblical observance of the Sabbath was meant to set people free from relentless work. It was a powerful directive when the temptation was to relentless scratch out a living. The Sabbath was living, not a form of imprisonment. 

We both appreciated John of John, even though it a challenging story at times.