St Columba's Church, London
| St Columba's Church | |
|
London, Middlesex | |
|---|---|
| Status: | Parish church |
 St Columba's Church | |
| Church of Scotland | |
| Presbytery of England | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TQ27607914 |
| Location: | 51°29’48"N, 0°9’48"W |
| Address: | Pont Street, Knightsbridge |
| History | |
| Built 1884 (destroyed in the Blitz) Rebuilt 1955 | |
| Information | |
| Website: | stcolumbas.org.uk |
St Columba's Church is one of the two London congregations of the Church of Scotland; other being Crown Court Church in Covent Garden, both being in Middlesex. The church is named after St Columba, the missionary saint from Ulster who led the conversion of the Scots and Picts.
The church building, designed by Sir Edward Maufe, stands in Pont Street, Knightsbridge, near Harrod's department store. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]
History
The presence of congregations of the Church of Scotland in London dates back to the Union of the Crowns in 1603. A congregation was established near what is now Trafalgar Square, with a permanent church later being built in Crown Court near Covent Garden. This church, Crown Court Church, is still in use, although rebuilt. The growth in the Scottish community in London resulted in the need for a larger church than Crown Court Church alone could accommodate.
The original St Columba's Church building of 1884 was destroyed by the Luftwaffe in a bombing raid during the night of 10 May 1941. It was rebuilt on the same site in 1955 to a striking contemporary design by the architect Sir Edward Maufe, who also designed Guildford Cathedral.[2]
The war memorial chapel was dedicated on 25 March 1956.[3]
Newcastle congregation
St Columba's Church is linked (which is to say it shares a minister) with St Andrew's Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This church is located at the junction of Sandyford Road and Grantham Road in Newcastle.
Moderators
There have been three Ministers of St Columba's who have held the office as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland:
- Very Rev. Robert F. V. Scott, 1956
- Very Rev. J. Fraser McLuskey, 1983
- Very Rev. John H. McIndoe, 1996
Events
Worship is conducted at St Columba's on the Lord's Day each week and also on traditional feast days.
The church is also a community hub, particularly serving Scots in London. It holds congregational meals, musical events and hosts clubs and societies.[4] The London Reels, a dance society, meets at St Columba's once a month from September to June to dance Highland Reels.
Television
- Absolutely Fabulous, the BBC comedy series featured St Columba's in one episode in 1996, as the venue for Saffy’s wedding. The Rev Calum MacLeod, the Assistant Minister of St Columba's at the time, appeared as himself, officiating at the wedding.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about St Columba's Church, London) |
References
- ↑ National Heritage List 1227408: Church of St Columba
- ↑ List of building designed by Sir Edward Maufe
- ↑ War Memorials: St Columba’s Church – Imperial War Museum
- ↑ Fellowship at St Columba’s