St Andrew's Garrison Church, Aldershot facts for kids
St Andrew's Garrison Church is a large army church in Aldershot, England. It was designed in the late 1920s by a famous Scottish architect named Sir Robert Lorimer. The church is located on Queens Avenue in Aldershot, Hampshire.
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History of the Church
During the 1920s, Sir Robert Lorimer designed several memorials for soldiers. St Andrew's Garrison Church was built to remember the soldiers who died in the First World War (also known as the Great War). A special message inside the church says:
"This church was built to the glory of God in thankful remembrance of the soldiers of the Church of Scotland and kindred churches throughout the empire who laid down their lives in the Great War 1914–1918."
This means the church was built to honor soldiers from the Church of Scotland and similar churches across the British Empire who died in the war.
Church of Scotland Connections
Even though St Andrew's is an army church, it has strong links to the Church of Scotland. Most of its ministers have been from the Church of Scotland. The church also uses the same service style and hymn book as the Church of Scotland.
Who Can Attend Church Services?
Anyone can come to services at St Andrew's Garrison Church. You don't have to be in the military to attend.
The Church Buildings Over Time
Starting an Army Camp in Aldershot (1854)
An army camp was set up in Aldershot in 1854. Soon after, two churches were built there in 1855. By 1856, a third church was needed. This one was a portable building called the "Iron Church." In 1866, the Iron Church was moved close to where St Andrew's Garrison Church stands today.
The Iron Church
The Iron Church was used by both Church of Scotland and Church of England ministers until 1893. That year, the Army built St George's Garrison Church for the Church of England. After that, the Iron Church was only used by Church of Scotland ministers until it was taken down in 1926. In 1908, the chaplain, Rev. J. T. Bird, asked for the Iron Church to be named after Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. The War Office agreed.
Raising Money for a New Church
After the First World War, people raised money to replace the old Iron Church. They wanted to build a permanent church that would also be a memorial for Church of Scotland and other Presbyterian soldiers who died in the war.
Designing the New Church
Sir Robert Lorimer designed this new church. However, because of money limits, the main part of the church (called the nave) was built a bit shorter than he first planned. The outside of the church is mostly brown brick. Red bricks highlight the doorways, windows, and corners. Inside, the church has a standard cross shape, with an eight-sided area at the front called an apse.
Opening the Church in 1927
Princess Mary officially opened the new St Andrew's Garrison Church on December 10, 1927. She was the Colonel in Chief of The Royal Scots regiment. However, after a few years, the church was too small for big army ceremonies. By 1938, enough money was raised to make the nave longer. Many donations came from the Trustees of St Andrew's Scottish Soldiers' Club, the Church of Scotland, and The Treasury. John F. Matthew, who worked with Sir Robert Lorimer (who had passed away), was hired to design the extension. This made the nave 30 feet longer, which was similar to what Lorimer had wanted in the first place.
The Church Gets Bigger in 1939
On February 5, 1939, the extended St Andrew's Garrison Church was reopened. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were there for the special event.
Extra Buildings (1950s)
In the 1950s, more buildings were added next to the church. These included a hall, kitchen, offices, and storage rooms. They were built with dark red brick, similar to parts of the main church. The church hall is dedicated to remembering members of the Church of Scotland and similar churches who died in the Second World War.
Statue of St Andrew
After the Royal Caledonian School closed in the 1990s, a statue of St Andrew by J. G. Bubb was given to the church. This statue now stands outside the front of the church. A new marble base was added to the statue around 2003 or 2004.
Protecting the Building
In 2006, Rushmoor Borough Council listed the church building. Being "listed" means the building has extra protection. It makes it harder to change or knock down the structure.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church has a very large main area called the nave. It has seats for about 420 people. There are no balconies. Two arched walkways run between the nave and the side walls.
Cameron Chapel
The south wing of the church was made into a small chapel in 1975. It was first called St Andrew's Chapel, but now it's known as the Cameron Chapel. This name comes from a large stained glass window given by the Cameron Highlanders regiment in 1930. This window is in the chapel, along with a plaque and a regimental flag. A new communion table was made especially for the chapel's opening in 1975.
The Organ
The north wing of the church has a very large organ. The organ is older than the church itself, dating back to 1897. It was originally in St Ninian's Church of Scotland in Leith. In 1984, the organ was fixed up and moved to St Andrew's Garrison Church. This happened after St Ninian's Church joined with another church.
Memorials and Stained Glass
The church has many memorials and beautiful stained glass windows. Some of these were made for the church, while others were moved here over time.
Egyptian Stones
There are 12 special stones set into the wall of the Cameron Chapel. German Prisoners of War carved these stones in Egypt during the Second World War. The stones were first placed in a British army church in Egypt. Ten of them show the cap badges (symbols) of Scottish Regiments. Two stones show medical badges used by the British Army. When the British Army left Egypt in the 1950s, the church there closed. A few years later, the stones were moved to St Andrew's in Aldershot.
War Memorials and Regimental Symbols
Other memorials moved to the church include:
- Two war memorials from the First World War. These were originally in Aldershot Presbyterian Church and are now in the porch of St Andrew's.
- A monument to Field Marshal, Lord Wavell. This was moved from a chapel that was no longer used for worship.
- A window with stained glass showing regimental crests, mostly from Scottish regiments. Many of these smaller stained glass windows came from the Church Of Scotland Canteen in Aldershot, which was torn down in the late 1960s.
Stained Glass Windows
The other stained glass windows in St Andrew's were made specifically for this church. There is a large stained glass window at the front of the church (in the apse) that remembers Field-Marshal, Earl Haig. There are also windows remembering the Cameron Highlanders and I Corp. Several other stained glass windows were given to remember individual people who were part of the church.
The two largest stained glass windows, for I Corp and Earl Haig, were designed by Walter Cook of Edinburgh in the 1930s. They both show similar ideas. Jesus is shown as a savior and a symbol of peace, with his arms open. Below him, a small group of sad people reminds us of the terrible cost of war, especially the First World War.
Images for kids
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St Andrew's Garrison Church in Aldershot.
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View down the main part of the church (nave) to the front (chancel)
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View looking west down the nave
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Statue of St Andrew outside the Garrison Church
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The organ was built in 1897.
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A stone with the crest of the Gordon Highlanders. It is one of twelve carved by German prisoners of war in Egypt during World War II.
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The lower part of the Haig Memorial Window showing people mourning. Below them, a soldier kneels by a grave.
