St Columba's Church, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Columba's Church |
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| 51°29′48.4″N 0°9′48″W / 51.496778°N 0.16333°W | |
| Location | Pont Street Knightsbridge, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed building |
| Architect(s) | Sir Edward Maufe |
| Years built | 1884 (destroyed in the Blitz) Rebuilt 1955 |
| Groundbreaking | July 6, 1950 (new building) |
| Administration | |
| Presbytery | England |
St Columba's Church is a special church in London. It is one of two churches in the city that belong to the Church of Scotland. The church building is located on Pont Street in Knightsbridge, which is a busy area near the famous Harrods store. A famous architect named Sir Edward Maufe designed this church. In 1988, it was given a special Grade II listing by English Heritage. This means it is an important historical building.
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History of St Columba's Church
Scottish people have lived in London for a long time, especially since 1603. That's when Scotland and England joined under one king. Because many Scottish people lived there, they needed places to worship in their own way. A Scottish church was first built near Trafalgar Square. Later, another church was built in Crown Court near Covent Garden. This church is still used today, though it has been rebuilt.
As more Scottish people moved to London, they needed an even bigger church. So, the original St Columba's Church was built in 1884. Sadly, this first building was destroyed during The Blitz on May 10, 1941. The Blitz was a time when London was bombed a lot during World War II.
After the war, the church was rebuilt in 1955. It was designed by the same architect, Sir Edward Maufe, who also designed Guildford Cathedral. The new church has a very modern look. It is named after Saint Columba, a famous saint from Ulster. A special chapel to remember those lost in the war was opened on March 25, 1956.
Today, a group called London Reels meets at St Columba's once a month. They dance Highland Reels, which is a fun Scottish folk dance. They meet from September to June each year.
Church Leadership
The leader of a church is called a minister. The minister at St Columba's Church was the Reverend C. Angus MacLeod. He started his role on June 7, 2012.
Connected Churches: Newcastle
St Columba's Church is "linked" with another church. This means they share the same minister. The other church is St Andrew's Church in Newcastle upon Tyne. This church is located where Sandyford Road and Grantham Road meet in Newcastle. The closest train station is Jesmond.
Important Leaders of the Church
Some ministers from St Columba's have held a very important job. They became the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This is like being the main leader of the entire Church of Scotland for a year. Three ministers from St Columba's have had this honor:
- Very Rev. Robert F. V. Scott in 1956
- Very Rev. J. Fraser McLuskey in 1983
- Very Rev. John H. McIndoe in 1996
See also
- Church of Scotland
- List of Church of Scotland parishes
- List of churches in London
- Nordic churches in London
- St Botolph's, Aldersgate (Free Church of Scotland in London)
