TENNIS CLUB

The Church has its own clubhouse with four good all-weather courts and a thriving membership playing all year round. The club is situated close to Acton Town Underground Station. Beginners and "old hands" welcome. For more information please ring Lilias Gillies on 020 8672 5592 or see the club's website at http://www.stcolumbastennis.co.uk/.

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING

Photograph by Stephen Webb

These lively and well-attended sessions take place every Monday evening at 7.30 p.m. (walk throughs at 7.15 p.m.) in the Lower Hall from Autumn to Spring. Admission is free with refreshments (£1.00). Occasional band nights are also held, when admission is normally £8, including supper. Please note that no dancing takes place on Bank Holidays, Christmas Eve or Hogmanay. The next band night is on 12 April 2010.

Further details from Denise Haugh on dhaugh200@btinternet.com or Tel. 020 8392 2920.

YOUNG ADULTS

This dynamic group is comprised of members and friends of the congregation mostly in their twenties and thirties. We meet for social and service events. Contact Camille Cook on camillecook@btinternet.com.

HOUSE GROUPS

A number of house groups are active within St. Columba's, meeting in localities throughout London. These provide opportunities for fellowship and Christian study, and to welcome new members and visitors. Please contact the office for further information.

WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP GROUP

The women's fellowship group meets on Wednesdays at 10.00 a.m. in the Upper Hall (entrance level of the church). We are always keen to have new members of all ages and so, even if you can only attend occasionally, you can be sure of a very warm welcome. For more information please contact Susan Pym on susanpym@yahoo.co.uk.

BIBLE STUDY

The congregational bible study meets throughout the year for series studies focusing on various topics. It is led by members of the congregation and is open to all who are interested. We meet in the library (entrance level of the church) on Sunday afternoons at 1.00pm. For more information please contact Alan Mackie on a alanbmackie@btinternet.com.

FLOWER GUILD

The Flower Guild oversees the work of decorating the church with flowers for Sunday services and special occasions such as Easter and Harvest Sunday. New members are always welcome and no experience is required. For more information please contact Jill Steele on jill.steele@btinternet.com.

SUNDAY LUNCHES

Continuing a long tradition of hospitality a weekly two-course lunch is served in the Lower Hall beginning at 12pm following Sunday morning worship. The price for lunch is £2.20. The lunch teams are composed of members of the congregation work on a bimonthly rotation. The teams are always looking for new volunteers to get involved in a lunch team. Please contact Denise Haugh at dhaugh200@btinternet.com

SERVICE UNIT

This organization is run by members of the congregation to arrange quarterly events or outings for the elderly members of our congregation and community. Recent activites have included Summer Outing, Autumn, Christmas and Spring Parties. To get more information or volunteer to help please contact Maggie Wilson at fml@btinternet.com.

FRIENDS OF ST COLUMBA'S

Who are the Friends of St Columba's and what are our origins and objectives?

St Columba's is a congregation of the Church of Scotland, located in the west end of London. Its heart is Scottish but those who find their spiritual home here – be they members, adherents or visitors – include not only Scots but also those from other parts of Britain and the wider world.

This connection with the Church is not a formal one. For most, it arises from some personal link with St. Columba's which remains unbroken across time and distance. For others, their friendliness towards the Church stems from some service or support – however small, but not forgotten – which St Columba's has been able to offer, often during the experience of loneliness which is common in all large cities.

FRIENDS OF ST COLUMBA'S contd.

The original Church building, constructed in 1884, was destroyed during the Second World War, but the widespread friendship centred within the congregation was not destroyed, despite the loss of its “home”. The present beautiful listed building, whose architect was Sir Edward Maufe, was dedicated in 1955, and it was in this new home that the Friends of St Columba's was founded.

The Friends comprises a group of men and women, who are part of a wider congregation and who share a common bond expressed in our formal objectives:

- to build a spiritual friendship, through which the influence of the church is strengthened and increased.

- to assist with the maintenance and upkeep of the Church Building.

Our spiritual dimension includes the remembrance of St Columba's in the personal prayers of the Friends, while the second objective is realised by the raising of funds to preserve the building for future generations and to contribute towards special projects which may not otherwise be funded.

FRIENDS OF ST COLUMBA'S contd.

Membership is open to all, and you are warmly invited to become a Friend of St Columba's.

Members receive an annual newsletter, and an invitation to attend the Annual General Meeting on the Sunday which falls closest to St Columba's Day [9th June].

Subscriptions are as follows:

Annual Member: £10
Life Member:      £50

Members are, of course, free to make a donation at any time of their choosing.

Details can be obtained from The Honorary Secretary, The Friends of St Columba's at the Church address.