Friends,
Someone once asked Earl Mountbatten of Burma how long the British monarchy would survive. The questioner expected Mountbatten, a great-grandson of Queen Victoria, nephew of the last Czar, himself the last Viceroy of India and steeped in royal tradition, to gaze into the distance and say “As long as the white cliffs of Dover, as long as there are ravens in the Tower” but instead he said simply, “As long as the people at the top are doing a good job”. Three years after the death of Queen Elizabeth few would deny that she did a good job. Nicola Sturgeon, an instinctive republican, comments at length in her memoirs (which I flicked through in Waterstones) on how well informed the Queen was and how much she enjoyed their meetings. Perhaps someone will ask her about this at the St. Andrew’s Book Festival.
Despite the challenges of his cancer diagnosis, it is obvious that those now at the top, King Charles and Queen Camilla are also “doing a good job”.
People sometimes ask if I am a royalist because I include the King and Queen and, as is right and proper in a Scottish church, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, in our intercessions but the answer is “not at all”. I do so because Scripture instructs us to pray for those in authority. When I lived in a republic, I prayed for the president.
Proposing a toast at our Platinum Jubilee lunch in 2022, I caused a slight stir by saying “I am not a royalist” but for those who were still listening, I went on to say “But I am a monarchist”. I was teasing slightly but it is an important distinction. I do not read “Majesty” magazine or even “Hello” as a royalist might, but I believe passionately in our constitutional monarchy as a system of government. It seems to me that the great advantage of the monarchy is that we have a head of state who is completely above and beyond party politics. The monarchy is a focus for unity in this country and the Commonwealth. It also seems to me that the continuity and stability provided by the monarchy means that the United Kingdom exercises greater “soft power” in the world than we might reasonably expect.
Writing in his First Letter to Timothy St. Paul said,
“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and thanksgivings should be made for everyone,
for kings and all who are in high positions,
so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and dignity”.
(1 Timothy 2: 1-2)
William
THIS SUNDAY: Hymns, Music & Readings for Sunday, 21st September 2025,Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Hymn 73 Bless the Lord, O saints and servants (Psalm 113) (Chartres)
Hymn 198 Let us build a house where love can dwell (Two Oaks)
Hymn 474 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (Es ist ein Ros’ Entsprungen)
Hymn 502 Take my life, Lord, let it be (Nottingham)
Anthem: Love bade me welcome – Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Anthem: O taste and see – Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Old Testament Reading: Amos 8: 4-7
New Testament Reading: 1 Timothy 2: 1-7
Gospel Reading: Luke 16: 1-13
Reader: Hamish Mackay
THIS SUNDAY: Morning Service followed by Congregational Lunch in the Lower Hall
THIS SUNDAY: Sunday 21st September, Upper Hall, 1.30pm, Sounds of St Columba’s Jonathan Radford (saxophone) and Dina Duisen (piano) “Across the Pyrénées” – Join us for an hour of French and Spanish music for saxophone and piano to include Debussy, Albéniz and Bizet.
St Columba’s member
We are sorry to announce the death of St Columba’s former elder Lady Jean MacPherson. Details of funeral will be announced when known. Rest eternal grant unto her and let light perpetual shine upon her.
THIS WEEK: Crown Court calling
A great opportunity to see more of Crown Court Church of Scotland during the days of the upcoming Open House Festival – 20/21 September. Crown Court’s highlight our listing on the Open House website, which lists all their activities/timings.
UPCOMING: And on Saturday 18th October Crown Court host a “Come & Sing” for Fauré’s Requiem & “A New Song” by James MacMillan, led by Thomas Allery, Director of Music at Temple Church, accompanied by Benedict Lewis-Smith Link to the Eventbrite event.
NEXT WEEK: St Columba’s Book Club: Our next meeting by Zoom will be on September 22nd when we shall discuss “The Other Side of the Bridge” by Mary Lawson, a novel set in Canada exploring the tensions both between two brothers and between fate and free will. For the subsequent meeting we shall read “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano. New members are welcome. Please contact the church office for details
NEXT SUNDAY: Morning Service followed by Coffee and Tea in the Upper Hall
NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday 28th September, 1pm, Lower Hall Many of us have good memories of Scottish country dancing, reeling and ceilidhs, whether at school, weddings or just a great way to spend time with good friends. St Columba’s Church has been, for decades, the centre of Scottish dancing in London and we’re delighted that we are able to bring children’s classes back to the Lower Hall from this month. If you’ve ever wished to draw your children, grandchildren or family friends into the joys of dance – now is your chance. Working together with St Columba’s Church, RSCDS London will offer two Sunday classes this term, with more to come in 2026. The classes are aimed mainly at primary school children (4 and above, but do let us know if you have interested teenagers as we would love to encourage that age group too) and will run 1pm – 2.15pm on Sunday 28 September and Sunday 9 November. There is a nominal fee of £10 per term per child (capped at £20 per family) and more information about the classes, plus registration link, may be found at https://www.rscdslondon.org.uk/children. Any questions, please contact classes@rscdslondon.org.uk
Diary Dates: New Members’ Enquiry Evening & Service of Welcome, Wednesday 8th October & Sunday 23rd November 2025
If you would like to learn more about what becoming a member of St Columba’s involves, you are warmly invited to an evening of food and discussion on Wednesday 8th October 2025, 7.00pm. For those who would then like to become members there will be a Service of Welcome on Sunday 23rd November – which is celebrated as Christ the King Sunday. For more information speak to either of the ministers and please sign up via the Church Office. (Note the Enquiry Evening is a revised date, from the originally published date of Wednesday 15th October. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.)
THIS SUNDAY: Harvest Appeal 2025 – The Upper Room (UR4 Meals) www.theupperroom.org.uk
Harvest is approaching and we will be collecting again for The Upper Room (UR4 Meals). The charity provides thousands of meals a year to the homeless and disadvantaged people. Your food donations will contribute to such a valuable meal service.
We will be collecting: tuna, mixed herbs, curry powder or paste, paprika, vegetable stock cubes, sunflower or vegetable oil, chopped tomatoes, basmati rice, biscuits, instant coffee, tea bags (not loose tea) and sugar.
Collection point: Upper Vestibule by the Harvest Display Board, on three Sundays 21st, 28th September and 5th October (culminating at the Harvest Festival Service).
Thank you in advance, UR4 Meals!
UPCOMING: Friends of St Columba’s Visit, Saturday 18 October – Dr Johnson’s House & Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
Rendezvous 11am at 17 Gough Square, EC4A 3DE | Adult: £10.00 | Tube: Blackfriars or Chancery Lane We begin our programme with a visit to Dr Johnson’s House, an 18th-century townhouse tucked just off Fleet Street, where Samuel Johnson lived and worked while compiling his pioneering Dictionary of the English Language. One of the few surviving buildings of its kind in the City of London, the house offers insight into the life and mind of one of English literature’s most influential—and idiosyncratic—figures.
St Andrew’s Book Festival 2025
The St Andrew’s Book Festival team are delighted to announce that first tickets are now on sale with St Columba’s being one of the main venue.
Events include Nicola Sturgeon, Val McDermid and Irvine Welsh. On Friday 28 November one of Scotland’s true national treasures, broadcaster and author Sally Magnusson,will speak at a special literary lunch celebrating her spellbinding new novel The Shapeshifter’s Daughter. Book now to avoid disappointment as some of the events’ tickets are already going fast!
For more see https://www.standrewsbookfestival.org/
Membership Scheme for 2025 is also now open. To become a Festival Friend please click here.
Scots in London September newsletter.
For a variety of events and activities of interest see https://mailchi.mp/scotsinlondon.org/scots-in-london-september-newsletter-12818372?e=a7a1f1deca. Scots in London is an umbrella organisation for Scottish cultural societies, sports clubs, alumni groups, charities, churches and the Scottish military in London. Its mission is to promote Scottish culture and heritage, co-ordinate and communicate events, support Scottish charities in the capital, and contribute to the life of the city where we live. While proud of our shared nationality, we endeavour to be international in outlook.
Christian Aid: Annual Lecture – Monday 6 October, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square. 7pm to 8.30pm.
The speaker for this year’s annual lecture is Mariana Mazzucato, Professor at UCL, where she is Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose. The theme for the speakers is taken from the words of Martin Luther ‘Here I am Stand; I can do no other‘. Tickets are free but you are required to book. Registration may close early if capacity is reached. Book your free ticket here.
UPCOMING: Tuesday 21st October, 2pm, Dr Graham’s Homes 125th Birthday Songs of Praise at St Columba’s, Pont Street (events@drgrahamshomes.co.uk)
There is an open invitation to attend this special anniversary service, followed by refreshments in the library.
Dr Graham’s Homes was founded in September 1900 in Kalimpong, West Bengal in the Himalayas by Rev John Anderson Graham, a Church of Scotland missionary. The School was built on the “cottage homes” model which are family style houses named after benefactors, with “auntys” looking after the children. Originally aimed to educate and give vocational training to impoverished Anglo-Indian children; over time it became a wider community school. By the 1920’s it housed nearly 600 children and had grown into a near self-sufficient village with a church, hospital, farm, and workshops.
The UK charity arm (DGH UK) currently sponsors over 100 children in need, mostly from the streets of Kolkata, through fundraising and individual sponsors, some of whom have lifelong connection with their sponsored children. Today it continues as a boarding and day school on a large hillside campus at Kalimpong. The new Chairman of the Board of Management was a sponsored child from the age of two. He is now a world renowned neurosurgeon based in Shillong, near Kalimpong.
There are records of Dr Graham visiting St Columba’s during his visits to London. St Columba’s is the London home for all the DGH UK events, hosting an annual curry lunch for several years.
For further information see www.drgrahamshomes.co.uk
UPCOMING: Supporting Wounded Veterans, Rollicking Reels, Supporting Wounded Veterans, Saturday 4th October, 6.30pm, Lower Hall. All abilities are welcome to join but some experience is preferable. To buy your tickets, visit swvreels2025.eventbrite.co.uk
RESTART’s Annual Sleep Out, Friday 5th December 2025, outside St Columba’s Church. The number of people sleeping on the streets in the UK is at a record high. London saw a 10% increase in rough sleeping in 2024/2025 compared to the previous year. Every year the staff, volunteers and supporters of Restart Lives spend one night outside. Although there is much that separates the experience of the controlled environment of the Sleepout from that of a person living life on the streets, we hope the event will help all those who participate to imagine what London’s homeless have to contend with. To participate to 2025 SleepOut, sign up on this link or you can donate and set up a fundraiser on this page. Adults or children over the age of 10 accompanied by an adult are welcome, as are school groups or other groups of children under adult supervision. Contact us if you would like any information or have questions: Olivia olivia@restartlives.org
“Secret Surprise Gift” Members may be aware that our office manager Stef Christ is leaving us in mid-October for a new post with the London School of Economics (LSE). After two years at St Columba’s, we are very sorry to be losing her, as she has played such an important role in the running and promotion of the building. On previous leave-takings, when a collection for a member of staff has been invited, donations have come in via the office – collected by the office manager. This gives us a somewhat awkward current scenario. Our suggestion is this: If you wish to donate towards Stef’s leaving gift, please put it in an envelope marked: “Stef’s Secret Surprise Gift” and hand it into her. She has promised not to open and will pass on to others who will collate and action. Contributions in by Sunday 5th October. We are currently interviewing for Stef’s successor. Please keep those applying, and those with the responsibility for appointing, in your prayers.
Live Streaming of Worship
Services can be watched via the church website, https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/live-stream. Reminder: If you do not wish to appear on the live stream please choose a seat in the rear half of the sanctuary. Note that the Evening Services on the 1st of the month are not live streamed as they are held in the London Scottish Chapel. If you experience any issue with livestream on the day, please email livestream@stcolumbas.org.uk (please note that this address will only be monitored on Sundays).
Dial into Sunday Service
If you are aware of church members or friends who do not have access to internet, please inform them that they can phone in to join the Sunday service. Those interested should follow: Step 1: At 10.40am call phone number 0208 080 6591.
Step 2: You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. Please type (using your telephone keypad) 884 4746 5645
Step 3: You will then be asked for a participant number – simply press the #.
Step 4: You will be asked to enter the password. Enter 838727
Step 5: Enjoy the service! You will hear the organ music from 10.50am.
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Details on the many ways you can support St Columba’s can be found here https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/giving/supporting-st-columbas Anyone wishing to contribute to St Andrew’s, Newcastle please contact the Session Clerk on standrewssessionclerk@gmail.com for bank details or other means of donating.
Office Hours –
The church office is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
E-mail: office@stcolumbas.org.uk
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271
