Newsletter for Sunday 15th November 2026

Friends,

Sunday promises to be very special, as St Columba’s hosts a performance of Johannes Brahms’ “Ein deutsches Requiem”. When the composer was twenty-one, he attempted to write his first symphony. It was a disaster. He suffered from extreme insecurity and a fear that nothing he could ever write would be a worthy successor to the symphonies of Beethoven. He shelved the work until, a few years later, he used parts of it in his First Piano Concerto. But this concerto was such a flop with contemporary audiences that he gave up writing largescale orchestra works altogether.

It took the death of both Brahms’ mother, Christiane, and his beloved mentor, Robert Schumann, to shake Brahms out of his self-doubt. He was determined to write a requiem for chorus and orchestra that would adequately reflect the magnitude of emotions he felt at the time. From the outset, it was to be a work of grand proportions and unprecedented originality. The title “A German Requiem” signalled that this was a different sort of piece; not the requiem of Roman Catholic tradition, sung in Latin, but one that drew from an assemblage of biblical texts focused on spiritual healing, sung in colloquial German. It was designed to give comfort to the living, instead of a prescribed prayer for the departed. Neither mass nor oratorio, Brahms’ Requiem was uniquely created in seven movements. Over their course, the listener is taken on a search for enlightenment, beginning with the mourning process and ending with an ultimate promise of eternal peace.

November is a month where traditionally we contemplate our mortality – marking All Saints Day, annual Bereavement Service and Remembrance Sunday. This Sunday’s concluding recital, in the Sounds of St Columba’s Sunday afternoon series, is a wonderful seasonal addition, with its poignancy and desire to console.

At its premiere in 1868, Brahms finally found the triumph he sought. Its performance on Sunday can be considered as a celebration and thanksgiving for ten years of generously provided music at St Columba’s. Sunday’s concert can take place in large part due to the support of the Murray J Napier Fund and the Friends of St Columba’s. It is not to be missed! Please make every effort to attend, inviting others with you. Your presence will be a great encouragement for the ongoing tradition of music at St Columba’s, and it will surely be a blessing to those able to attend. Happy listening.

Angus

NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday 22nd November, 11.00am, Joint Service with Crown Court Church of Scotland, at St Columba’s, Pont Street Marking the conclusion of the London St Andrew’s Book Festival, presented by Scots in London, London’s two Church of Scotland congregations come together for worship. Guest preacher is Rt Revd Gordon Kennedy, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Help welcome our Kirk neighbours, stay for lunch and enjoy the Book Festival’s final event with poet Kenneth Steven in conversation with the minister.

NEXT SUNDAY: Sunday 22nd November,
1:30 p.m. London St Andrew’s Book Festival. A Journey into Scotland’s wild landscapes, faith and the power of storytelling. Join acclaimed Scottish poet, novelist and broadcaster Kenneth Steven at the St Andrew’s Book Festival London for a special event exploring Atoms of Delight, his moving reflection on pilgrimage, nature and Celtic spirituality. Kenneth’s writing has taken him from the ancient island of Iona to the remote beauty of the Highlands. His acclaimed BBC Radio 4 documentary, A Requiem for St Kilda, won a Sony Gold Award, while his books span poetry, novels, nature writing and children’s literature. In conversation with the Rev. Angus MacLeod, Kenneth will explore how Scotland’s landscapes, stories and spiritual traditions have shaped his life and work. This is an invitation to slow down, rediscover the wonder of the natural world and find beauty in the places and moments we might otherwise overlook.

NEXT WEEK: London St Andrew’s Book Festival,
presented by Scots in London
16th-22nd November. https://www.standrewsbookfestival.org/
The St Andrew’s Book Festival London is almost here, and there is still time to be part of a brilliant seven days celebrating Scottish writing, ideas, culture and conversation. From gripping crime fiction and thrilling mysteries to history, politics, poetry, memoir, travel, nature and much more, there really is something for every curious mind. With an outstanding line up of writers, thinkers, poets and special guests, this is your chance to hear fascinating stories, discover new perspectives and enjoy some wonderful literary events in London. The festival runs from 16th to 22nd November, with events taking place across a range of London venues. Don’t leave it until the last minute. Take a look at the programme, choose your events and book your tickets today.
Tickets for the 2026 the London St Andrew’s Book Festival are now on sale. https://www.ticketsource.com/standrewsbookfestival

As with the Sounds of St Columba’s Recitals, the Book Festival offers congregational members a great opportunity to invite friends or neighbours to come and enjoy our beautiful building and some of the life that goes on here.

Remembrance Sunday donations
Thanks to a generous response from the congregations
on Remembrance Sunday (10.45am Morning Worship and 3pm London Scottish Regimental Cvhurch Parade)
a collective donation of £1,257.10 will be sent to PoppyScotland.

Christmas Cards The Langham Sketch Club are London’s oldest sketching club. In recent years they have been meeting Wednesday evenings at St Columba’s. They have a life drawing session, followed by a candlelit supper in the Upper Hall. It is very civilised! Through their generosity they have once again provided two designs to make our Christmas cards this year. The cards are available from the bookstall on Sundays. A pack of four cards for £5. (Packs are either four of a single design, or a pack of four with two cards of each design.

Advent at St Columba’s
Two opportunities to deepen our preparations for Christmas are offered this Advent. The Advent Book Group will meet every Wednesday (via Zoom), starting on Wednesday 25th November at 7:30pm, until Wednesday 16th December 2026. The book choice is “Walking with Angels” by Eleanor Sanderson. Please contact the church office for the Zoom link. All Welcome.

And on the four Sundays of Advent, beginning on Sunday 29th November, there will be a time of Scripture, Poetry & Quiet Prayer, 10.15 – 10.30am in the London Scottish Regimental Chapel. All welcome.

Night Out for ScotsCare
On the night of Monday 23rd November, the Minister will be joining others to take part for a second time in the annual CEO’s Sleepout at Lords cricket ground. Angus recognises it is the closest he is going to get to playing at Lords!
The CEO Sleepout supports a variety of homeless related charities. Angus is seeking to raise funds on behalf of ScotsCare.
If you would like to contribute
please follow the link
CEO Sleepout: CEO Sleepout London 2026

VOLUNTEERING & HOMELESS NIGHT SHELTER This year we will again operate a weekly night shelter in conjunction with the homeless charity Glass Door. The charity operates a support service across West London, offering year-round counselling & help, as well as overnight accommodation/evening meal in the winter months. The hospitality element is offered in conjunction with local churches who provide the building as well as an evening meal through volunteers. This year we will provide for c.35 male guests on Sunday evenings between December and March (other churches cover the remainder of the week). We are always looking for more volunteers. We are usually a team of about 6; cooking, serving and washing up (approx. 1/month from about 6-8.30pm). Please contact the Church Office if you are interested in volunteering. Donations towards meal costs can also be made through the church office, marking clearly as Glass Door donations.

UPCOMING: Friends of St Columba’s Visit:
The Foundling Museum, Saturday 28 November, Rendezvous: 11:00 • 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ • The Museum begins with the story of the Foundling Hospital, the UK’s first children’s charity and home for abandoned children. It was established by the philanthropist Thomas Coram (1668–1751). He was appalled by the plight of so many children in London in spite of its position at the heart of a wealthy trading network. The Hospital was supported by leading 18th-century artists including Handel, Hogarth, Gainsborough and Reynolds. Together they transformed it into the UK’s first public art gallery and one of London’s most fashionable venues. Handel gave annual performances of the Messiah to raise funds and also donated a set of “musical chairs” which can still be seen today. The 1930s building, originally headquarters of the children’s charity (which continues today under the name Coram), contains many original architectural features of the 18th-century Foundling Hospital. These are displays of objects and stories from the daily lives of the foundling children. Lunch : optional eateries are available in the nearby Brunswick Centre. Ticket £14.50 • Tube: Russell Square