Last Sunday, courtesy of one-man show, world premiere of Getting to Iona, playwright and actor Tomas Barry set us firmly on course for St Columba’s Day, which we celebrate this weekend. Tomas’ play was a homage to his grandfather who in 1963, with others, replicated Columba’s original journey from Derry to Iona in 563, in a specially constructed curragh (traditional boat). By turn, Tomas played himself, his grandfather and St Columba. It was wonderful to see the London Scottish Chapel packed and enjoying the play’s very first performance. The opening “run” has continued each evening this week. It will go next to York, then to the Edinburgh Festival.
For Sunday 2nd June, Second Sunday after Pentecost
Written by William McLaren on .
Friends,
It's not fair! How often have you heard a child say these words? Children have a highly developed sense of justice and are quick to spot adult hypocrisy.
In our lesson from Acts 2: 1-21 this week we read how on the day of the Jewish festival of Pentecost, Jesus' disciples experienced being filled with God's Holy Spirit. This power and life spills out into the whole of creation. Peter says that this is the culmination of many centuries of waiting for the fulfilment of God's promise, made known through the Hebrew prophets and he describes what happened using the words of the prophet Joel, affirming that the spirit is being poured out on "all flesh", female and male, young and old, slave and free, people of all races. This is why Christians sometimes refer to Pentecost as "the birthday of the church", because from that day the Christian faith spread out from Jerusalem to every part of the known world, the beginning of the world church.
For Sunday 12th May 2024, 7th Sunday of Easter & Christian Aid Week
Written by Angus on .
“I wandered the streets, asking anyone for a place to sleep. Those who showed me kindness would let me stay for two or three days, but it was difficult. People would insult me and treat me with contempt. They forgot I was a human being. It filled me with sorrow.”
Abused by her husband and forced out of her home, becoming separated from her children, with nowhere to live and worrying daily about her children’s safety, Aline Nibogora was pushed into the most extreme poverty. Aline’s homeland, Burundi, is one of the poorest countries in the world financially. More than 70% of the population live in poverty. Most people get their living through farming. However, farmers have been significantly affected by the climate crisis, facing droughts, floods and landslides. Many families eat just one meal a day. Philip Galgallo, Country Director of Christian Aid Burundi tells us: ‘I think the biggest worry for most Burundian mothers is how they’ll feed their children.’
On Wednesday there was one of those weavings of threads that make life at St Columba’s so varied and interesting.
On Wednesday mornings throughout the year, pupils, staff and family members gather in the sanctuary for the weekly Hill House School Assembly. One week it is a “School” Assembly, with awards for sport, music and other achievements; the next week it is “Church” Assembly, and I am invited to take part. Assemblies are invariably enlivened by the music of the children – from massed guitars, violins and cellos, to choirs and soloists.
The office is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m, Monday to Friday.
There is a 24-hour answering machine service.
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St Columba’s is located on Pont Street in Knightsbridge in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Church is within easy reach of three London Underground stations – Knightsbridge (Piccadilly Line), South Kensington (Piccadilly, Circle and District Lines) and Sloane Square (Circle and District Lines).
St. Columba's Pont Street London SW1X 0BD
+44 (0)20-7584-2321
office@stcolumbas.org.uk
Getting here by tube
Knightsbridge Station
Take the Harrods exit if open (front car if coming from the East, rear car if coming from the West). Come up the stairs to street level, carry on keeping Harrods on your right. Turn right into Basil Street. Carry straight on into Walton Place with St Saviour’s Church on your left. At the traffic lights, St Columba’s is to your left across the street. If the Harrods exit is closed, take the Sloane Street exit, turn right into Basil Street. Carry straight on past Harrods with the shop on your right, into Walton Place as before.
South Kensington Station
Come up the stairs out of the station and turn left into the shopping arcade. Turn left again into Pelham Street. At the traffic lights at the end of Pelham Street cross Brompton Road, turn left then immediately right into the narrow street of Draycott Avenue. After just a few yards turn left into Walton Street. Carry on walking up Walton Street until the traffic lights at the corner of Pont Street. Turn right and after a few steps you will be at St Columba’s!
Sloane Square Station
Cross over the square into Sloane Street. Walk along Sloane Street until the traffic lights at the corner of Pont Street. Turn left into Pont Street. St Columba’s will then be in sight.
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