Newsletter for Sunday 7th June, St Columba’s Day

This week seven grandchildren and several great grandchildren, gathered in the London Scottish Chapel to mark the 100th anniversary of their grandparents’/great grandparents’ wedding at St Columba’s. Recorded in the July 1926 church magazine: “1st June – Sir Charles Coupar Barrie, K.B.E. of Airlie Park, Broughty Ferry and Ethel Broom of Colombo, Ceylon.” Afterwards, the family went for lunch at the same hotel where the wedding breakfast was served, one hundred years earlier.

From the magazine pages of the era, an intriguing response to days of industrial action: (On 3 May 1926, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) called for a general strike across Britain to start one minute before midnight.) The Magazine records: “One of the distressing features of the Strike of May the 4th to 12th was the long distance that business girls had to walk to and from the places where their work lay during, and for some days after, the Strike. For this reason, thousands slept in extemporised beds in the City; but countless others had long walks to face – sometimes of two hours or more, to and fro, and not seldom through dangerous hooligan-haunted districts.

Our Local Emergency Committee, headed by Lady Clementine Waring asked us if we could put up in Saint Columba’s hall about thirty girls employed in city restaurants. An intimation was made on the Sunday and by Monday afternoon enough delightful beds (some were presented to us outright) and bedding were rushed in by the ever ready congregation of Saint Columba’s to meet the full need. Motor cars brought them, willing hands put them up, money poured in for the cost of food and entertainment, and within a day of the first suggestion, the “Lyons” girls were ensconced in and charmed with their novel dormitory. Above and beyond this, private hosts and hostesses took others in, in ones and twos.

Miss Mary Blackwood was at the head of the undertaking which meant perfect organisation. Miss Shiach and Miss Henderson slept on the premises, wakened the girls about six, gave them tea at 6:30, and sent them off bright and refreshed to the Strand, Whitehall and Leadenhall Street. The girls’ appreciation was most touching, and so was their interest in the Church, and in the music and organ – for Mr Fulton kindly played for them one evening. Messages of thanks have been received. But no thanks were needed; for it was a labour of love on the part of all who contributed to the success of our rapid mobilisation of the ample reserves of Saint Columba’s hospitality, and who were given an opportunity of meeting and knowing these cheerful indomitable girls and women.” (St Columba’s Magazine, June 1926)

Congregational views on industrial action may vary – but the practicality, spontaneity and welcome shown to unexpected guests a century ago – might continue to inspire. In a week punctuated by tube strikes, however you travel – safe and happy journeys.

Angus

Communion arrangements: in person & livestream This Sunday we celebrate communion/the Lord’s Supper. It is Christ’s table and open to any whose tradition it is to receive the bread and wine. For pastoral reasons the wine is non-alcoholic, and gluten free bread is available. The elders serve the communion to the congregation in the pews. If you wish to receive either gluten free bread or the wine from the chalice/common cup, please just indicate to one of the serving elders. At conclusion, please leave your communion glass on the pew shelf. For those watching at home you may wish to prepare bread and wine (or equivalent) and share at the appropriate moment.

New Church Magazine
With thanks to the Editor, Susan Pym
and her contributors,
the excellent June/July issue of the church magazine should be available via the bookstall, £1.50.
Pick up a copy for yourself
and consider one for a friend or neighbour.
Help spread the St Columba’s story.

Christian Aid Week Appeal – Thank you. Many thanks to everyone who supported this year’s Christian Aid Week Appeal. Through a variety of ways, from cake sales to donations we raised £3,199.40 (inc. Gift Aid). Those donations will help improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable who live in awful temporary settlements in Dagoretti, Nairobi and suffer intense urban poverty. Your donations will provide seeds and tools so families can grow food in small spaces, fund training, support community-led projects that strengthen food security and income. Thank you so much.

Departing Assistant Organist
Sadly, Catherine Olver, our Assistant Organist, will be leaving us this summer. Alongside her role as Director of Music at the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth, and as conductor of the Renaissance Choir, Catherine has given so much to the music ministry of St Columba’s and we have been enormously fortunate to have her as part of our musical life. We wish her every happiness and success in the next chapter of her career. Those wishing to contribute towards a leaving gift are warmly invited to contribute cash/card, via the church office.

Saturday 20th June 2026
Presbytery of England & the Channel Islands
meets at Crown Court Church of Scotland (10.30am)
& Induction Service
for Reverend Tara Porr Granados
as minister of Crown Court (1.30pm)
A chance to welcome the new minister of our Kirk neighbours and show our support.
All welcome.

UPCOMING: ReStart Lives Tennis Day at St Columba’s Tennis Club, Sunday 14th June ReStart Lives who organise the Friday drop-in meal at St Columba’s throughout the year are holding a Summer Fundraiser at the St Columba’s Tennis Club (nearest tube Acton Town.) The format is doubles, for those who are playing, and you can either come with a partner or you can be paired up. It’s aimed at intermediate level and above, but for beginners and children there will also be coaching sessions and fun tennis games. There will be strawberries and cream, sandwiches, drinks, and everything that makes a British tennis event fun – so non players will have a great time too!

Looking for Sleepers! CEO Sleepout 23rd November 2026
ScotsCare CEO Shona Fleming, well known at St Columba’s, again leads a team of hardy souls who take on the challenge of sleeping out for a night to raise funds and awareness for homelessness at the CEO Sleepout at Lords Cricket Ground. The annual event draws hundreds of fundraisers to St John’s Wood’s hallowed ground, where participants bed down in the stands, sleeping between the seats with a sleeping bag and little else. Participants don’t have to be a CEO to take part, just a supporter that wants to combat homelessness. It’s a tough but rewarding event, with great camaraderie and sense of achievement the following day. Elder Hugh Pym and minister Angus MacLeod have both participated in previous years.
This year the hope is to recruit a team of six (or more) St Columbans who would sleepout to support our Scots in London partner organisation, ScotsCare. If interested please contact Angus via the Office.

St Andrews Book Festival,
presented by Scots in London
The Book Festival returns to several central London venues, with St Columba’s as the primary focus of the festival. Look forward to another array of well-known and new authors bringing Scottish writing to the heart of London. Keep
18th to 22nd November 2026 in your diaries, both for attending and/or volunteering to get involved.