Friends,
One piece of St Columba’s history often proves attention-catching for some of our visitors – though perhaps some finding it less “fascinating.” We are built on a cricket ground. In a week of high cricketing drama – yes that does exist – it seems appropriate to remind ourselves of our foundations. (I am indebted to Session Clerk, Charlotte Bradford, for the following detail.)
By 1746 (the year of Culloden) the area round the current St Columba’s was all farmland and market gardens. Though London was expanding rapidly north of Piccadilly to the area round Belgrave and Grosvenor Squares, there were practically no buildings south from Knightsbridge almost to the Royal Hospital, and what is now Sloane Street was a lane leading from Knightsbridge only to fields.
By 1871 the area was much more developed. Harrods was open for custom; Peter Jones would follow later in the decade. Walton Street had been put through on the nursery garden boundary and St Saviour’s church over the road and St Simon’s on Milner Street had been built – both backing on to Prince’s Cricket Ground, where the nurseries had been. It was part of Prince’s Club, a ‘socially exclusive gentlemen’s sports club’, founded in 1853 by brothers George and James Prince. The club’s aspiration was to attract the upper classes: entry became more and more restricted until in 1878 it was announced that no lady could be admitted unless she had been presented at Court.
Though the club provided a variety of sports and even a permanent skating rink its main focus was on real tennis, and it was one of the earliest locations for lawn tennis when it was introduced in the mid-1870s. The cricket pitch was added in 1871 and for a few years it was the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club; WG Grace played there, as did the Australian tourists, and Wisden described it as ‘grand and quick and one of the finest playing grounds in England’. But the cricketers didn’t like it because it had no practice facilities and they moved to Lord’s in 1876. This last “gem” allows me to regularly claim that St Columba’s is built on the site of the first Lord’s Cricket Ground. Not strictly true, but worth promoting! What is true, is that when the congregation started life at St Columba’s, the Church Magazines inform us, that the first club formed was the Literary Society, and the second, the congregation’s Cricket Club.
By 1886 only the main rackets court and one of the tennis courts was left of Prince’s Club, and it closed altogether in 1887. The lease of the cricket pitch had been given up a little before then, of course: before the end of 1881 the Session Clerk of Crown Court church, which was planning to move westwards, had identified an ideal plot of land for a new Presbyterian church, available on a 96-year lease for £6000, with a ground rent of £70 per annum. The foundation stone was laid in May 1883 (you can see it now set into the wall by the library in the entrance vestibule) and Crown Court’s Minister, Session and most of the congregation moved to Knightsbridge to the new church, which was dedicated in March 1884.
Reverend David Shepherd, Bishop of Liverpool in full swing
The Church of Scotland and cricket are not the most famous pairing, so I’ll borrow from a better known Church of England cricketer-cleric. The late Reverend David Shepherd, Bishop of Liverpool played cricket for, and captained England, before becoming a prominent churchman. When playing for the Ashes in Australia in the early 1960’s he admitted to dropping several catches “at vital moments.” This led to the rebuke of his team-mate, Firey Fred Trueman: “Shepherd, the only time your hands are together are on Sunday”. A kinder version of this friendship relates that when Shepherd did take a stunning catch, Trueman remarked drily: “Aye, when the Reverend Shepherd puts his hands together, he stands a better chance than most of us…”
Cricket enthusiast or not, mindful of the combined histories, personalities and architecture that we inherit – may we always find time to put our hands together and offer our thanks.
Angus
Live Streaming of Worship
Services can be watched via the church website, https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/live-stream
To access the live stream from the homepage (front page) click the Menu button in the top right-hand side of the page and scroll down and click on “Live Stream”. This will bring up the live stream to the church. The act of worship of approximately 60 minutes, includes include prayers, a sermon and music. The words for the hymns and readings will be on the website.
For those without internet, the Dial-In facility continues. Many people comment that they do have a sense of worshipping together, even if invisible to each other.
Reminder: If you do not wish to appear on the live-stream please choose a seat in the rear half of the sanctuary.
Please note that the Evening Services on the 1st of the month are not live streamed as they are held in the London Scottish Chapel.
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 now phone in to join the Sunday service. No visuals clearly, but at least they can hear the service. Those interested should follow:
Step 1: At 10.40am call phone number 0203 051 2874.
Step 2: You will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. Please type (using your telephone keypad) 266 883 5072#
Step 3: You will then be asked for a participant number – simply press the #.
Step 4: Enjoy the service! You will hear the organ music from 10.50am.
Hymns, Music & Readings for 25th June 2023
Hymn 160 Praise my soul the King of Heaven (Praise my soul)
Hymn 167 Guide me, O thou great Jehovah (Cwm Rhondda)
Hymn 655 For your generous providing (Holy Manna)
Hymn 159 Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided
(Lord of the years)
Anthem: Gloria in excelsis (Schubert)
Communion Anthem: Holy is the true light (Harris)
Organ Postlude: Komm Heiliger Geist, JS Bach BWV 651
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 21:8-21
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10:24-39
Congregational Offerings
Details on the many ways you can support St Columba’s can be found here https://www.stcolumbas.org.uk/giving/supporting-st-columbas
Would 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.
THIS SUNDAY: Families’ Communion Service & Congregational Picnic, Sunday 25th June
We mark the end of the Sunday School year on Sunday 25th June with a Families Communion Service (11am) where our young people assist serving communion. Sunday School volunteers and young people then take a break until Sunday School restarts in September. We are enormously grateful for the small and dedicated team of our Sunday School volunteers. Morning service is followed by the Congregational Picnic in Hyde Park.
Sounds of St Columba’s 2023
Please note future dates, bring your friends and enjoy the marvellous music in the Upper Hall. 1.30pm start. These exceptional recitals are one of the “gems” of current St Columba’s life. Not to be missed.
16th July 2023 – Ashley Fripp, Piano recital
17th September 2023 – Richard Phillips, Cello Recital
Congregational Sunday Lunch
Future dates for lunches are 2nd July & 16th July in the Lower Hall.
Please note the small increase to £4.00 per lunch – still exceptional value for a two course meal. Big thanks to all our catering teams who provide for us on congregational lunch Sundays. Coffee will continue to be served every Sunday as usual in the Upper Hall – donations for coffee most welcome.
Relief Caretaker
Do you know somebody who is looking for some evening and weekend work? Are they good with the public and able to set up tables and chairs? St Columba’s Church is currently hoping to recruit a relief caretaker to work evenings and weekends looking after the building and our hall hire customers. If you know someone that might be interested in the role, please get in touch with Lucy in the Church Office who can give more detail on hours, pay and the complete role description.
Happy Hour
Happy Hour’s last gathering before the summer break will be on Wednesday 5 July, from 6.30 – 8.30pm in the upstairs room at The Carpenters Arms Seymour Place W1H 7NE, a short walk from Marble Arch tube station. To start the evening, we’ll discuss Claire Keegan’s book Small Things Like These – only 115 pages and very well reviewed. But even if you don’t manage to read it, do come along to socialise. Newcomers always welcome.
Congregational Prayer Group, Sunday 9th July NEW VENUE: SESSION ROOM
Come and join us to pray at 10am in the SESSION ROOM (next to the bookstall).…everyone is welcome! “So, Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him”. Acts 12: 5. The New Testament talks a lot about praying together. “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’.
Save the Date: Congregational Away Day, Saturday 30th September 2023
We are holding a Congregational Away Day on Saturday 30th September. Led by an outside facilitator it is the opportunity for the congregation to take stock and consider the challenges, possibilities and priorities for the ongoing life and work of our congregation, for the next five to ten years. (In 2034 it will be the 150th Anniversary of the congregation.) The Away Day will actually take place at St Columba’s but our hope is to hear the thoughts and ideas of as wide a representation of the congregation as possible. Provisional timings 10am – 3pm. More detail will follow in due course.
Office Hours
The church office is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Contact details; Tel: 020 7584 2321
E-mail: office@stcolumbas.org.uk
Website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Facebook: @stcolumbaschurchpontstreet.
Twitter: @LondonKirk
Pastoral Emergency Number (out of office hours): 07591926271
To sign up and receive the weekly newsletter detailing future events, contact the church office or go to www.stcolumbas.org.uk (News Section.) Paper copies of this week’s newsletter are available at the bookstall.
If you require this information in a different format please contact the Church Office.