St Columba's April/May 2021 - St. Columba's Pont Street, London
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St Columba’s
April/May 2021
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
Minister: Rev. Angus MacLeod, MA BD
Pont Street, London SW1X 0BD
Telephone: 020-7584 2321 Fax: 020-7584 5446
e-mail: office@stcolumbas.org.uk minister@stcolumbas.org.uk
website: www.stcolumbas.org.uk
Sundays
Please join us for worship at 11 am. The crèche is open from 10.30 am for babies and children up to four years.
It can be found in the lower hall. Older children are invited to join the Sunday school classes appropriate to
their age. They leave the service with their teachers following the children’s talk. For teenagers, the senior
study group leave with their teachers following the Bible readings.
After the service, we warmly welcome everyone to the congregational lunch in the lower hall.
The two-course lunch costs £3.50 and there is no need to book.
Dear Readers,
For the second year running we celebrate Easter under Covid
restrictions. Flower Guild member Betsy Wilkie, missing the
customary communal decoration of the church, and of course the
scrumptious tea, encourages us to look about us and find blooms
in unlikely places.
May 10th sees the 80th anniversary of the bombing of the old St
Columba’s during the Blitz. Janet Michalacopoulos writes about
the life and work of her grandfather, Dr Archibald Fleming, minister
of St Columba’s from 1902 until his death in July 1941.
David Natzler has found time during lockdown to make a study of
the books of the Apocrypha. In the first of a series of articles he
Contents looks into the story of Judith and wonders what is in it for us.
On a more light-hearted note, David Stewart kicks off what we
Regulars hope will turn into another series – Desert Island Discs. Lockdown
Vestry letter 3 restrictions in some ways mimic desert island isolation: we’d love
Sermon 8/9 to know your thoughts on music to sustain, cheer and inspire. We
Baptisms, marriages, deaths 14 all know the rules of the game!
Church diary 15
With best wishes,
Prayers 16
Features The Editorial Team
Memories of Margaret Brown 4
Flowers for Easter 5
Dr Archibald Fleming 6
Cover photo: London Scottish Chapel,
Judith 10 by Steven Hicks, Squib Photography
Desert Island Discs 12
This Year’s Lent Appeal 13 ORGANIST and DIRECTOR of MUSIC : Ben Lewis-Smith
ASSISTANT ORGANIST: Catherine Olver
CHURCH OFFICE: Lucy Llewellyn
Copy for future editions should be CARETAKER: Michael Dempsey
sent to us at the Church Office, SESSION CLERK: Charlotte Bradford
preferably by e-mail BEADLES: Gary Wallis, Naomi Donaldson,
Ronald Prince
2
VESTRY LETTER
The statement describes the night of the bombing,
and the attempts to save the building. It recognizes
that “throughout the country, indeed throughout the
world…the destruction of St Columba’s means the
loss of a building that was inexpressibly dear by reason
of many intimate associations and tender personal
memories.” Amongst the many, three people “who
will feel the loss more than anyone” are singled out.
“I refer, of course, to Mr H L Anderson, whose father
was architect of the church and who himself since his
father’s death has watched over it with devoted care,
and to Dr and Mrs Fleming, to whom St Columba’s
was the focus of a long labour of loving service, and
the whole congregation will unite today in earnest
and heartfelt prayer that comfort and peace may
be granted them.” It is fitting that this anniversary
prompts our editors to include a tribute to the life and
work of Dr Fleming (Minister of St Columba’s 1902-
1941) written by his granddaughter.
By the time this issue comes to print we hope
that there will have been the first, modest, safe,
reintroduction of worshippers at Sunday service, from
Palm Sunday onwards. Meanwhile, the live-stream
services are set to continue. Inevitably, our Easter
celebrations and gatherings will not be as we hope
or remember. However, eighty years on from a time
when the congregational home was ruined, let us be
encouraged by the words that ended that original
statement, only a week after the devastation.
April/May 2021 “Here, then is our challenge and our opportunity.
The enemy thinks that by the destruction of Church
Dear Friends, buildings he will not only scatter the faithful but
break their morale and weaken their allegiance to
Eighty years ago, in the corresponding issue of the the Church. Let us show him that underneath our
Church Magazine (May 1941), a statement that was attachment to the visible House of God, there dwells
made to the congregation before morning service on in us an unshakeable loyalty and love to Christ and
the first Sunday after the destruction of the Church, His Kingdom, which will go with us wherever we go,
was printed in full. The headline reads: and which bombs will never destroy.”
THE CHURCH BUILDING WAS DESTROYED BY May the vision of what rose from ashes and lives on
ENENY ACTION today speak to us of that other, ongoing resurrection.
IN A RECENT AIR RAID. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Happy Easter.
GOD WILLING, ANOTHER BUILDING SHALL
ARISE AFTER THE WAR. Angus MacLeod
MEANWHILE, IN SPITE OF WAR, THE CHURCH
LIVES ON.
3
Memories of Margaret Brown
gathered together by Rosa Somerville
“Very sadly, Margaret developed via Heathrow, to the Dean of the
dementia which affected her Chapel Royal in Scotland. Her
punctuality, and ultimately enjoyment of company meant she
prevented her coming to church, was always willing to do anything
although she talked about coming to help. Majorie MacHardy and Jim
each week and was able to enjoy Blackwood testify to her popularity
being at the last Congregational at the Service Unit (now Tea
Hymns evening service held in the Together) teas and outings. For
Chapel. She was delighted to be instance, when (undeterred by non-
amongst her friends again and had stop rain) she carried water from
to be fetched from the Office where the kitchens of Capel Manor to the
she and Paul were chatting over a Service Unit coach so that their
cup of tea as the service was about picnic could be taken there.
to begin.
Margaret was an elder for 20
“As the illness progressed life years. She was reliable and diligent
became more difficult and a fall according to Charlotte, her team
Jill Steele writes: “I shall remember with subsequent admission to leader. She retained a ‘pawky sense
Margaret fondly as someone who hospital resulted in her transfer to of humour’, and indeed a somewhat
not only gave service to her Church the dementia ward in a local care flirtatious manner at times. She was
in so many ways but was proud to home. She hated being there and seen dancing enthusiastically at
be a member and depended on I witnessed the horrible effects of Camille’s wedding. David Stewart
being in her usual seat Sunday by the disease. She had been moved remembers her calling him ‘young
Sunday. within the final week of her life to a David’. So although we remember
more peaceful building, and I hope her for the duty and hard work at
“Margaret was born in Glasgow and and think that she was treated with the church we will also remember
had many memories of life there love and respect in the final days someone who was really good
and growing up during the war. Life of her life.” company and gave as good as she
was not easy: her father died when got in conversation. Even in her
she was six and her mother had to In addition to the Flower Guild, last days when Angus telephoned
work and look after Margaret and Margaret was a much-loved her and read the 23rd Psalm she
her younger brother. member of the Women’s Bible Study joined in - “she wasn’t up for much
Group (now Women’s Fellowship dawdling”.
“I got to know Margaret when she Group) which meets on Wednesday
joined the Flower Guild. She was mornings. On most Sundays she Several of the contributors to this
popular with us all, with her sense could be found preparing and collection of memories have ended
of humour and ability to fit in and serving the after-service coffees their piece, “May she rest in peace.”
help where needed. It was Margaret and teas in the Upper Hall. Tea As a good and faithful servant, who
who stepped into the shoes of and a chat were an important part “exercised her faith through hard
Elaine Rubli who had cleared the of Margaret’s life, whether it was work and dedication”, she surely
flowers each week for 30 years. I with the office team, the minister or deserves this.
think Margaret was happier working the congregation on a Sunday. She
backstage although she was well was also an active member of the Thanks to Jim Blackwood, Charlotte
able to put an arrangement together Fellowship Committee, and would Bradford, Marjorie MacHardy,
and liked to have something on what take on anything that needed doing Angus MacLeod, Susan Pym, Jill
she called ‘the dark window’ sill at when we were setting up the hall Steele and David Stewart.
the back of the Sanctuary. I was for a quiz.
immensely grateful as there were no
other offers! We did not always see She was delighted to be invited
eye to eye but any disagreement by Susan Pym to go with her to
was short-lived and ended with a Buckingham Palace to collect
hug. I miss her very much. a ceremonial wand for delivery,
4
Flowers for Easter
by Betsy Wilkie
Downstairs, to the right of the main King”, says it all:
door to my flat, is a little patch of Dear mother earth who day by day
ground I call my garden. I have unfolds God’s blessings on our
some pots of shrubs, but nothing way…All flowers and fruits that in
much will grow there because it is you grow, let them his glory also
heavily shaded by a pyracantha show.
hedge. It at least serves to shield
the windows of the lower flat The number of parks and gardens
from the main road. I have in the one can look at (on our permitted
past thrown some old bulbs, the walks) is astonishing. I found so
sort you get in little pots from the with flower borders, or little bunches many trees with blossom – cherry,
supermarket, into the jumble of ivy of flowers. Dinner services and chestnut, even a mulberry – just up
and periwinkle under the hedge, more particularly dessert services the road from where I live. The cherry
hoping that perhaps they might often had an abundance of flowers. in particular sent me back to re-look
grow. I was delighted to find, just In candlelight their tables must at another of my shelves where I
recently, two little clumps of tête- have looked stunningly beautiful have white porcelain decorated in
à-tête daffodils happily blooming with the garden brought indoors. the style of Chinese porcelain: in
there, promising springtime. The Chelsea factory, not far from China, porcelain blossoms on the
St Columba’s, painted really exotic tiny cups and saucers celebrate the
This set me thinking about other flowers and fruit on their dessert cherry tree season. Mine (above)
places where I have flowers. plates, which would provide for are not Chinese but English. The
During these past months when we discussion round the table. My decorators had clearly studied the
have not been able to see flowers porcelain shelves have certainly real twigs and flowers carefully,
in Church it seemed to me to be provided me with an abundance of as the twigs are marked like the
important to look for places where all sorts of flowers from the quite markings on the trunk and branches
we can at least picture them. ordinary to the unusual, but all of the cherry. These bring their own
bright and colourful in the darker beauty into my house.
Some of you already know that days of winter.
one of my enduring delights is my Next time you think, “Oh I do wish
collection of (mainly early) English Another place I looked for flowerswe could do flowers in church
porcelain. Very little on my shelf when thinking about this piece wasagain”, go and have a look around
is later than around 1770 and the the hymn book. Three hymns in your house. I suggest you will find
decoration on many of the pieces particular came to mind. flowers in all sorts of places, like I
is very typical of that period. One found those old bulbs blooming in
of my favourites is a Worcester Look at number 137, “All things amongst a jumble in the hedge.
porcelain pickle dish dated about bright and beautiful”:
1753 (right). About 3.5 inches long, Each little flower that opens… He
its flowers look like honeysuckle and made their glowing colours.
possibly freesia, and the outside And at number
is moulded like geranium leaves. 181, “For the
More usual examples are blue and beauty of the
white, with the colour under the earth”:
glaze so it is not destroyed by the Hill and vale and
acidity of the pickle, but this more tree and flower…
rare polychrome piece is painted in flowers of earth
enamels over the glaze and can’t and buds of
have been much used. It was a heaven
lucky find!
The middle verse
Flowers were clearly favourites of number 147,
among Georgian ladies who would “All creatures
serve tea and coffee in dainty cups of our God and
5
“He touched a multitude of lives”
A memoir of Dr Archibald Fleming
by his youngest granddaughter Janet Michalacopoulos
formed friendships with many of the several mischievous attempts to get
well-known figures of the day but, in him to put his hands in the non-
his own words, “Maybe I have had existent pockets, thereby amusing
more statesmen in my congregation herself greatly. She presented him
than most ministers, but that does with her Diamond Jubilee Medal in
not especially interest me. I have 1897. It was not the only time his
little time to spare for the wealthy haste landed him in trouble. Once
classes. I have an enormous in London he left his sermon behind
number of poor and lonely people to and had to set the congregation
concern myself with.” singing the 176 verses of Psalm119
Born in Perth on 27th December whilst he signalled to his son to run
1863 where his father was minister home and fetch it.
of St Paul’s, Archie read Divinity at There were other royal contacts.
Edinburgh as a second degree, later On the New Year’s Eve of 1908/9
being awarded DD, served nine he accepted an invitation as a
months as Assistant at St Cuthbert’s houseguest of the Bishop of
and was then ordained to the Parish Peterborough where fellow guests
of Newton in the Lammermuirs in were Princess Louise and her
1888. After nine years he accepted a husband, St Columba’s elder, the
Dr Fleming as a young man call to the Tron and in 1902 took the Duke of Argyll with whom Archie
brave decision to move his family to ‘stayed up late and had snapdragon’.
London to take on the charge of St Then there were the royal visitors
“Dr Archibald Fleming, whose name Columba’s from the retiring minister to St Columba’s: in 1923 the future
has become almost synonymous Dr Donald MacLeod, the present Edward VIII attended the dedication
with St Columba’s has passed on to minister’s great-grandfather. He of a memorial to Balfour of Burleigh
a greater glory.” With these words devoted the rest of his life to serving and in 1928 the future George VI
a newspaper reported his death on Scots in London from all walks of and Queen Elizabeth were present
2nd July 1941. Utterly devoted to the life, even acquiring from the Press for the unveiling of the memorial to
church since 1902 it was a blessing the nickname ‘Patriarch of London Earl Haig. Princess Louise, Duchess
that illness kept him from knowing of Scots’. of Argyll attended from time to time.
its destruction a few months earlier. A brilliant preacher, the young Vitally interested in every issue of
It is well nigh impossible to condense minister’s reputation soon spread: the day, friendships were forged
into a short article the 77 years of “His preaching is the happiest blend with many well-known public figures.
a life lived so fully: the little boy of simplicity and erudition, topical In 1923 the remains of Bonar Law
riding round Perth and the family without being partisan.” Word soon rested in St Columba’s before a
property of Inchyra on an unbroken reached royal ears. He was for many simple service and procession
Icelandic pony, following the Scots years invited to preach to the royal to Westminster Abbey where Dr
Greys and thereby earning himself families at Crathie, amongst them Fleming read the prayers. A year
the nickname of the “wee sodjer”; Queen Victoria (who once even before his own death, Archie was
the brilliant, prizewinning academic postponed his visit, learning it would back in the Abbey, reading the
career which gained him a place interrupt his honeymoon), Edward lesson at the memorial service for
at Edinburgh University aged only VII, George V and their families. his friend John Buchan who, with
16; the travelling across America After preaching to Queen Victoria at Balfour of Burleigh, Haig, Gordon
and Canada in 1880 by horse a private service in Balmoral he was Nairne, Governor of the Bank of
drawn conveyance and railroad; invited on more than one occasion England, the Earl of Stair, Lords
eschewing a planned career in law to dine with her afterwards. The Aberdeen and Amulree and the
and accepting the call to ministry trouble was he once left home in Duke of Argyll were all friends and
like his father, grandfather and such a hurry he arrived without elders but counted by him as no
great grandfather before him. The dress trousers. A tailor in the village more important than the many others
years ahead were to be taxing ran up a pair in time but, in the from all walks of life. They would at
but fulfilling. As the “wee sodjer” haste, had to omit pockets. Alerted times dine at the manse where lively
journeyed through life he met and to this, her Majesty apparently made conversations would take place with
6
“He touched a multitude of lives”
Continued
Archie being so involved he would, Scotland and he was a member of editor, W. E. Henley, the “Invictus”
to the annoyance of his children the RAF Chaplains’ Advisory Board. poet. Before moving to London his
waiting to leave the table, attempt It is not surprising that with all these Editorship of Life and Work brought
to eat his by now melted ice cream commitments plus his first concern him into contact with Rudyard
with a fork. – that of care for his congregation Kipling and J. M. Barrie. His skill
For all he enjoyed the company of – he turned down an invitation to be with the pen was put to good use in
these well known men, his loving Moderator in 1931. The warmth and starting the St Columba’s magazine
care of the lesser known was friendship St Columba’s extended thereby keeping far flung folk in
paramount. Often he would leave to wartime servicemen is well touch, and so well received was his
a meal half eaten if called upon for documented elsewhere. It is also not “fine enunciation and clearness of
help. Many were the ministers and surprising that labouring 16 hours a voice” that he was frequently called
parents of young Scots coming to day, 7 days a week, working into the upon to talk on the wireless. His
work in London (there were about small hours to reply to every letter talk on New Year’s Eve in 1922, the
600 in domestic service on the appealing for help or opinion, he first of many on the BBC, was one
church roll alone) who wrote asking periodically succumbed to nervous of the earliest religious broadcasts.
that a kindly eye be kept upon their exhaustion. His voice went out across the world,
loved ones. The congregation, Providing services familiar to his bringing Scots a longed for link with
widely scattered as it is today, exiled Scottish congregation was home.
posed a strain on visiting those in important to him yet whilst he was One wonders how he ever found
need so Archie must have been described as “a representative of time for his family and yet he did.
immensely grateful for the gift of a all that Presbyterianism stands for, He was a loving and much loved
motor car when he celebrated his maintaining its dignity ….. at the husband, father and grandfather,
first 25 years as a minister. A further same time he lived on terms of with a mischievous sense of
25 years passed and his Jubilee mutual confidence and respect with humour. Happy family photographs
was to be celebrated. He asked the leaders of other churches.” He show them on holidays in Europe,
that any funds raised be put into a was the first Church of Scotland at English seaside resorts and the
Trust to relieve want and distress. minister to preach in both St Paul’s summer visits to Speyside. He freely
It is still in operation today. To mark and Canterbury Cathedrals and admitted he could not have done the
the occasion he was presented was, with Mrs Fleming, a frequent work he did without the immense
with an illuminated manuscript visitor to Lambeth Palace, as they support of Mrs Fleming who
offering grateful thanks, signed by were close friends with Archbishops undertook endless visits and was
the elders including the fathers of Randall Davidson and Cosmo Lang, hostess to the enormous number
present day elders Stuart Steele both of whom, coincidentally, were of visitors to the Manse. The death
and Henry Sherriff. raised in Presbyterian families. of his older daughter Christian aged
His care for the church was not In 1923 he also preached in the only 28 was a terrible blow.
confined to St Columba’s and he Cathedral of St Pierre in Geneva Dr Fleming died on 2nd July
was particularly keen to support in connection with the League 1941. Unable to hold his memorial
smaller livings, devoting to them his of Nations. He was sufficiently service in the ruined church, the
wedding fees. He was often seen in interested in the Salvation Army for congregation and wider friends
Edinburgh on church business. He General Booth to issue him with a celebrated his life in St Martin-in
worked hard for union with the United personal invitation to the opening -the-Fields, a church with which
Free Church of Scotland, achieving of the Palais des Femmes in Paris he had been associated through
this in 1929. He was often Chaplain in 1928. He was decorated with the his friendship with Dick Sheppard.
to Moderators and on occasion to Serbian Order of St Sava in 1919 Tributes poured in, speaking of
the Lord High Commissioner. He (I would love to know why) and his magnetism, warmth and love
took an active interest in the work the Coronation Medal in 1937 for of his fellow human beings. It was
of the Royal Scottish Corporation community services. said then that Archibald Fleming
and Caledonian Schools. Over the A gifted raconteur, one newspaper, “touched a multitude of lives,
years he was Chaplain to the Royal on the news of his impending his touch was ever that touch of
Scots and the London Scottish (for retirement wrote, “He has moved healing, help and comfort”, which
which he earned the Territorial Long with genial ease in social and is just what he would have hoped
Service Medal), to the Knights of literary as well as religious circles.” it would be.
the Round Table, the Pilgrim Club, He wrote for the Observer through
to the Grand Lodge of Freemasons, which he became a friend of the
7
Sermon
Sermon preached at St Columba’s Pont Street by Revd Angus MacLeod
on Sunday 7th March, 2021 at 11am, 3rd Sunday of Lent
“The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus Holies, home to the Ark of the Covenant, Israel’s
went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found most sacred possession. The Holy of Holies, into
people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the which only the High Priest might enter, and he,
money changers seated at their tables. Making a only on the Day of Atonement. An architecture of
whip of cords, he drove them out of the temple, both faith, drawing the pilgrim into proximity to the divine
the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the – though a divinity quarantined, lest the pilgrims be
coins of the money changers and overturned their scorched by a face-to-face encounter.
tables. He told those who were selling the doves,
“Take these things out of here! Stop making my Into Jerusalem the annual pilgrims streamed
Father’s house a marketplace!” John 2 – up to 300,000. Into the Temple coffers poured
an avalanche of the world’s currencies. The
As a child I have a dim recollection of seeing a mighty religious edifice was also a money-making
black and white movie – possibly Citizen Kane (?) machine; sustained both by the offerings, and by
– and a scene where a grown up goes berserk in the annual Temple tax, collected throughout the
his study/office. land prior to the Passover festival. If pilgrims paid at
In a moment of anger or frustration he wrecks the Temple itself, they had to exchange their home
everything that is ordered. Great sweeps of currency for the special coinage of the Temple
tabletops, ornaments, papers, glass crashing to the – one that carried no graven image, the head of
ground. Bookcases and cabinets wrenched from king or god. Hence the need for moneychangers,
their settings, to leave the room as if a typhoon has whose tables lined the Court of the Gentiles. And
swept through it. I was astonished by this display because of the system of animal sacrifice, the
of destruction, but my mother, herself a trained need also for a ready supply of livestock – sheep,
actress, explained that the actor hadn’t really broken goats, birds. They could be purchased away from
real things – they would just be props. Despite this the Temple but wasn’t it more convenient to buy
lowering of the stakes involved, I couldn’t help but on site. Temple tax, currency exchange, sacrificial
think that it must be incredibly good fun to run amok purchase – a small empire of commerce had taken
like that…and get paid for it! [I await congregational root around the throne of a once wandering God.
responses – either to correct my film knowledge, or What was once the adventure of being led by the
to analyse my “disturbed childhood”.] fire and cloudy pillar had become this mayhem of
marketeering and religious rules.
The gospel today, the cleansing of the Temple, is God bought and sold?
not short of mayhem – though it is more than a
child’s delight in breaking glass. At the Feast of the When Jesus entered the Temple he was already
Passover pilgrims came from every known corner part of this story; presented there as a baby by
of the world; a great flood of humanity streaming shy new parents – blessed by Simeon and Anna;
towards the home of God on earth; Jerusalem’s returning on the cusp of manhood to sit and talk
Temple, their destination. Astonishingly grand, a with the wise minds of that place – and astonish
construction already 46 years in the crafting. On them with his own wisdom;
the high ground, of the city on a hill, its floor plan “Did you not know I must be about my Father’s
a dramatisation of Israel’s relationship to God. First business?” Jesus surely held a vision of what the
the Court of the Gentiles; open to non-Jews, god Temple, at its best, was intended to be; he longed
fearers drawn to the sacred sites. Next the Court for it to be true. Jerusalem, city of his ancestor
of the Women – self-explanatory, in a tradition that David, was the city he wept over; its Temple should
saw men and women worship separately. Then the have been a sanctuary, a light set upon a hill, a
Court of the Israelites, at which the thanksgivings house of prayer for all the nations, a thin place, his
and sacrificial offerings were received by the Father’s house.
priests. At its west end, the Temple proper. And at
the Temple’s west end, behind the veil, the Holy of So, the clearing of the courtyard takes place.
8
Sermon
continued
Spontaneous or premeditated, token gesture the most extraordinary children I have ever met.
or full spring clean – we don’t know. Whether it When teachers don’t turn up at his primary school
happened at the outset of Jesus’ ministry, as in the city of Taiz in Yemen, Ahmed stands in and
John records it or in the days of the Final Week, takes the class. Ahmed has been blind from birth.”
as the other gospels declare – that too is unsure. The televised report showed hundreds of children
But it represents a burning of the boats, there can arriving for lessons each day in the ruins of a school
be little turning back. Jesus goes to the heart of near to front-line fighting between the government
the nation’s religious-political establishment and and Houthi rebels. As the children themselves
declares it to be rotten. “Stop making my Father’s say: “We are in danger as we come to school and
house into a marketplace!” Later his disciples in danger as we leave school.” The report from
would remember Psalm 69:9 and attach a sense Yemen was aired in the same week that the UK
of prophetic fulfilment to this startling event: “Zeal Government reduced its aid budget to Yemen. Still
for your house will consume me.” Such a challenge too remote? Unimaginable? Not really our business?
to power and powerful men will not go unchecked. Though perhaps there is a bridge this year via our
This is part of the Christ we seek to follow – not just Lent Charity, Play for Progress, with its outreach
the Great Comforter, but also the great Unsettler. to unaccompanied minor refugees and asylum
As a nun once said to me: “May the peace of God seekers.
disturb you.”
“A prophetic thought claims its own future, it
From Irish priest and poet the late John O’Donohue’s awakens, disturbs and brings transformation.” The
Beauty: “A prophetic thought claims its own future, powerbrokers of the Temple are swift to push back
it awakens, disturbs and brings transformation.” In at the disturber in their midst:
the latest of Christopher Rowe’s film meditations “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus
from his parish of Colston Milton, one of the Church answered them: “Destroy this temple, and in three
of Scotland’s designated priority areas, his camera days I will raise it up.” “This temple has been under
takes the bus journey from bleak low-rise housing construction for forty-six years, and you will raise
estate to signs of Glasgow’s wealthy centre – a it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the
parable of sorts. Historically, the wealth of that city, temple of his body.
as with Bristol, or Liverpool or London, was fed by
the profits of the slave trade – an uncomfortable The gospel certainly asks us in this season of
awareness brought upon us much more in recent Lent what needs overturning? What fresh air/spirit
times, triggered in part by the prophetic thought/ is required for the sanctuaries of our churches or
action of the American footballer, Colin Kaepernick, communities; in our public squares and private
who in 2016 helped to launch a movement to hearts? It also draws us deeper towards the cross.
take a knee during the national anthem before Jesus’ rising up against vested interests will lead to
NFL games to protest racial inequality and police the Son of Man being raised/lifted up – crucified, for
brutality. His actions came at personal cost. He all to see, and all to fear. As says St. Paul: “The word
lost his work. He persevered. Subsequently, his of the cross is folly to those who are perishing but to
sports shoe sponsor created an advert, narrated us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” The
by Kaepernick: “Believe in something, even if it wisdom and power of God disclosed in the puzzling
means sacrificing everything.” foolishness and vulnerability of the cross – this is
our journey to Easter.
Monied sportsmen may leave us cold, especially
if their message is uncomfortable, but there are Amen
other prophets or prophetic actions that confront
us. Recently the BBC journalist Orla Guerin
tweeted: “What a smile - this is Ahmed Rageeb,
who is 9. In many years of travels he’s one of
9
The story of Judith
David Natzler wonders what’s in it for us
One of the few exhibitions last advised by the Moabites, captures in the spring nearby, and praying.
year which was open for long the springs on which Bethulia But on the fourth day she accepts
enough to pack people in was the depends for its water supply. As Holofernes’ pressing invitation to
Artemisia Gentileschi show at the the lack of water begins to bite a private banquet. She dresses
National Gallery. The Artemisia in the besieged town Uzziah, the up and lays out fleeces to recline
brand combines a shocking ruler of Bethulia announces that on. Holofernes, mad with lust,
personal narrative of rape by her if no help is forthcoming within drinks heavily. His eunuch Bagoas
instructor with her special talent for the next five days – implicitly and the other slaves leave, and
dramatic composition and colour, from Jehovah – they will have to Holofernes falls asleep, dead
in the manner of Caravaggio. surrender. drunk. Judith takes his sword
One of the most striking paintings hanging at the end of the bed
in the show was of Judith, clothed This arouses the wrath of the young and with two strokes decapitates
in an electric dark blue, in the act and prosperous widow Judith, who him. She calls her servant and the
of decapitating Holofernes. Her declares that they cannot impose head of Holofernes is placed in
sleeves are rolled up to expose deadlines on God. She asks that the empty food bag.
her strong forearms; blood stains she and her maid be let out of the
the sheets of his bed. A few city and affirms that within the five Judith and her maid leave the
years ago I saw a later version day period “the Lord will deliver camp and reach Bethulia. Judith
she painted, now in Naples: it is Israel by my hand”. Shedding her tells her story, insisting that
uncomfortably memorable. widow’s weeds, she puts on her Holofernes “committed no act
best garments and anoints herself of sin with her”, and advises the
Who was Judith (or Judit or with perfume. She gives the maid Bethulians to hang out his head
Yehudit, meaning Jewess)? a bottle of wine and a flask of oil on the walls, and to gather outside
She is a larger than life figure, and fills a bag with parched grain the city fully armed for battle. The
like the Old Testament Jewish and a cake of dried fruit and fine Assyrians are roused, find the
heroines Deborah and Esther or bread. Wrapping them up with her headless torso of their general in
the villainous Salome or Delilah. vessels she gives them all to the his tent, and flee in terror, pursued
But unlike them she is relegated maid to carry, and out of the gate by the Israelites and others. Judith
in the Protestant tradition to the they go. is given some of the rich plunder,
Apocrypha. The Book of Judith which she gives to the Temple in
was probably written in Greek, The two are picked up by an Jerusalem, and she gives thanks
around 125 BC, in Alexandria. Assyrian patrol. Judith tells in a hymn of praise. She lives on as
It is not long: Jerome recounts them that she will show a way to an honoured citizen to the ripe old
that it took a short night’s work to capture the town. She is taken to age of 105; she does not remarry;
translate into Latin. I think the tale Holofernes, to whom she spins and she sets the (presumably
bears re-telling. the story that she has left because enslaved) maid free.
of her disgust that the people of
The story starts with Bethulia have started eating the Artemisia was not the first or last
Nebuchadnezzar King of Assyria food reserved for the Temple. painter to illustrate, more than
vowing to take his revenge on the She offers to lead him through once, this richly textured tale of
peoples of the Levant, including Judaea to capture Jerusalem. He a heroine of national struggle.
the Israelites, because they is bowled over as much it seems Caravaggio portrayed Judith as a
have refused to help him in his by her person as by her offer of rather slight young woman with a
campaign against Artaxerxes or help, and she is allowed to stay in sword and Holofernes awakening
A, King of the Medes. He orders the camp. from inebriation into screaming
his chief general Holofernes to consciousness. Mantegna and
undertake a punitive expedition. For the next three days and nights Michelangelo showed the placing
When the peoples of Judaea Judith stays in the Assyrian camp, of Holofernes’ head in the bag:
hear of this they take steps to eating from the supplies she in Botticelli the maid carries the
fortify their strongholds, including has brought rather than with the bag on her own head. The Prado
the town of Bethulia. Holofernes, Assyrians, bathing each evening in Madrid has a Rembrandt (or
10The story of Judith
continued
Rembrandtesque) picture of angry at the idea that God is man, to be threatened, nor like a
Judith/Saskia as a gorgeously being given five days to save human being, to be won over by
arrayed and plump lady at the them or they will surrender. She pleading. Therefore, while we wait
banquet, seated and facing the berates them: “Who are you, that for his deliverance, let us call upon
viewer. In Vienna two years ago have put God to the test this day him to help us, and he will hear our
we saw Cranach’s tight-lipped and are setting yourselves up in voice, if it pleases him.” That is
blonde Judith resting her sword the place of God among the sons to me a prophetic voice: and one
on the severed head: Judith of men? You are putting the Lord we should heed in our times of
was heroized by Luther and almighty to the test – but you will trial. God is not to be browbeaten
Zwingli and became an image never know anything! You cannot or timetabled or scheduled. And
of righteous tyrannicide for plumb the depths of the human not all our prayers are answered,
Protestants and Catholics alike. heart, nor find out what a man certainly not within the timescales
Donatello’s sculpture in Florence is thinking; how do you expect we select. Judith risked direct and
shows Holofernes cowering at to search out God, who made all violent action rather than waiting
the feet of Judith, who has a these things, and find out his mind passively for rescue. A bloody
raised scimitar in her hand. And or comprehend his thought….Do parable to be sure, but a weighty
Klimt painted her, inevitably, as a not try to bind the purposes of the one.
femme fatale. Lord our God; for God is not like
The story has attracted countless
authors and playwrights and film-
makers. For example, the remains
of a long Anglo-Saxon poem on
Judith is bound up with Beowulf
in the British Library’s Nowell
Codex. Vivaldi’s only surviving
oratorio Juditha Triumphans can
be found on YouTube, recorded
in Brixen in South Tirol. So can
Mozart’s La Betulia Liberata,
never performed in his lifetime.
But what if anything is the
significance of the story? Is it just
a fable deservedly winnowed out
of the canonical Old Testament?
There seems to be little by way
of moral teaching. The book of
Judith is associated in Jewish
practice with Hanukkah and
eating cheese-based dishes, on
the basis that it was Judith’s offer
of salty cheese to Holofernes
which made him drink so much.
But one can see that it has no
great claim to be in the canonical
Bible. There is no obvious
Christian or ethical content. Artemisia Gentileschi,
Judith Slaying Holofernes,
Except for one thing. Judith is Museo Capodimonte Naples
11Desert Island Discs
… and today’s castaway is David Stewart
In early October – falling in the ‘new 25 years in Cardiff as student and embarrassed I was not aware of
calendar’ somewhere between young lawyer developed a love for it before. It is the most compelling
the first and second lockdown – I this wonderful hymn. It is ever so new piece of music I have come
managed to escape Greater London Welsh - being written by William across in a very long time. On
for a couple of enjoyable weeks Williams of Pontypridd. Simply YouTube, dozens have posted
in ‘God’s own province’. On the penning the title words brings back to say they find it therapeutic and
second Saturday I had lunch with a (I’m not ashamed to say) slightly consoling, especially after the loss
cricket friend who until quite recently moving memories of it being of a loved one.
sat on an important Committee of performed at Cardiff Arms Park
the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. – now the Millennium Stadium – by 5. ‘Nessun Dorma’
(I am reminded that Philip is the the likes of Morriston Orpheus and A few years ago, on a long-haul
son of a Presbyterian minister who, Treorchy Male voice; both among flight back from one of the winter
after being widowed, remarried in… the very best of Wales’ choral cricket tours, I stumbled upon a
Pont Street!) tradition. When I get round to setting biographical film of Pavarotti. The
Over dessert, I suggested attending out wishes for my own funeral, this Director knew what he was doing:
his church for morning service the will be the first entry. it finished with a Verona open-
following day. With an enigmatic air concert where the encore,
smile he told me he no longer 2. ‘Danny Boy’, of course, was this. Admittedly
attended there because he had set to Londonderry Air fortified by little wine, I rewound
grown weary with some of the At a very dark time for Northern at least half a dozen times just to
‘’fundamentalist’’ style sermons, and Ireland, two outstanding hear the great man reaching once
not being comfortable attending one sportspeople kept morale afloat more for that concluding high note,
of the neighbouring Presbyterian amongst many of the population: the thought bubble above my head
congregations, had started going Dame Mary Peters, as she is now; – as I ‘conducted’ – going, “Hit it,
to the oldest Anglican Church in and Barry McGuigan. The boxer’s Luciano”.
the city – St George’s: “The best father had been a professional
singing in Belfast.” Accordingly, singer, and before some title 6. ‘Edelweiss’
the following day I went along. He fights he would give this a decent The last number written by Rodgers
was correct about the quality of rendering from the ring. and Hammerstein. Another
the choir’s efforts. As is my habit, The Welsh have a great word: evocation of younger days. Like
when departing I gathered up any hiraeth. It translates as ‘longing’, and many children in the 1960s, Mum
magazines and leaflets which can usefully be applied to what an and Dad took us to see the Sound of
looked interesting from a historical exile misses about their homeland Music – a Belfast cinema, 25 miles
perspective. - think Andy Stewart and ‘Scottish away, was the closest we had.
The latest edition contained an Soldier’, perhaps; a favourite from Christopher Plummer, in the role of
article from their retired organist my own childhood days. Captain von Trapp, sings this at the
and choirmaster – a gentleman of end of the film, thinking he may not
most senior vintage, who has been 3. ‘Suspicious Minds’ see his Austrian homeland again
involved in the music of his church ‘’We’re caught in a trap, I can’t walk – more hiraeth. BBC 2 showed it
for more than 60 years. His piece out...’’ again over the Christmas period;
was under the same heading as It was only recently I discovered that both tune and lyrics still ‘get me’!
this one, which inspired the thought the twin inspirations for the ‘King of
to ‘copycat’. I pitched the idea to our Rock and Roll’ were gospel music 7. ‘Desperado’
editor, suggesting it could become and Negro spirituals. As a very I’m not much up for big commercial
quite an intriguing series with small boy, Elvis would walk to the concerts. About a dozen years ago,
different St Columba’s members front of the family church in Tupelo, I was a late replacement at the new
contributing. In her typically and try to join in with the choir. Like Arsenal football stadium for Bruce
persuasive manner, I received a so many of the very talented ones, Springsteen and the E Street Band
response along the lines of, “Why his candle burnt out long before on a hot summer Saturday. That
don’t you go first…” what should have been his time. was someone else’s initiative.
So, whilst my musical hinterland The last one of my own doing
is but a fraction of what the old 4. ‘Benedictus’ by was Wembley in 2019, when my
gentleman in Belfast could offer, Sir Karl Jenkins favourite band were on tour again.
here goes: During the lockdown (first, second “Dinosaurs leave big footprints”
and third) putting on Classic FM at said Don Henley, when introducing
1. ‘Guide me, bedtime has become a routine. It the Eagles’ set. This number brings
O thou great Redeemer’ introduced me to this; I am almost back a warm reminder of wearing
12Desert Island Discs
continued
out a friend’s LP (remember them!) It is ideal that the radio programme A luxury item? Given my interest
in the study at school. gives us the Holy Bible and in military history, some sort of
the collected works of William electronic device (solar powered,
Shakespeare. In life’s present perhaps) uploaded with the World at
8. ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ setting, I doubt I will get through War series - produced by Glasgow
If you played rugby, however badly, them from cover to cover, but Academy’s Jeremy Isaacs - would
you always had to have a ‘party it would certainly be one of the nicely complement my reading.
piece’ handy for the bar afterwards, consolations of my desert island Finally, I have to select one music
or the bus on the way back from an habitation to have the opportunity. item from the treasure trove listed
away fixture. This was mine. As for a third book, when I posed above, to have with me on the
Notable that it is another one from this question some years ago to island. That is fairly easy. The
southern USA, the so-called ‘Bible a former colleague in Cardiff, he fabulous hymn at the start links
belt’ where so many Ulster-Scots selected Seven Pillars of Wisdom church, rugby football and a happy
settled. A little research reveals that by T.E. Lawrence. I’ve not come extended period living in South
Glen’s mother was the Campbell; across anything in the intervening Wales.
his father (he was the seventh of 12 period which strikes me as being
children) was a sharecropper, called more appealing. Over to you, now, to volunteer your
John Wesley! own thoughts to our hopeful editor.
Songs of the Isles
Play for Progress - Lent Appeal 2021
On February 21st, the first Sunday Anna writes: To donate to the Lent Appeal
in Lent, Dr Anna MacDonald gave “Play for Progress delivers Bank details: (Please use “Lent Appeal”
a talk during the live-streamed therapeutic and educational as the payment reference)
service. Anna is the Co-Founder of music and arts programmes for Royal bank of Scotland
Play for Progress, founded in 2014 traumatised and socially-isolated Account number 00264741
and registered as a charity in 2016. unaccompanied minor refugees. Sort Code 16 00 42
The church may have been almost Our weekly Croydon-based Cheques payable to “St. Columba’s
empty but that meant all the more programme is available to the Church of Scotland” (with a note that it
room for the Lent Appeal tree in a hundreds of unaccompanied minor is for the Lent Appeal) should be sent
new and prominent position on the refugees and asylum seekers who to:
chancel steps. are associated with the Refugee Finance Dept. (Lent Appeal)
Council UK’s Children’s Section and St. Columba’s Church
Although Anna worked for many guarantees that these vulnerable Pont Street
years as a doctor, her family is young people can rely on a close- London SW1X 0BD
from Skye and the strong pull of her knit and resilient community of If eligible, Gift Aid greatly helps.
lifelong memories of music making mutually-trusting citizens of the
in the ceilidh tradition encouraged world, who learn from and celebrate
her to change direction, turning each other at every opportunity,
from medicine to studying and and who use music and creative
performing the music of her cultural play as a tool for social change,
roots, and to caring for people in a self-expression, team building, and
different way. “Kurdish boys love to personal development.”
drum!” says Anna. Children helped
by the charity come from many Find much more detail on Play for
places – Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Progress in the weekly newsletter.
Sudan, Vietnam, Eritrea, Somalia: We also look forward to welcoming
for all of them, the healing power of Anna to speak to us again on
their own soul music is a keystone Sunday 28th March, Palm Sunday.
for the help they receive.
13Baptisms Marriages Deaths
BAPTISMS
“Suffer the little children to come unto me”
MARRIAGES
“Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it”
DEATHS
“Blessed are they that die in the Lord”
26th January Margaret Brown, London, W2
February William Miller, London, SE12
Flowers at a service of thanksgiving for the
life of Margaret Brown, live-streamed from
St Columba’s on Thursday 18th March 2021
Take out a
magazine subscription
For information,
please contact the Church Office
St Columba’s Church Office, Pont Street, London SW1X 0BD
14Church Diary:
28th March to 6th June 2021
At the time of publishing we are live streaming via our
website www.stcolumbas.org/livestream.
Please keep in touch with the Church Office or
website to check if services may be attended in person.
28th March 11.00am Morning Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
1st April 8.00pm Maundy Thursday Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
2nd April 11.00am Good Friday Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
4th April 11.00am Easter Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
11th April 11.00am Morning Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
18th April 11.00am Morning Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
25th April 11.00am Morning Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
2nd May 11.00am Morning Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
9th May 11.00am Morning Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
16th May 11.00am Morning Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
23rd May 11.00am Morning Service
Revd Forbes Walker
30th May 11.00am Morning Service
Revd Forsbes Walker
6th June 11.00am Morning Service
Revd Angus MacLeod MA BD
15Prayer
Easter Reflection
Where have you gone, Lord?
Where have we put you?
Into tight spaces
where we can contain you.
Within the confines of our limitations
where we can control you.
Inside four walls where we feel safe.
Where have you gone, Lord?
Where have we put you?
Into rule books
where we can claim to understand you.
Inside our churches
where we can claim ownership of you.
Into creeds tailored to the chosen
where we can rest easy.
Where have you gone, Lord?
Where have we put you?
Not, surely, in a garden
where you have free rein
to walk among weeds and risk getting dirty?
Not, surely, where women weep
and wonder at their foolishness?
Not, surely, where we lie weakened
through pushing stones
to keep you where we want you?
Where have you gone, Lord?
Where have we put you?
Forgive us.
Rescue us.
Set us free.
(From Spill the Beans)
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