Was it a divine hand or mere coincidence that led Reverend Francis Gordon to conduct Presbyterian services in Brussels? The story of Saint Andrew’s Church begins long before its physical structure took shape.
Saint Andrew’s Church stands as a testament to faith and remembrance. It is located on the corner of Chaussée de Vleurgat and Rue Buchholtz in Ixelles. This church is not just a place of worship. It is a living symbol of Scottish presence in Belgium.
In 1830 a Presbyterian Scots Kirk emerged in Belgium. Reverend Charles Siveright was its first minister. However records of this church disappeared after the Belgian Revolution. Almost seventy years later, in 1898, Reverend Francis Gordon revived the Presbyterian spirit. He held services in various locations across Brussels. For 27 years the congregation moved from place to place. Reverend George R.S. Reid succeeded Gordon in 1899. That year 150 people attended a congregational meeting.
The year 1900 marked a turning point. The first Elders were ordained and the Kirk Session was established. A special fund was created to build a permanent church. Also in 1900 the Brussels congregation joined the Church of Scotland Presbytery of Edinburgh. Today Saint Andrew’s Church is part of the Church of Scotland’s International Presbytery.
The present Saint Andrew’s Church building was erected in 1925. It serves as a poignant memorial. It honors the Scottish soldiers who lost their lives in Belgium during World War I. The church can accommodate 200 people. The architects J. Waddell and T. Young from Glasgow and Walthère Michel designed it in English neo-Gothic style.
Notably, the area around Saint Andrew’s Church boasts distinctive early 20th-century Art Nouveau houses. The home of architect Victor Horta is nearby. The church’s facade faces both Buchholtz Street and Vleurgatsesteenweg. It is made of white stone on a hard stone base. The rear facade uses ‘Paepesteen’ brick. Pointed arch windows with tracery adorn the structure. The main body of the church has a slate gable roof.
Inside, the walls are adorned with imitation stone plaster. Stone arches and Euville stone columns add to the interior’s grandeur. To the right of the chancel, an organ built by the Joris family of Ronse stood until 1963. It was then replaced with an electric organ. The old organ pipes were preserved. The basement houses a hall and classroom. Stained glass windows add color. Some are signed by Alph. Struelens.
Saint Andrew’s Church has grown significantly. This is due to the UK’s entry into the Common Market in 1973. Also many international organizations like the EU and NATO are located in Brussels. In 2013, the congregation was very multinational. It represented over 30 nationalities with many people from the UK and Ghana.
Since 2004, Reverend Dr. Andrew Gardner has led Saint Andrew’s Church. He continues the legacy of those who came before him.
Saint Andrew’s Church stands not only as a place of worship. It is a vibrant community. It is a landmark. It is a memorial. It embodies the enduring connections between Scotland and Belgium. As you leave Saint Andrew’s Church consider the layers of history within its walls. Think about the people who built and sustained this beacon of faith.