Standing right here, on the corner of Pont Street, you are looking at a unique and special place: Saint Columba’s Church. This is one of the two London congregations of the Church of Scotland, and it doesn’t look like any other church. There’s a good reason for that: it was designed by Sir Edward Maufe, the same architect who designed Guildford Cathedral. But the original church was destroyed in a bombing raid in 1941, right in the middle of World War II. So the current building is a reconstruction, built in 1955. The original St Columba’s Church was built in 1884. Imagine the congregation arriving for service on a sunny Sunday morning, only to find their beloved church in ruins. But they were resilient. They rebuilt, and they thrived.
Today, St Columba’s is a vibrant and welcoming hub for the Scottish community in London. The building is a modern one, a little cold and sterile. But it has warm heart.
It is also home to a London Reels dance society that meets at St Columba’s once a month from September to June to dance Highland Reels. It’s a place of activity, a place of peace, and a place of prayer. All are welcome. Saint Columba, the famous saint from Ulster, would be proud.