Blackhall St Columba's Church

 Blackhall St. Columba's Church was born on 4th March 1900, today a beautiful yet simple building exuding an air of calm and tranquility beside a busy main road. The creation of this wonderful place of worship was made possible through the efforts and generosity of the minister and congregation of Cramond Parish Church. Why Cramond? Blackhall lay partly within the Cramond Parish boundary and was in the process of being developed as a suburb of Edinburgh. The original church was of the old "iron church design" and its rapidly growing congregation soon rendered it too small for its needs. The result? Plans for a new church were drawn up in 1902 by Glasgow architect, a Mr P MacGregor, a gentleman who had connections with Iona Abbey Church. It is no surprise, then, that the design of Blackhall St. Columba's bore more than a passing resemblance to Iona. Building began in 1903, the new church dedicated on 28th May 1904.
But once again, the congregation soon outgrew the church.
The plans had been for a church to seat 500 people. They had, however, included the possibility of adding an extension to accommodate 900 if necessary. And it was. The district continued to expand, and the early 1930s saw the addition of the south aisle, session room, gallery and choir room, all dedicated in 1935. And if you look in the wall at the foot of the south aisle, close to the vestry door, you will see a large piece of stone from Iona Abbey Church. Set in the wall outside the session room is another piece showing a Celtic Cross. At various places within the church and vestibule you can spot texts from the Bible carved into the stone walls. Read them and reflect .....
One of my favourite features of this church is the decorative stone font, situated in the north aisle, bearing the inscription "Suffer the little ones to come unto me." On top of this font stands the Cross of Monte Cassino. Made by a soldier during World War II for a "tented church" it was brought to St. Columba's by an army chaplain. It's longer than normal crossbar bears witness to the style of cross more often associated with the marking of a soldier's grave. The organ, too, is of great historical significance. Purchased from Greyfriars Kirk in 1932, it had been built by David Hamilton in 1865 and was reputed to have been the very first organ ever to have been used in the Church of Scotland. So this makes it the original "kist fu' o' whistles". What a wonderfully musical phrase, almost echoing the sound of this superb instrument. Patched up over the years and reaching the end of its playing career, it was decided, in 2002, to investigate options for replacement or refurbishment. Hence the new organ, built by Sandy Edmonstone of Forteviot, in a case designed by Derek Watson-Griggs, was dedicated on 10th September 2006. It is truly beautiful to behold. And, I am told, equally as amazing to hear in full flow.
Also stunning, again in a simplistic way, are the seven stained glass windows. Six were donated by the Croall family as a memorial to Robert Croall of Craigcrook Castle who passed away in 1898. The two windows in the apse represent Bread and Wine, echoed in the carving along the top edge of the communion table. The three windows above the arch depict the Crucifixion, whilst the sixth, in the north aisle, shows Mary with the baby Jesus. The final window, situated in the vestibule, is an abstract depiction of Christ. This was designed by a Japanese stained glass artist, Yoshiro Oyama, living in Blackhall, who generously gifted the window to the congregation in 2004. I could go on forever about this delightful church, the lectern falls telling of Noah and his sending of the dove from the Ark, the pulpit falls which change with the seasons of the Church, the wall hangings, the embroidered outline of the Church - but I won't. Go to St. Columba's yourself and see this jewel in the crown of the Church of Scotland.