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Saint Andrew's Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem

 
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michaeldr



Joined: 25 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:26 am    Post subject: Saint Andrew's Scots Memorial Church, Jerusalem Reply with quote

Saint Andrew's Scottish Church, Jerusalem

[from http://www.scotsguesthouse.com/ ]
"…One writer describes St Andrew's as follows: The clean, plain lines of St. Andrews Scots Memorial Church and Hospice standing on the edge of the Valley of Hinnom evoke images of a Highland castle and keep.
This is appropriate since the church was built as a memorial to Scottish soldiers who fell fighting in this region during World War I. The church was built in 1927 to the design of Clifford Holliday. The large, Crusader-style windows in the sanctuary use small, round panels of blue Hebron glass… … …
The reason it came about was as recognition for the price paid in human lives by a disproportionate number of men from the Scottish regiments, which played such a prominent role in the Palestine campaign.
Back in Scotland the feeling grew that there should be some fitting memorial and in January 1918, not long after the capture of Jerusalem, Ninian Hill, a ship owner and Kirk elder from Edinburgh, proposed that a Scottish Church should be built in Jerusalem to act as a war memorial.
This gained widespread support and the money was raised through a nationwide campaign; and on May 7th 1927, the now Field Marshall Lord Allenby laid the foundation stone (which can still be seen outside, at the corner of the steps) on a lofty site across the Hinnom Valley, from Mount Zion.
The Church, with its accompanying Hospice, was dedicated in 1930, with Ninian Hill being introduced as the first minister of the Church… …"

The photograph below shows St. Andrew's Scots Memorial Church in July 1940, ten years after it was opened.

[from a collection at the LoC (USA)]
[/img]


Last edited by michaeldr on Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:01 am; edited 2 times in total
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michaeldr



Joined: 25 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Today it is much the same

Note the flight of steps up to the door beneath the tower, and at the foot of those steps, the foundation stone laid by FM Lord Allenby in 1927.

On a weekday visit the normal entrance is through the Guest House, which is that portion of the building to the right of the tower. From the lobby, turn left into a reception room where there is large portrait of Lord Allenby on the wall facing you.
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michaeldr



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Go through the door which is just to the right of the Allenby portrait and climb the stairs. On leaving the staircase, but before going into the church itself, there is a small, quite dark entrance passage. Here, above a table holding literature is a memorial 'Sacred to the memory of' two Captains of the Black Watch who died in WWII.
Capt. Alistair Hamilton, only son of Brigadier-General J.C.H. Hamilton of Skene, and
Capt. Mungo Sterling MC., only surviving son of Colonel Sir George Stirling Bt., of Glorat
"They worshipped together in this church November 1937 – June 1940
And of their comrades in The Black Watch who served with them in Jerusalem
And gave their lives in the Great War 1939-1945
'All the trumpets sounded on the Other Side'
"
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michaeldr



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Facing the above memorial is the door into the church itself. On entering the church and turning left to look up the nave, one has this view


Looking back down the nave from the altar steps, this view


Last edited by michaeldr on Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:51 pm; edited 2 times in total
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michaeldr



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The poppy wreath was laid on 11th November 2009 by Her Britannic Majesty's Consul-General in Jerusalem

and it hangs beneath the 52nd Lowland Division's memorial to their dead of the Great War 1914-1919

On the walls to the right and the left are two further memorials: to The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of 1916-1918, 1939-1945 and 1945-1948

and to all the armed forces and the police "who worshipped here and gave their lives in the Second World War and during the British Mandate 1920-1948."


Last edited by michaeldr on Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:48 am; edited 1 time in total
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michaeldr



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

One further wall plaque is a memorial to The London Scottish Regiment 1917-1918
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michaeldr



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Near the altar are two memorial stones set into the floor of the church. One is to the fallen of 1918, who were from the 1st Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders


and the second is in memory of the fallen of The Black Watch 1917-1918


Last edited by michaeldr on Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:52 pm; edited 1 time in total
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michaeldr



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Earlier, reference was made to the large Crusader-style windows in the sanctuary which use small panels of blue Hebron glass. One of these windows is dedicated to The Tyneside Scottish Brigade.



Last edited by michaeldr on Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:05 am; edited 2 times in total
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michaeldr



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Although not specifically war related, there are three further memorials which are worthy of mention. One inside the church refers to a King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce


And two, which are situated in the garden of the Guest House, refer to Honorary Scots; faithful friends and guardians, 'Rab' and 'Bruce'
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michaeldr



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PostPosted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Finally, another couple of exterior views of the Church;
the first was taken from the steps of the Mount Zion Hotel. [Before the First World War this latter building had been the Ophthalmic Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and something of its Great War history can be read here http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=107205&hl]


and the second was taken from near the Jaffa Gate (where the victorious General Allenby entered the Old City of Jerusalem on foot, in December 1917)
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