St Andrew's Church, Jerusalem: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:56, 27 September 2006

Latest revision as of 11:36, 13 July 2025

(129 intermediate revisions by 82 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|Scottish church in Jerusalem, Israel}}

'''St Andrew’s Church, Jerusalem''', was built as a memorial to the Scottish soldiers who died in the region during [[World War I]]. It is a congregation of the [[Church of Scotland]]. The foundation stone was laid by [[Allenby|Field Marshal Lord Allenby]] on 7th May [[1927]] and the church was opened in [[1930]]. Services are held every Sunday and there is a guest house providing accommodation for visitors. The current minister (since 2006) is the Reverend Jane Barron, formerly minister at [[Stobswell Church, Dundee]] in Scotland.

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

[[CategoryFile:ChurchesSt.Andrew's church in Jerusalem.JPG|Saintthumb|St. Andrew's Church, [[Jerusalem]], [[Israel]]]]

[[File:PikiWiki Israel 52000 the scottish church front.jpg|thumb|Entrance of the church]]

'''St Andrew's Church''', also known as the '''Scots Memorial Church''', is a church in [[Jerusalem]], [[Israel]], built as a memorial to the Scottish soldiers who were killed fighting the [[Ottoman Army (1861–1922)|Turkish Army]] during the [[Sinai and Palestine campaign]] of [[World War I]], bringing to an end [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule over [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]]. It is a [[Presbyterianism#Scotland|congregation presbyterian]] of the [[Church of Scotland]].

As with [[Judaism]] and [[Islam]], the City of [[Jerusalem]] is of special significance to [[Christianity]]. The first Scottish missions to the [[Galilee]] started in the mid 19th century, and for the next 100 years Scottish Presbyterians were actively engaged in the fields of education and medicine. Psalm 122 is invariably sung every year at the [[General Assembly of the Church of Scotland]] held in [[Edinburgh]] every May:

==History==

"Pray that Jerusalem may have<br>

[[File:ירושלים - חנייה ליד שער יפו.-JNF034682.jpeg|thumb|View of St Andrew’s from [[Jaffa Gate]], 1925]]

peace and felicity:<br>

let them that love you and your peace<br>

still have prosperity."<br>

''(first verse of Hymn 82 in the Church of Scotland hymnary, fourth edition)''

===British Mandate period===

Following [[World War I]], the [[British Mandate in Palestine]] lasted until [[1948]]. This substantially increased the number of Scots living and working in [[Jerusalem]]. Following the end of the British mandate and the establishment of the [[State of Israel]], the number of Scots working in [[Jerusalem]] dropped drastically. The church’s prominent ___location on the Jerusalem skyline also proved a difficulty, given that it found itself very near to the ‘Green Line’ politically dividing Jerusalem and cut off from the Christian community in the Old City. The building still bears marks from fighting during the [[Six Day War]] of [[1967]].

One of the main campaigners for the memorial church was Ninian Hill, an Edinburgh shipowner and [[Church elder]]. The foundation stone was laid by [[Field Marshal Lord Allenby]] on 7 May 1927 and the church was opened in 1930 with Ninian Hill as its first minister.

The Church was much used by Scots serving in the [[Mandate administration]] and soldiers serving with [[Scottish Regiments]] stationed in [[Mandate Palestine|Palestine during the Mandate]], [[Mandatory Palestine#World War II|including the Second World War]].<ref name=Road>Kernohan, R.D., ''The Road to Zion: Travellers to Palestine and the Land of Israel''. 1994. {{ISBN|0-8028-0889-1}}. pages 138,139.</ref>

With an increase in Christian visitors to [[Jerusalem]], the church and its guest house started to cater for more visitors. In recent years, the [[Church of Scotland]], both through its local congregation at St Andrew’s and thorough its World Mission Council, has become conscious of the need not only to minister to pilgrims from overseas, but also to promote reconciliation and engage more fully with the peoples and problems of this troubled land. The church and guest house can be contacted at St Andrew's Scottish Guest House, PO Box 8619, 1 David Remez Street, Jerusalem 91086. [http://www.scotsguesthouse.com/ External link]

===Wars: 1947–1948, 1967===

The [[Church of Scotland]] also has other facilities nearby – notably Tabeetha School (an English language school at [[Jaffa]] where Christian, Jewish and Muslim children are all welcome) and the recently (and – due to the cost – controversially) refurbished Church of Scotland Centre and Scots Hotel at [[Tiberias]]. [http://www.scotshotels.co.il/ External link]

After the outbreak of [[1947–1949 Palestine war|hostilities in 1948]], the church was on the front line. The fighting firstly took place between Jewish forces in [[West Jerusalem]] and Arab irregulars in the [[Old City (Jerusalem)|Old City]], later between the [[Jordanian Arab Legion]] soldiers and the [[Israeli army]]. The church holds a prominent ___location near what became the front line. The minister, [[William Clark Kerr]], remained in the Church throughout this period, ringing the church bell and conducting Sunday services. In one cable to Edinburgh he wrote: "All night battle round the building... [[Saltire|St Andrew's Cross]] (flag) on both church and [[manse]]. If that is not enough will try [[Rampant Lion]]."<ref name=Road/>

[[File:Interior of St Andrew's Church, Jerusalem.jpg|thumb|Interior, St. Andrew's Church]]

The building still bears marks from fighting during the [[Six-Day War]] of 1967.

[St. Andrew's Church:[http://www.jerusalem.muni.il/imagedb/3189982925.jpg]]

==Scottish missions and presence==

As with [[Judaism]] and [[Islam]], the City of [[Jerusalem]] is of special significance to [[Christianity]]. The first Scottish missions to the [[Galilee]] started in the mid 19th century, and for the next 100 years [[Presbyterianism#Scotland|Scottish Presbyterians]] were actively engaged in the fields of education and medicine. [[Psalm 122]] is invariably sung every yearMay at the [[General Assembly of the Church of Scotland]] held in [[Edinburgh]] every May:

:"Pray that Jerusalem may have<br>

:peace and felicity:<br>

:let them that love you and your peace<br>

:still have prosperity."<br>

:''(first verse of Hymn 82 in the Church of Scotland hymnary, fourth edition)''

Following [[World War I]], the [[Mandate for Palestine|British Mandate in Palestine]] lasted until [[1948]]. This substantially increased the number of Scots living and working in [[Jerusalem]]. Following the end of the British mandate and the establishment of the [[State of Israel]], the number of Scots working in [[Jerusalem]] dropped drastically. The church’s prominentchurch's ___location on the Jerusalem skyline also proved a difficulty, given that it found itself very near to the ‘Green'[[Green Line’Line (Israel)|Green Line]]' politically dividing Jerusalem and, cut it off from the Christian community in the Old City. The building still bears marks from fighting during the [[Six Day War]] of [[1967]].

==Present==

The current Minister {{as of|2022}} is Rev. Dr Stewart Gillan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us {{!}} St Andrews Jerusalem & Tiberias {{!}} Worship {{!}} Concerts {{!}} Israel & Palestine |url=https://www.standrewsjerusalem.org/about-us |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=St Andrews Jerusalem |language=en}}</ref>

The church is open for services on Sundays and runs a hotel/guesthouse.<ref>[http://www.scotsguesthouse.com/ Scots House Hotel], {{aka}} the Scots or Scottish Guesthouse. Re-accessed 30 Nov 2021.</ref>

According to the preeminent biblical scholar [[James Tabor|Dr. James D. Tabor]], St. Andrews Church could possibly be the site of the historical ''Golgotha'' where Jesus Christ was crucified two thousand years ago.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS2Q1Q4-zUE |title=Is the Holiest Site of Christianity in the Wrong Location? |date=2023-11-11 |last=James Tabor |access-date=2024-08-02 |via=YouTube}} Go to 41:46 in the video to hear Dr. Tabor's quote on the site of St. Andrews as Golgotha. </ref>

==Building==

The church was designed in 1927 by the British architect [[Clifford Holliday]],<ref name=hist>[https://scotsguesthouse.com/history/ ''History''], St Andrew's homepage. Retrieved 29 Nov 2021.</ref> who headed his own private practice in the city.<ref>{{cite book |last= Crinson |first= Mark |title= Imperial Modernism |page= 211 |editor= G. A. Bremner |work= Architecture and Urbanism in the British Empire |publisher= Oxford University Press |series= Oxford History of the British Empire Companion Series |year= 2016 |isbn= 978-0191022326 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=mjRADQAAQBAJ&pg=PA211 |access-date= 29 November 2021}}</ref> Its clean, plain silhouette stands across the [[Hinnom Valley]] from the Old City walls, and together with the wing housing the hospice evokes the outline of a [[Scottish Highlands|Highland]] castle with a keep.<ref name=hist/> The building contains Western as well as Eastern elements, with details reminding of [[Kingdom of Jerusalem|Crusader]]-style architecture, but also with [[Armenian ceramics in Jerusalem|Armenian decorative tiles]].<ref name=hist/> The stained glass windows are built with blue [[Hebron glass]]<ref name=hist/> set in [[stucco]] panels, in typical [[Art-Deco]] geometric fashion and combining the [[Latin cross|Latin]] with the x-shaped Scottish [[Saltire|Saint Andrew's cross]].<ref>[[David Kroyanker|Kroyanker, David]]. ''Jerusalem Multicultural Design Motifs'' website, two entries – [https://www.jerudesign.org/item/colourful-art-deco-geometry-stained-glass/ here] and [https://www.jerudesign.org/item/religious-ornamental-windows/ here]. Retrieved 29 Nov 2021.</ref>

A plaque set in the floor in front of the [[communion table]] is dedicated to King [[Robert Bruce]], whose dying wish was to have his heart buried in Jerusalem.<ref name=heart>[http://www.standrewsjerusalem.org/2016/10/12/my-heart-is-in-jerusalem/ ''My heart is in Jerusalem''], St Andrew's homepage, 12 October 2016. Retrieved 29 Nov 2021.</ref> His comrade-in-arms, [[James Douglas, Lord of Douglas|Sir James Douglas]], attempted to bring it to the Holy Land but [[Battle of Teba|fell in battle]] while on his way through Spain.<ref name=heart/> Bruce's heart and Douglas' remains were returned to Scotland.<ref name=heart/>

==Facilities outside Jerusalem==

The [[Church of Scotland]] also runs the [[Tabeetha School]], an English-language school at [[Jaffa]] that accepts Christian, Jewish and Muslim children (see homepage at [[St Andrew's Church, Jerusalem#External links|External links]]).

Another facility is the refurbished [[Scots Hotel]] at [[Tiberias]] (see homepage at [[St Andrew's Church, Jerusalem#External links|External links]]).<ref name=BBC>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20126585 "Scots Hotel: Why the Church of Scotland has a Galilee getaway"]. Angus Roxburgh for BBC News, 31 October 2012. Re-accessed 1 Dec 2021.</ref> The Church of Scotland centre there has a long tradition,<ref>{{cite book |last= Auld |first= Graeme |author-link= Graeme Auld |title= Hebrew and Old Testament |page= 63 |editor-last= Wright |editor-first= David F. |editor-link= David F. Wright |editor-last2= Badcock |editor-first2= Gary D. |work= Disruption to Diversity: Edinburgh Divinity 1846-1996 |publisher=[[T&T Clark]] |year= 1996 |isbn= 0567085171 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=9ekYa6KueV8C&pg=PA63 |access-date= 1 December 2021}}</ref> the hotel being housed in what used to be known as the Scottish, or [[Tiberias#Dr Torrance's hospital|Dr Torrance's, hospital]].<ref name=BBC/>

==See also==

*[[List of Church of Scotland parishes]]

*[[Scots Hotel]]

*[[Christianity in Israel]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Commons category|St Andrew's Church, Jerusalem}}

*[https://www.standrewsjerusalem.org/ St Andrew's Church, Jerusalem, homepage] with links to all facilities throughout Israel (2021)

*[http://scotsguesthouse.com/ Scottish Guesthouse/Scots Hotel, Jerusalem, homepage] (2021). The old page is [https://web.archive.org/web/20100118223141/http://www.scotsguesthouse.com/ here]

*[https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/our-views/israel-and-palestine Political position on Israel and Palestine (2020)], at churchofscotland.org.uk

*[https://www.inisrael.com/scotshotels/ Scots Hotel Tiberias, homepage (1)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201225950/https://www.inisrael.com/scotshotels/ |date=1 December 2021 }} at inisrael.com (2021)

*[https://www.scotshotels.co.il/ Scots Hotel Tiberias, homepage (2)] on Church of Scotland website (2021)

*[https://standrewsgalilee.com/ Scottish church in Tiberias, homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122035209/https://standrewsgalilee.com/ |date=22 January 2021 }} - St Andrew's Galilee congregation (2021)

*[https://tabeethaschool.org/ Tabeetha School, Jaffa, homepage] (2021)

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Church of Scotland churches|Saint Andrew's Church, Jerusalem]]

{{Coord|31|46|7.76|N|35|13|31.35|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Churches in Jerusalem|Saint Andrew's Church, Jerusalem]]

[[fr{{DEFAULTSORT:St.Saint Andrew's ScotsChurch, Memorial Church]]Jerusalem}}

[[Category:Church of Scotland churches|SaintSt Andrew's Church, Jerusalem]]

[[he:כנסיית סנט אנדרוז]]

[[Category:Protestant churches in Jerusalem]]

[[Category:Scottish military memorials and cemeteries]]

[[Category:1927 establishments in Mandatory Palestine]]

[[Category:Churches completed in 1930]]

[[Category:1927 in Scotland]]

[[Category:Mandatory Palestine]]

[[Category:Israel–United Kingdom relations]]

[[Category:Presbyterian churches in Asia]]

[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1927]]