St Columba’s Day in 2019 fell on a Sunday, 9 June, and as it is also 70 years since the church chose the name of St Columba’s, it seemed an appropriate occasion to mark.

When the Northumberland Square and Howard Street Presbyterian Churches united in 1949, a new name was needed for the church, which continued to meet in the Northumberland Square premises.  It was decided to adopt Columba, a 6th century Irish saint, who founded a monastery on the Scottish island of Iona, bringing the Gospel to northern Britain.

Our celebration weekend included an exhibition of the life of the saint and of our church, a quiz, an evening meal and ceilidh, a service of celebration and a buffet lunch.