Looking Back: St Andrew’s Garrison Church, Aldershot

From May 1944

By George Meikle

There are certain things the average Scot is prepared to do without when he goes outside his own country but he never likes to forgo the pleasure of attending a church dedicated to his own form of worship in keeping with his national tradition. Scots, both military and civilian, in the Aldershot district foregather in St Andrew’s Church each week to attend Divine Service.

The present building was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer, whose creative genius is manifest in the Scottish National War Memorial, and was erected in 1927 to be a memorial to Scottish soldiers who fell in the 1914 – 18 war. The building, in no way ornate, is a fitting replacement for the old corrugated iron structure built in 1865 and known affectionately as ‘The Iron Church.’ The new edifice was extended and refurnished in 1938, and on the 5th February 1939, their Majesties, the King and Queen, graciously honoured the church with their presence at the reopening service.

The spiritual welfare of the church at present is in the very capable hands of the Rev T.N. Fraser, M.A., S.C.F., and he is ably assisted by the Rev T. Calvert, C.F. Both ministers are real enthusiasts in their work and are living examples of the truism that there is nothing gloomy about Christianity. No one would get either of these padres to admit that their church is losing its grip, especially on the younger generation. Let the facts speak for themselves. At the beginning of each month, a special Service is held for the admission of the members who partake of Holy Communion for the first time, and lately the average number of admissions has been 25 each month.

The picture above was taken after such a Service when actually 35 were admitted. Naturally, most of these new members are in the Forces, but they do not necessarily ‘join’ St Andrew’s. If any of them have connections with a parish or with a church at home, their names are submitted to their home minster along with a disjunction certificate. In the case of many, who owing to the war, have no settled home, the names are entered on a special Communion Roll kept by the Senior Minister, and, later, when that new member is able to join a church in the place of his settled residence, a disjunction will be provided.

The social side of the work of the Church is by no means neglected. Nearby is the St Andrew’s Scottish Soldiers’ Club, an institution originally built and maintained by the Scottish business men in the south of England. The Club is under the able management of a good Scots Elder, Mr John Hutchison, who spares no effort to apply practical Christian principles to looking after the welfare of exiled Scottish members of His Majesty’s Forces.

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