by Rev. Wm. Grant
I have been asked to give an account of the origin of the London Mission which is now a ministerial congregation. I endeavour to do so, although it is unavoidable that I bring in personal experience slightly.
I arrived in London for the first time in February 1907 to continue my employment in banking but with the expectation of returning to a Glasgow office. I was, however, detained in London and felt that the Lord had a purpose in that. I then met for the first time, Mr Donald Sutherland, a true Christian friend. He was a native of Caithness and had connections in Halkirk and Wick. An obituary of him appeared in our Church Magazine, vol. 22 (1917). We began to give serious consideration to the beginning of a Mission in order to have worship in keeping with the scriptural teaching and practice of our Church in Scotland. As time passed, we felt the desire grow stronger and stronger but many difficulties confronted us, and unbelief was ready to say that it was impossible. However, the Lord moves mysteriously to perform His purposes, and He does all things well.
By arrangement with a superintendent of Police, a native of Strathy who was interested, a few friends met in Bow Street Police Station. It was there decided after prayerful consideration, to ask one of our ministers to come from Scotland and preach in London, but the question arose where a meeting place was to be obtained. I was walking along Aldersgate Street, in the centre of London, and saw there on a hall notice board that it was a place for worship. I made enquiry, and we decided to meet there on 10th November 1907. The preacher was Rev. A. MacRae, Portree. The attendance was good but the hall was not suitably situated, and it was the only service we held there. We discovered that the eminent Dr Kennedy of Dingwall preached his last sermon on earth in that hall where we had our first. This was an interesting link with the past. He was returning from the Continent in bad health and died in Bridge of Allan on his way north.
The next service was held by the late Rev. J. S. Sinclair on 10th December, 1907, in the Parish Room, 45 Palace Street. Later, the Conference Hall, Eccleston Street, was secured, and became our meeting place. Services were held there in March 1908, by Rev. N. Cameron, and Rev. E. MacQueen. They were continued by various ministers and very capable students. Our first Communion services were held in 1909. The officiating ministers were Rev. N. Cameron and Rev. J. R. MacKay, and there were nine communicants.
Messrs Angus Fraser and Malcolm MacEwan, missionaries, conducted mission services very acceptably for some time.
Among friends who showed genuine interest in our Mission was the late Capt. K. K. Macleod while stationed near London before going to the battlefield in France. Some time later I was on a special errand to London from the Seaforth Camp in Cromarty. I called at my former lodgings and after a few minutes the ‘phone rang. This was a message from Guy’s Hospital stating “Your friend Capt. K. K. Macleod is among the seriously wounded brought in here today from France”. I went along to see him, and I was told he was blind and deaf and so incapable of recognising anyone. The Matron asked if she could get him to hear her would he recognise my name. I said, he would if he is conscious. He was able to hear her and to the surprise of the others in the ward he spoke aloud and said — “How did you come here?” I told him — “You are not in France now, you are in London.” Surprised at this he told me of his wounds. The first he got in the back but he got with it “Rejoice not against me oh mine enemy, for though I fall I shall rise again”. Later on, he was wounded in the head, but he got a promise from the Lord that this was not death, and that he would get what Hezekiah got, i.e. fifteen years added to his life, and that is what he got. He passed away in Lewis fifteen years after. Later, when learning Braille in London he gave further help to the Mission. He was an able exponent of Scripture and his services were much appreciated.
In 1912 Mr Sutherland and I were ordained the first deacons and Mr Robert Sinclair was the Treasurer and continued a life long interest in the congregation.
The late Lord Radstock, who owned the Conference Hall, proved a very helpful friend to our Mission. He began Missions in the East end of London, Russia and France. With his son, he went to France to conduct a service, but before going out he felt ill, and asked his son to conduct the service in his place. The son was not prepared for this but endeavoured to do so, and took for his subject the incident of Elisha taking up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him. When the son returned after the service he found his father had passed away, and, reflecting on the subject on which he spoke, realised it was his duty to continue his father’s work. Lord Radstock brought General Sir Robert Biddulph, Governor General of Malta, who was like-minded, to our Mission, and he along with his daughter, partook of the Lord’s Supper in 1915 when Rev. N. Cameron officiated.
The main part of the congregation was composed of Highland girls employed in London, and young men who were policemen in the city. They liberally supported the Mission.
The Great War began in 1914 bringing many gaelic-speaking naval men from Scotland to Chatham and Portsmouth. I suggested to the Admiralty that a gaelic-speaking minister from Scotland be employed to conduct gaelic services there. This they readily agreed to and provided financial support. The first to come to Chatham was Rev. N. Cameron, Glasgow, and we both went down on a Saturday for services in the naval barracks on the Sabbath. On arriving at the place where we were to dwell we found we would be dining with men around us playing cards, drinking, etc. When better accommodation was asked for I was told that such was not to be found in Chatham as the town was overcrowded with service men and others from many places. I told Mr Cameron of the difficulty, and said I would go out to see what could be done. I was an absolute stranger in that town. However, I walked along and came to the end of a terrace and standing there it was as if someone said, ‘Go to No. 12’. I did not know if there was such a number or who stayed there, but I walked along some distance and came to No. 12. I called, and after apologising for doing so, I told the lady of the house my difficulty, and that I wished to ask if she could direct me to suitable accommodation as I had brought with me a ministerial friend to preach to the gaelic-speaking naval men. In a friendly spirit she invited us to come and stay there. I returned to the cubicle where Mr Cameron awaited me and we went along to No. 12. On entering the house, he said, “How did you get this comfortable accommodation?” I replied, “Did I not leave you praying in the cubicle and this is an answer to your prayer”. This lady continued to accommodate the supply as required. We had many clear answers to prayer during these years of solemn events.
Several ministers were engaged to take services at Portsmouth and Chatham, and also among the soldiers at Bedford, and interesting accounts appeared from their pens of their labours at that time in the Church Magazine, and we note that there would be sometimes as many as 200 men present at the services. The Great Day of Judgment will reveal to God’s Glory what fruit followed.
In 1936, the Mission became a ministerial charge under Rev. J. P. Macqueen. He and the congregation there endured much during the last war. Mr MacQueen passed away in June, 1961. In February 1962 Rev. D. B. Macleod was inducted and is now actively employed there. He and the congregation have the prayerful good wishes of many friends at home and abroad.
Attention is drawn to the urgent Appeal for funds for London Church and Manse in our Church Magazine, December 1970.