WAR HERO’S CROSS REHUNG

A large wooden cross gifted to a war hero Church of Scotland minister by an Edinburgh school has been rehung in his former church in Paris after languishing in a cellar for nearly 20 years.

The cross was presented to the Rev Dr Donald Caskie, minister of the Scots Kirk in Paris, in 1959 by pupils from George Watson’s College.

Dr Caskie – known as ‘the Tartan Pimpernel’ after he helped save more than 2000 allied personnel during the Second World War – played a key role looking after pupils from Watson’s who took part in an exchange programme with a Paris school in the 1950s. The cross was given in gratitude by the pupils, who paid for it themselves.

It hung behind the chancel in the Scots Kirk for around 40 years until the building was demolished and it was put into storage.

The church was rebuilt in 2002 but the cross remained tucked away in a cellar and largely forgotten about until a former pupil questioned its whereabouts.

Edinburgh born Andrew Brown, a member of St Andrew’s Church in Brussels who was a Watson’s pupil from 1952-63, felt it should be on prominent public display.

He led discussions with the school and the Paris and Brussels churches, which led to a decision to keep the cross in Paris. It now has pride of place above a stairwell which leads to the sanctuary.

The Rev Jan Steyn, minister at the Scots Kirk, said he was ‘delighted’ that the cross is now back on public display.

“The cross was donated to the Scots Kirk during the time of Donald Caskie and it is part of the congregation’s beautiful story”, he said.

The cross was rededicated at worship on Sunday April 7, on the same day a permanent exhibition dedicated to Dr Caskie was officially opened.