The world at war

THESE extracts from Life and Work in the first months of the war show the Church of Scotland swiftly mobilising to meet the needs of soldiers, both at home and heading for what was expected to be a lengthy campaign in France. Meanwhile, local parishes were helping with an influx of refugees from Europe, and in rural areas were helping to settle evacuees from the cities.

November 1939

Renewing a Great Ministry

By the Rev Lewis L L Cameron [a veteran of the First World War, by 1939 Secretary of the Committee on Christian Life and Social Work.]

The value of the ministry given to the troops, through [the Church of Scotland] Huts, can never be estimated by the money provided to supply them, nor the statistics recording the number of those who shared in the work, nor by the brief mention made by historians of the place the Huts occupied in the Great War. Only those who faced the foe with greater faith and fortitude because of this ministry can estimate the contributions of the Churches Huts to the final victory.

The Hounds of Hell are once again unleashed. The forces of evil we thought we had conquered are once again abroad. Armageddon is once more upon us. Surely we dare not now deny this ministry to our sailors, soldiers, and airmen, as well as to those women who have enrolled for service.

Already the Church of Scotland Huts have taken the field at home. From the Borders to the Northern Isles many centres of activity have been opened, and soon we expect to follow our lads to France. Wherever possible, existing premises have been converted, and where there are no suitable buildings Huts are being built. Each Hut costs approximately £1000.

The Church and the Evacuees

By the Rev George A Henderson, minister of St Ninian’s, Stirling

Stirling was one of the first areas to receive evacuees. They came from Glasgow, and the Protestants were housed chiefly in St. Ninian’s ward.

A few days after the evacuation the Home Board sent two Church Sisters to help to organise our effort. The first thing we did was to establish contact with the mothers and infant children in their new homes. Through the kind co-operation of the Headmasters of the local school we got a complete list of their addresses, and without exception the Church Sisters were cordially welcomed. This visitation afforded opportunity to assure the mothers of the Church’s friendship and help, and to invite them into the fellowship of the Sunday services and weekday meetings.

The next thing was to establish contact with the children of school age who had been sent without their mothers. Accordingly, the Headmasters arranged for two services in the school, and the Church Sisters told the scholars about the Sunday Schools and extended a hearty welcome to them.

On Sundays a considerable number of parents come from Glasgow to visit their children. This sometimes inconveniences hostesses… We have therefore, opened one of our halls and invited parents to meet their children there.

December 1939

With the Men in the Forces

The work of the Church of Scotland Huts Committee has developed rapidly during the last month. There are now more than sixty centres working from the islands of the north to the borders of Scotland, and as soon as possible fresh centres will be opened furth of Scotland.

The work in Scotland can roughly be divided into two classes. In numerous towns, church halls have been taken over and equipped as Canteens, with full facilities for recreation, reading and writing. Many of them are in populous areas, where voluntary helpers have given generous support in the running of the “Church Hut.” It is something of a revelation to those accustomed to the rather bare furnishings of a church hall to see the welcoming comfort that has been achieved in many centres by the energy and ingenuity of local voluntary help. It is not once, but often that one hears the excuse – “Well, if I do this here, someone else may do something for my boy.”

The second sphere of work is the Church Hut on War Department ground, or in lonely places where there is little possibility of obtaining local voluntary labour. In such lonely places, the Church of Scotland, through the Huts Committee, keeps tryst with the men, and their gratitude and appreciation would warm the hearts of all, could they but see or hear it.

January 1940

A Service in Camp

By Khaki

It is Sunday morning. In the vicinity of a large city in Scotland, picture a meadow on which have been built six huts. Beside them are a couple of marquees and a cook-house. Across the road lies another field in which are some A.A.guns and their auxiliary apparatus.

A car arrives, and out steps the Padre, one who saw service as a combatant during the last war. He is greeted by the acting Battery Commander – a son of the Manse – and quickly arrangements are made for the service. A table is put out on the grass to serve as a desk. All is ready. A whistle goes, and men tumble out of huts and run across the intervening space to the guns, while the Padre looks on at the disappearing flock. Soon, however, “Stand down” is signalled, and the men line up with their steel helmets on the ground beside them.

We start with “The Lord’s my Shepherd,” the praise being led by a sergeant. The battery Commander reads the lesson from Hebrews xii., and we sing “Rock of Ages.” The Padre, before giving the sermon intimates that a Communion service will be held soon, and that he would be glad to see any desirous of joining the Church. Then he speaks to us of “building new roads,” leaving us with thoughts which we can turn over in our minds.

The service closes with “The King of Love my Shepherd is,” the Benediction, and the National Anthem.

February 1940

Refugees in Edinburgh

A few days before Christmas, there was held in the hall of St. Andrew’s Church, Edinburgh, a party which was at the same time very cheerful and happy and also profoundly sad. It was a party of Non-Aryan refugees and some of their Scottish friends. Among them were old men and women, whose lined faces showed what they had passed through; middle-aged people, whose lives had been suddenly broken; and young children – too young, one hoped, to realise much of what had happened to them. They came from Czecho-Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and Germany. Many of them owed their deliverance to the help rendered to them by our Church’s missionaries to the Jews, and it was touching to hear their gratitude for the kindness they had received. But it was heart-rending to hear them speak of relatives lost sight of, and of the thousands for whom there had been no escape.

March 1940

France Revisited

By the Rev Lewis L L Cameron

How changed and yet how familiar it all seemed after a lapse of twenty-three years! The same long convoys of camouflaged transport lorries line the main roads. The cafés are crowded with troops, singing lustily the favourite songs of the Great War. Old soldiers relate the usual tales to young recruits and register familiar grouses about grub and billets. These things are as before. The difference lies in the enormous change the French have wrought on the land we knew. Villages and towns which are remembered as ruins, have been resurrected and renewed. I stood in Arras and viewed with amazement the restored cathedral. The only evidence of that former life was to be found in the trenches which have been preserved near the Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge. Looking from the base of the monument, I could see many of the beautiful cemeteries, where former comrades lie buried. I was momentarily gripped by the thought that they had died in vain, but it passed as I remembered that they had “whispered their dying message to me…” Standing on that wind-swept ridge, our duty was unmistakable. We must at all costs hold the gains they had made possible. It gave point to my visit and encouragement in my task.

“Everywhere I was greeted heartily. I had the privilege of visiting many Scottish units, and the Commanding O cers agreed that they could have no greater help than that which could be given through Huts and Canteens provided by the Church.

Church of Scotland Huts

Everywhere I was greeted heartily. I had the privilege of visiting many Scottish units, and the Commanding Officers agreed that they could have no greater help than that which could be given through Huts and Canteens provided by the Church. Seventeen centres await our activity. They stretch from one end of the country to the other. At some, huts will be erected; at others, vacant premises will be leased and adapted.

At one important centre, well up the line, a small hotel has been acquired. The ground floor comprises a large canteen room and kitchen, the second storey will be devoted to reading, writing and recreation, and the third will accommodate the staff. The cost of this centre has been met by an anonymous gift of £1000, and it will bear the name “The Port Glasgow Hut.”

Co-operation

At another place, I met five chaplains, two were Church of England, one was Roman Catholic, one Methodist, and one Church of Scotland. They were anxious to provide facilities for their men. They had already four very suitable rooms, but no furnishings or staff. About £100 was needed to make the premises serviceable and supply equipment. They were extremely grateful for the help the Church of Scotland Huts could give, and soon two ladies will be there to take charge of the canteen.

£25,000 is required for the work abroad, without delay. Already one congregation has determined to give £1000 to name a hut, and a few presbyteries are giving serious consideration to how they can take their share in this tremendous task.