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Columba |
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Our style of worship and church life reflect the traditions of the Reformed Church, but we are open to different ideas and practices and we value the wider insights into God's love these bring us. |
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| Our congregation belongs to the United Reformed Church. We base our faith and conduct on the Word of God in the Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The United Reformed Church was formed in 1972 by the union of the Congregational Church in England and Wales with the Presbyterian Church of England and a number of Churches of Christ. The URC is governed by democratic Councils which give equal status to all members. Although relatively small as a denomination, the URC numbers some 150,000 adults and 100,000 children in some 1750 congregations spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales. It is served by some 1100 ministers, both women and men. We have always been open to unity with other traditions, and more than 400 of our local churches are united with other denominations. Our Minister is currently chair of Churches Together in Headingley. But whatever the particular traditions that guide our church family, we exist above all to bear witness to Jesus and, God willing, to lead others to faith in Him. Jesus, the crucified and risen Messiah, is King |
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| Headingley St Columba is a Union
Church. Its constituents were two independently thriving, gathered
congregations — Headingley Hill Congregational Church and St
Columba Presbyterian Church of England — who had been in discussion
for several years. Thus the "Headingley" part of our name
refers not just to the church's geographical location but also commemorates
the Congregational church whose former buildings still stand about
half a mile along Headingley Lane towards the city. The "St Columba"
part of our name commemorates the former Presbyterian church in Cavendish
Road, which now houses the Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall on
the campus of Leeds University. During the 1960s the University was
engaged in a massive expansion programme, particularly in the area
around and including Cavendish Road. The church was compulsorily purchased.
Following negotiations between University and Church came the provision
of our present site and the building of our new church upon it. In
1966 the Cavendish Road Presbyterian Church moved here. The Union
with Headingley Hill took place on 1st January 1979.
The buildings are sited on a slope with the sanctuary at the highest level. It contains a fine three-manual pipe organ and a grand piano of good quality. The rest of the buildings are extensive, providing both a large and a small hall plus a range of meeting rooms as well as a recently modernised kitchen. Despite the differences in level, there is disabled access to all rooms. The premises also include three car-parking areas and an adjacent lodge which accommodates the Caretaker. (Our lettings schedule is at present full.) |
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| Columba was Ireland's great missionary
to Scotland and northern England (and is not to be confused with his
younger cousin, Columbanus — 543-615 — who was
Ireland's great missionary to western Europe). Columba's famous mission
centre was the monastery he established on the island of Iona off
the west coast of Scotland.
Born c. 521 in Gartan (Co. Donegal), Columba was of royal descent: the son of Fedhlimidh and Eithne of the Ui Neill clan. His baptismal name was Colum, which means "dove", hence the latinized form Columba. In Irish he is known as Columcille, i.e. "Dove of the Churches". At age 19 he took a strong interest in the church, joined the monastery at Moville (Co. Down), and was ordained a deacon by St Finnian of Moville. He later went on to study under another St Finnian at Clonard (on the River Boyne). At the age of 25 he founded the church at Derry. From there he set out on a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem, but travelled no further than the tomb of St Martin at Tours, whence he brought back a prized Gospel manuscript, depositing it in Derry. He was also later instrumental in founding monasteries at Durrow and Kells. An enduring tradition gives the reason why Columba later left Ireland for Scotland: while studying with St Finnian he made an unauthorized copy of the latter's Psalter. When Finnian became aware of it, he demanded the copy. Columba refused, whereupon Finnian took the matter to High King Diarmit for judgement. Diarmit famously judged in favour of Finnian: "To every cow its calf. To every book its copy." Columba, however, still refused to hand over the copy and summoned his clan to fight King Diarmit, defeating him at the battle of Cooldrevny (561). A synod held in Meath now excommunicated Columba. (His friend St Brendan of Birr eventually got the sentence withdrawn.) But Columba was conscience-stricken and sought advice from his confessor, St Molaise. The latter ordered him, by way of penance, to bring the same number of souls to Christ as he had caused to die at Cooldrevny. Two years later, in a spirit of deep penitence, Columba left Ireland by boat with 12 disciples, eventually settling on the island of Iona where he founded his new monastery, never to return to Ireland again. After founding several more monasteries and leading a long-lasting mission to the Picts of western Scotland, he died on 9 June, 597. His successor as Abbot of Iona was Adomnan, who also wrote the first biography of him. Iona continues to be a source of inspiration for the religious life worldwide: here is a link to the modern Iona Community. |
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A Prayer (written by St Columba):
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