History of St Columba's
The brief version
The church was originally built in 1915 at a cost of £1,400 and was dedicated on 17 May 1916. Major building work and renovation was undertaken during 1998 and 1999 at a cost of approximately £70,000. This brought the church up to a very high standard and provided excellent facilities, including of course the meeting all disability legislation. The work was mainly financed through the selling of adjacent land to the Castle Rock Housing Association. An extension was added providing a meeting room that seats around 30 people. A fully equipped commercial standard kitchen was also fitted.
The church itself is a simple Gothic style building seating up to 60 people in the nave and a further 20 in the chancel. The chancel can be screened off from the nave, providing a multifunctional area. The meeting room can be accessed from the nave and also directly from outside. The building benefits from gas central heating that keeps the church cosy at a reasonable cost! There is also a loft area used for storage.
There is a small garden area surrounding church, including a Garden of Remembrance for ashes. This garden area could readily be turned into a community garden; further work is planned.
The Oriana Bell
The church bell bears the name 'Oriana'; it was formerly a ship's bell. The 'Oriana', built in 1906 by Barclay Curle of Glasgow for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company of Liverpool, was one of three sister ships. The other two were the 'Ortega' and the 'Oronsa'.
The 'Oriana' weighed in at 5086 tons gross, and was 482 feet long, 56 feet in beam, and 36 feet from keel to rail. Propulsion was by twin screw propellers and triple expansion steam engine which gave a top speed of 15 1/2 knots at a coal consumption of 120 tons per day. The bunkers could hold 2300 tons of coal giving 19 days supply at full speed.
Built as a passenger/cargo vessel she was capable of taking 160 first class passengers, 125 second class and 300 third class. In between decks dormitories provided further accommodation for 500 immigrants and 177 crew. When no immigrants were being carried the accommodation was converted to carry cargo.
The 'Oriana' together with her sister ships sailed from Britain to South America using the southern route via Cape Horn until the outbreak of the first world war. In 1913 she was requisitioned as a troop ship. Whilst serving in World War I she distinguished herself by going to the aid of HMS Mystic, an 'M' class Destroyer which ran aground on Torcor Head, Ireland whilst on convoy dutry and in "thick weather".
After the war 'Oriana' returned to the South American route, sailing via Panama, and continued to provide a regular service until 1926, when she was sold at Glasgow on the 22 December to P W McLennan & Co, for the sum of £18,150. She was sailed from Glasgow round to Bo'ness, where she arrived on 29 December. There she was beached, and demolished during the following year.
Saleable fittings were removed and sold either by auction or to local buyers. Here the story breaks down: we can only assume that the bell from the 'Oriana' was bought for St Columba's at this time. Originally the bell was hung in the bell tower; but now it hangs in the sanctuary.
