A brief history of the Church by the first minister after the second World War, Rev. J. Muir Haddow, on the occasion of the dedication of the fourth building occupied by the congregation since it was founded in 1643.

The story of the Scots Church in Rotterdam goes back over three hundred years. At the beginning of the seventeenth century the commerce of the Port of Rotterdam had already begun to attract Scottish traders and with them the ships to carry their goods. For many years there was no settled clergyman for these people but many would either worship in the Dutch Churches or else with the English Reformed Congregation which was founded in 1623, or the English merchants who seem to have had their own Episcopalian Chaplain at that time.

In 1642 the "Lords of Rotterdam" decided that there should be erected and instituted a church for the Scottish nation. Accordingly an invitation was sent to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland requesting them to provide a minister. The man chosen for the task was the Rev. Alex. Petrie, then minister of the parish of Rhynd, in the neighbourhood of Perth. After much persuasion Alexander Petrie sailed for Rotterdam and arrived in the beginning of August 1643. On the 30th of the same month he was solemnly set apart as spiritual overseer of this little flock. As soon as possible a kirk session was founded and solemnly declared as the Consistory. Records put it "a free congregation in itself as any other, and the Consistory thereof is absolute as the consistory of the Dutche kirke is."

By this act the Church was set up as a part of the Church of Scotland and also of the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk, and is entitled to be represented in the Classis of the N.H.K. as well as on the courts of the Church of Scotland. This honour is shared with our sister church, the English Reformed Church in Amsterdam.

As a further mark of recognition of the new Church the reigning burgomasters of Rotterdam presented the congregation with four solid silver Communion beakers engraved with the arms of Rotterdam. These rare silver cups have been preserved and are still used in the celebration of the Last Supper. The first fifty years of the life of the Church was full of excitement for it coincided with the years of the Covenanters and the persecution of Presbyterians in Scotland. Many of those who were outlawed in Scotland for their part in the fighting found refuge in Holland. At that time young men were trained and ordained in Holland and later returned to minister to the persecuted congregations in Scotland. The most famous of these was Richard Cameron who was ordained in Rotterdam in 1679. He returned to Scotland and became known as "The Lion of the Covenant". He raised the flag of rebellion against the King at Sanquhair and within a year he met his death in a battle at Aird's Moss.

The influx of Scotsman to Rotterdam required a larger place of worship. The first move was in 1658 to the chapel in Lombardstraat which had been built for the Society of Cross-bowmen and called after their patron saint, St. Sebastian. By 1690 the congregation which now had two ministers numbered about 1000 souls. In 1695 the city fathers decided to build a new place of worship on the Vasteland. For the decoration of this buildings the skipper of ships trading from the Forth were asked to bring over suitable stone. This was used for facing the building which is still so well remembered by the inhabitants of Rotterdam, although the building itself was completely destroyed in 1940. During the two hundred and fifty years of its existence the church continued to grow in importance not only as a place for Scots to worship, but as a centre for Christian fellowship in the City.

In 1728 the Consistory set up the "Scottish Poor House" for the wives widows and children of Scottish Soldiers who fought in the Low Countries under Marlborough. Many of the children brought up in this orphanage became respectable citizens of Rotterdam and one, Andrew Munro, who became the City Architect, later presented the Church with a silver baptismal font, which is still in use.

I cannot close this short account of the history of the Church without mentioning the late Dr. J. Irwin Brown, who was minister of the Church from 1886 till 1934. Coming as a young man from Ireland he established himself in the hearts of many by his eloquent preaching, his racy lectures, and his loving disposition; so that even today, seventeen years after his death, he is remembered as if he were still alive. Although the church was bombed in 1940, he had made it so much a part of Rotterdam that, when it was decided to rebuild the church in 1948, the suggestion was given an enthusiastic welcome. The decision to build the church was a very brave one for a congregation of less than 100 souls, but the appeal for funds has met with a remarkable response, mainly from shipping and industrial firms in Rotterdam. We were encouraged to put up a building worthy of its predecessor and although the total cost is in the region of f 460.000, it appears likely that it will be dedicated free from debt.

Our aim has been to erect the building which could become a spiritual and social centre for our scattered congregation and the many visitors, both Dutch and Scottish, who are always welcomed to join our fellowship. With that idea in view we asked Ir. C.A.Meischke to prepare a plan for a Church and halls which could be used not only for worship on Sundays, but throughout the week for the deepening of the fellowship by meetings of clubs and societies within the congregation. A compact unity had been achieved by making a large hall with a stage on the ground level and having the "upper Room" as the place of worship. In addition there is a smaller hall, a kitchen and other necessary offices.

The Church has been erected on the Schiedamsevest so it is ideally situated near the Coolsingel and yet away from the busiest part. Approaching it the visitor will see first the front gable adorned, as was the old church, with coats of arms. The Lion of Holland and the Lion Rampant of Scotland represent the two nations meeting in this Church. The seal of the General Synod of the N .H.K. and the Burning Bush, the symbol of the Church of Scotland show the link with the two Churches, and. the arms of Rotterdam preserves the ancient connection which the Church has had with the City. Above these arms are five stained glass windows, which represent The Son of Man with Peter, James, John and Paul- Christ on earth. While right at the top of the gable is a plain cruciform window flanked by two smaller crosses in stone - the three crosses of Calvary.

Entering by doors on either side of the gable the visitor will find himself in a spacious vestibule. Here two columns decorated with thistles remind one of Scotland where the thistle is the national emblem. Another emblem which the architect has very cleverly used throughout the Church is the cross of St. Andrew, who is the patron saint of Scotland. Doors lead from the vestibule into the Lower Hall. This hall, which has accommodation for about two hundred, is made very attractive by the pillars and arches which support the floor of the church above, and the blue and gold decorations of the ample stage. Here it will be possible to hold concerts and social gathering and it is hoped that soon the members of the Church will present religious drama. On either side of the stage are two doors. One decorated with a shepherd and sheep leads to the Vestry, while the other decorated with teapot and teacups leads to the kitchen from which the coffee and tea will be served.

Behind this lies the Guild Room where the Consistory will meet round its fine mahogany table. The Woman's Guild and Youth Guild as well as other small meeting will be held here and it will make an excellent setting for receptions after Baptismal or marriage services.

From the Vestibule also a small staircase leads down to the Strong-room which will house the valuable records of the Church, preserved since 1643, and the Church silver. The Main Staircase leads up past the five windows to the Upper Vestibule. From here the windows can be seen. The five figures were originally part of the English Church in the Hague. They were removed in 1905 and given to the Grote Kerk of that City but were not used until 1949 when they were handed over to the Scots Church. The legend underneath the windows records that the church in the Hague was built as a thank offering by a Liverpool merchant who was shipwrecked off the Dutch coast and rescued after he had been in the sea for twenty-four hours.

Four pillars in the Upper Vestibule are decorated with the symbols of the Four Evangelists. Passing under the Choir Gallery where there are pegs for hanging coats the visitor finds himself in the Church. By means of ample windows and an arched roof the architect has succeeded in producing a sense of spaciousness, while still retaining a friendly atmosphere for the three hundred worshippers who can gather here. The rich colour of the mahogany pews and pulpit blend nicely with the cream walls and Table. A delicate Cross on the back wall emphasises the simplicity of the designs used in all the furnishings. The front panels of the Table have been decorated with a small Cross between a bunch of grapes and a sheaf of grain. The pulpit standing to the side is surmounted by a sounding board finely decorated with St. Andrew's Crosses. And on the other side of the Chancel a reading desk provides an alternative place from which the lesson can be read or the service conducted. On the balustrade of the Gallery stands the Choir Organ and behind, against the wall, the Great Organ. The organ console is placed in a comer, so that the organist can see the preacher and the congregation as well as the Choir. Singing from this position in the Gallery the Choir is ideally placed to lead the praise in the services.

The lighting in the Church is remarkable. During the day the light will come from the five large windows in the North wall, and three smaller windows in the South wall, while the Chancel will be illumined by a side window which is decorated with the seal of the Consistory in colour. At night concealed fluorescent lighting from the apex makes the Church as bright as day.

The architect set himself to design a friendly Church and he has achieved it by the skilful combination of traditional ideas in a modem setting with plenty of variety in design and style. The men who built it, enjoyed their work and the passers-by on the street recognise at once that it is a Church.

Ir. Meischke must be congratulated for his design in general and for the fittings, furnishings and . decorations which have all come from his versatile pencil. The contractors, Gebr. Gerritse, have .. translated the design into fact with speed, workmanship, and devotion. Although the building was not started until July 1951 and the Foundation stone laid in November, now in August 1952 the Church is complete.

All the workmen have worked well and it is difficult to single out anyone for special mention. The whole church is the work of real craftsmen. The Communion Table and pulpit made by the carpenters who had worked on the Church from the beginning; the stained glass windows reconstructed and reset by Mr. Warffemius; and the fine-toned organ so carefully built by A.M. Olieman; together with the solid workmanship of the building itself, make a Church of which any congregation could be justly proud.

This is the Church which will be dedicated in the 2nd September by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the church of Scotland, the Right Rev. G. Johnstone Jeffrey, D.D. and the Praeses of the Genera; Synod of the N.H.K., Ds. J.R. Wolfensberger, in a unique service. It must be the first time in history that the leaders of two National Churches have joined in the dedication of one Church.

With such a fine church and such an auspicious dedication the historic Scots Church in Rotterdam should surely find new inspiration to serve God.

J. MUIR HADDOW