St. Andrews Church


Early in the 1800's, tolerance of the various religions in Gibraltar was mercurial(volatile). The Church of England was solidly supported by official bodies, the Roman Catholic Church was strong due to the fact that the majority of the inhabitants were of that faith and the Presbyterians were tolerated because it was usual for a Scottish regiment stationed there and for a few influential Scottish man in the Colony.

In the summer of 1803 the commander of an English Regiment issued an order forbidding any men under his command from attending the Methodist Chapel. Towards the end of 1803 a new Garrison Commander was appointed and in response to wide representations, granted permission for troops to attend Methodist meetings and services.

In the year 1850, the Presbyterian Minister, Reverend Thorburn, complained to the Governor about the appalling conditions under which he gave religious ministration to convicts of the prison and that he was also barred from the use of the prison chapel. The official reply indicated that the Government was not prepared to help in any way.

Right up to the present time, except for the small salary given by the British Government to the Minister for his service as officiating chaplain to the Forces, no contribution is made to the church, but for an annual grant for ecclesiastical purposes.

In 1908 the Minister requested that he be supplied with hymn books for visiting sailors, 200 hymn books arrived 18 years later.

For many years there had been an agitation to secure a building for the use by the Presbyterian community, but it was not until 1843 that any positive action was taken. Several members of the Presbyterian persuasion in Gibraltar held a meeting where it was agreed to consider the most suitable mode of appropiating such means as may be nessesary for the building of a Presbyterian place of worship in Gibraltar. Following this declaration a committee was formed representing Presbyterians of various military units. Government Departments and civilian population.

In March, 1849, a memorial was presented to the Governor praying for a site to be given to the Presbyterians on which they could builtd a church. Various sites were suggested but the Church Committee were told that they could not have them as 'they may be required for Government purposes at some later date'.

Following a decision by the Church Committee to seek public financial support for the building of a church, a number of appeals were launched and the intial results were overwhelming. More than 200 individual subscriptions are recorded showing a wide diversity of character and support. The building fund rose to almost £3.000 by the end of 1854.

Until 1854, Presbyterians met for worship in the Exchange Rooms, the Wesleyan chapel and various other buildings.

In 1749, the Governor granted Abraham Benider the site on which the church now stands. The property was later jointly owned by Andrew Carlo, Anthony Massa and Angela Massa Viale, who subsequently sold to Fernando Alvarez. In 1821 an official report describes the property as 'a dwelling house, store and several small tenements-the whole in a miserable condition'.

In December 1851, Rev. John Bonar, arrived in Gibraltar with full plenary powers to purchase a suitable site for the church.
On 31st January 1852, the freehold property was conveyed to him, from Alvarez for the sum of £2000, of which two thirds remained on mortgage. Plans for the church were prepared and approval for construction was given by the Governor.

On Wednesday 6th October 1852, Governor's Parade was thronged with crowds who had assembled to witness the laying of the foundation stone for the first Presbyterian Church on Gibraltar. The Church was built mainly by local labour. Whilst much of the stone came from Gibraltar and Spain, it is recorded that three stonemasons came with special stone from Malta.

The new church was formely opened on Sunday 28th May 1854, at 11am, by the Rev. James Drummond. In his sermon the Minister paid tribute to his predecessors and to the determination of the Presbyterian community who had overcome many difficulties in order that they might have their own place of wordship.

During the past hundred years, considerable improvements have been made to the Church by way of alterations, additions and gifts. The church bell bears the inscription 'Presented by a friend to the Presbyterian Church Gbraltar-1855'.

In February 1857, Commisioner General G.H. Dinwiddie made a gift of pewter communion vessels, which are still in use today.
During the Ministry of the Rev. Ian Brown-Smith, alterations were made to the church, including panelling, a new pulpit and electric light in 1905, gas lighting had been used since 1854.

Early in the 1900's it was realised that the ancient organ needed replacement and in January 1906, a new organ was installed.

In 1923 the steps leading to the South gallery were removed and a third stained glass window was installed in the space. This window was given by an anonymous donor, but was destroyed during the Bedenham explosion in 1951, and has since been replaced.

Early in 1937, friends of the late Rev. Smith presented a baptismal font of carved oak and two inscribed polished brass vases.
Another gift to the Church was a donation of twenty guineas for the purchase of the lectern. During WWII, the church suffered little damage, although in 1941 a large bomb which failed to explode, dropped in the near vicinity.

In 1962 there was a presentation of Scottish Regimental shields and plaques, which now adorn the north wall and a pulpit canopy and fall. In 1968 communion chairs were built by donation of many regiments and friends, and in 1970 RAF Gibraltar presented a name board. In 1971, the 1st Bn donated collection plates and in 1987? a new aisle carpet was purchased with a grant from the Gibraltar Naval Trust.

Accommodation was originally planned for 435, but subsequent alterations have somewhat reduced this number.
To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Church, it was repainted and the kitchen and halls were modernised.