St Andrew's Church, Jerusalem, Byzantine Revival church on a hilltop near Mount Zion, Jerusalem, Israel.
St Andrew's Church stands on a hilltop across the Hinnom Valley from the Old City walls, near Mount Zion. Designed by Clifford Holliday in 1927, its plain silhouette with a hospice wing resembles a Highland castle with a keep. The building mixes Western and Eastern elements, including Armenian decorative tiles and stained glass in blue Hebron glass set in stucco panels, combining the Latin cross with the X-shaped Scottish St Andrew's cross.
Field Marshal Lord Allenby laid the foundation stone in 1927 as a memorial to Scottish soldiers who died fighting Turkish forces in World War I. The project expressed Scottish commitment to Palestine during and after this global conflict.
The church serves as a gathering place for the Scottish community in Jerusalem and has shaped religious life in the city since its establishment. Visitors can experience the connection between Scottish traditions and the Holy Land, especially during regular worship services.
Visitors should be prepared for a hillside location accessible on foot, and comfortable shoes are recommended. The guesthouse offers accommodation if you wish to stay longer in the area and explore other religious sites nearby.
A plaque set in the floor before the communion table commemorates King Robert Bruce, whose dying wish in 1329 was to have his heart buried in Jerusalem. His comrade Sir James Douglas died carrying it through Spain, and the heart was returned to Scotland.
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