GLASGOW EVANGELICAL
CHURCH
14-20, Cathedral Square
This
highly ornate, Italianate style church which dominates the south eastern corner
of Cathedral Square, was built in 1878-80 to a design by John Honeyman. It was
new accommodation for the Duke Street United Presbyterian congregation when it
was forced to remove from its premises due to the new and extensive railway
developments facing onto High Street. Originally known as Cathedral Square
United Presbyterian Church, it eventually played host to a number of other
congregations.
Cathedral Square Church of Scotland, as the first congregation had become, quit the building in 1941 as the result of declining numbers. It united with the Regent Place congregation in Dennistoun to form Regent Place & Cathedral Square Church of Scotland. On the night of the last service, their neighbouring Church of Scotland congregation suffered a disastrous fire at the Barony North Church across the Square.
Fortuitously, a move could be made
immediately by the afflicted congregation of Barony North to the newly vacated
building, where a home was found for the next 38 years before finally dissolving
as a congregation in 1979. The building, while Barony North Church of Scotland,
was Category A Listed in 1970. Through the years, its condition had gradually
deteriorated and it faced a rather uncertain future when it was rescued by the
Glasgow Evangelical Church.
This congregation had started in 1972
when various individuals, unhappy with the moves within their own churches
towards greater harmonisation with the Roman Catholic Church, came together to
form their own church. Throughout church history, when main religious bodies
move position with regard to doctrine, particularly with a view to union or
greater co-operative effort with others, a part of the membership inevitably
feels unable to accept this on principal. The origins of the Glasgow Evangelical
Church congregation were diverse – including members from the Church of
Scotland, Congregational churches and the Salvation Army. What they had in
common was a belief that their churches had removed too far from the principles
of the Reformed Church as founded in 1560.
They were allowed the use of the Orange Hall at 128, Findlay Drive in Dennistoun until the opportunity to purchase the Cathedral Square buildings presented itself. Although the congregation is not itself Orange, it occupies a part of the Protestant religious spectrum akin to the Orange Order, sharing similar beliefs, and are mutually supportive of each other. The church utilises symbols common to both, such as the open bible, and contains a representation of King William III (sculpted by George Parsonage of the Glasgow Humane Society) as a lectern. It also has a window commemorating the bicentenary of the foundation of Orangeism.
Glasgow Evangelical views the National Church as having moved too far ideologically towards Roman Catholicism, and perhaps fills the void that the Reverend Ian Paisley’s Ulster-based Free Presbyterian Church identified when it tried and failed to establish itself in Glasgow and the West of Scotland in the 1960s. Although Evangelical, the congregation remains independent of other such congregations. Its watchwords are Independent, Protestant and Reformed. It maintains social and cultural links with other denominations, but it does not participate in ecumenical activities. The congregation considers it important to maintain the differences in viewpoint which separate them from other denominations.
The congregation have made a tremendous effort to restore the church to its former glory, and there can be little argument as to its success in saving an important building. The church was acquired for a nominal sum, but as the result of their efforts from the beginning of the 1980s the congregation raised a considerable amount to effect the
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
changes now apparent. In the process, it too has gone from strength to strength. From the 50 or so members in Dennistoun, it now has a regular church attendance of around 200 – a figure many other churches would be happy to achieve.
Executed in blond sandstone, the elaborate west façade of the building faces into Cathedral Square, and displays a wide variety of ornamental architectural artifice. It had been intended that towers be erected at both the north-western and south-western corners, but only that at the former was eventually built. Above the entry in this bay, in a pedimented niche, is a statue of St. Paul. The tower rises above this to an octagonal dome with a surmounting cross finial. The southern bay entry has a similar niche containing a statue of St. Peter. Four additional statues, of the Evangelists, ornament a balustraded parapet between the end bays. All of these are believed to be by McCulloch of London and it has been said that the whole presents "a display of free-standing statuary unusual for a Glasgow church at this or any date." (Williamson, et al. 1990). Five large round arch windows, separated by Corinthian columns, light the gallery and dominate the façade.
A surprise is a most impressive
colonnaded vestibule with tiled flooring, accessed from tower doorway. This
gives entry to the sanctuary, which is located above street level, and also
leads to a remarkable stairway, housed in an apsidal narthex, ascending to the
gallery. The outlook from the window here is towards the Cathedral and the
statue of John Knox looming over the Necropolis.
Internally, the lavish ornamentation is continued in the plasterwork of the walls and ceiling of the sanctuary, which has been sympathetically and colourfully restored where necessary. A curved, panelled gallery in green, terracotta and gilding is supported by slender cast iron pillars. The pews and some church furnishings are original, others such as the communion table were left by Barony North. The pulpit on a raised dais is centrally located to the south. In the chancel behind this is a very large organ by Forester & Andrews of Hull which was installed in 1887. Its pipes are presently partially decorated with stencilling and gilding, in tune with the balcony decoration.
The organ pipes partially obscure a
very large stained glass representation of the "Transfiguration of Our
Lord" spread over three window lights, each light separated unobtrusively
by a Corinthian column. These depict Christ in the centre, flanked by Moses and
Elias to the sides. It is original to the building and was made by Messrs. Keir
of Glasgow. Although damaged during the Second World War, it was not so badly
harmed that it could not be restored.
The original stained glass in the chancel has been supplemented by ten additional windows, these having been incorporated into the aisle windows. At a time when most congregations are struggling to maintain the glass they have inherited, members of Glasgow Evangelical have gone so far as to learn the craft themselves and create their own award-winning windows. These were installed from 1998-2000.
Noah's Ark and a Covenanters' Flag - examples of the 10 new stained glass windows in Glasgow Evangelical
Eight of these new windows have vibrant images, some with biblical topics such as Noah’s Ark and the Good Shepherd, and others commemorating themes important to the congregation’s own particular beliefs – the Bicentenary of Orangeism in Scotland, the Covenanters’ Flag and the Solway Martyrs. Even those two windows opening into cupboard space have had designs added, echoing the cross motif on the gallery front.
In its present incarnation, the church at the corner of Cathedral Square is the natural home for this congregation, located as it is between John Knox in the Necropolis and the statue of King William III in the adjoining gardens.
Williamson, E., Riches, A., & Higgs, M., (1990); "The Buildings of Scotland - Glasgow." Penguin Books in association with The National Trust for Scotland.
© 2005 Gordon Adams
GALLERY:
The Bicentenary of Orangeism in Scotland, The Good Shepherd, Ruth the Gleaner
The Solway Martyrs, Suffer the Little Children, A Protestant Martyr