Glasgow Cathedral

Glasgow Cathedral
Glasgow Cathedral
	The Cathedral of Saint Mungo
	Cathair-eaglais Ghlaschu
	The front of Glasgow Cathedral, from Cathedral Square
	Glasgow Cathedral Location in central Glasgow
	55°51′47″N 4°14′05″W
Location	Glasgow
Country	Scotland
Denomination	Church of Scotland
Previous denomination	Roman Catholic (1137-1500s)
Website	www.glasgowcathedral.org.uk
History
Status	Active
Dedication	Saint Mungo
Dedicated	7 July 1136
Architecture
Functional status	High Kirk
Heritage designation	Category A Listed Building
Designated	15 December 1970
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic
Specifications
Length	87 m (285 ft 5 in)
Width	20 m (65 ft 7 in)
Height	32 m (105 ft 0 in)
Number of spires	1
Spire height	68.6 m (225 ft 1 in)
Administration
Presbytery	Glasgow
Clergy
Minister(s)	Rev'd Mark E. Johnstone
Laity
Director of music	Andrew Forbes
Organist(s)	Dr Malcolm Sim
Flower guild	Norma A Clarkson-Gorman
Listed Building – Category A
Designated	15 December 1970
Reference no.	LB32654

Glasgow Cathedral (Scottish Gaelic: Cathair-eaglais Ghlaschu), also called the High Kirk of Glasgow or St Kentigern's or St Mungo's Cathedral, is the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland and is the oldest building in Glasgow. Since the Reformation the cathedral continues in public ownership, within the responsibility of Historic Environment Scotland.[1] The congregation is part of the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of Glasgow and its services and associations are open to all.[2] The cathedral and its kirkyard are at the top of High Street, at Cathedral Street. Immediately neighbouring it are Glasgow Royal Infirmary, opened in 1794, and the elevated Glasgow Necropolis, opened in 1833. Nearby are the Provand's Lordship, Glasgow's oldest house and its herbal medical gardens, the Barony Hall (Barony Church), University of Strathclyde, Cathedral Square, Glasgow Evangelical Church (North Barony Church), and St Mungo Museum.

History

The history of the cathedral is linked with that of the city, and is allegedly located where the patron saint of Glasgow, Saint Mungo, built his church. The tomb of the saint is in the lower crypt. Walter Scott's novel Rob Roy gives an account of the kirk.

Built before the Reformation from the late 12th century onwards and serving as the seat of the Bishop and later the Archbishop of Glasgow, the building is a superb example of Scottish Gothic architecture.[3][4] It is also one of the few Scottish medieval churches (and the only medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland) to have survived the Reformation not unroofed.

James IV ratified the treaty of Perpetual Peace with England at the high altar on 10 December 1502.[5] The cathedral and the nearby castle played a part in the battles of Glasgow in 1544 and 1560.[6] Twenty years after the Reformation, on 22 April 1581 James VI granted the income from a number of lands to Glasgow town for the kirk's upkeep. He traced the ownership of these lands to money left by Archbishop Gavin Dunbar as a legacy for repairing the cathedral.[7] The town council agreed on 27 February 1583 to take responsibility for repairing the kirk, while recording they had no obligation to do so.[8] The church survives because of this resolution. Inside, the rood screen is also a very rare survivor in Scottish churches.

The cathedral has been host to number of congregations and continues as a place of active Christian worship, hosting a Church of Scotland congregation. The current minister (since April 2019) is the Rev Mark E. Johnstone DL MA BD, who was previously minister at St. Mary's Church, Kirkintilloch. The building itself is in the ownership of The Crown, is maintained by Historic Scotland, and is a popular destination for tourists.

University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow originated in classes held within the precinct of the cathedral. William Turnbull, Bishop of Glasgow was primarily responsible for the foundation of the university around the year 1451. In 1460, the university moved out of the cathedral to an adjacent site on the east side of the High Street, known locally as the college, and moved to its current home on Gilmorehill in 1870.

Music

Glasgow Cathedral Choir is a professional adult ensemble, singing at the two regular Sunday services each week. The current director of music is Andrew Forbes and the cathedral organist is Malcolm Sim. The four-manual Father Willis organ was installed in 1879, and has been maintained by Harrison & Harrison since they rebuilt the instrument in 1996.

Directors of Music

1879 Alfred Peace
1897 Herbert Walton
1929 R H Clifford Smith
1936 Wilfred J Emery
1965 John Turner
2010 Ian Simcock
2012 Richard Pratt
2014 Andrew Forbes

Herbert Walton 1903

Other cathedrals in Glasgow

Other cathedrals in Glasgow are St. Andrew's Cathedral (Roman Catholic), St. Mary's Cathedral (Scottish Episcopal) and St Luke's Cathedral (Greek Orthodox).

List of ministers

Archibald Inglis (1685–1687)
Ralph Rodger (1687–1689)
James Brown (1690–1714)
George Campbell (1715–1748)
John Hamilton (1749–1780)
William Taylor (1780–1823)
Duncan Macfarlan (1824–1857)
John Robertson (1858–1865)
George Stewart Burns (1865–1896)
Pearson McAdam Muir (1896–1915)
James McGibbon (1916–1922)
Lauchlan Maclean Watt (1923–1934)
Nevile Davidson (1935–1967)
William Morris (1967–2005)
Laurence A. B. Whitley (2007–2017)
Mark E. Johnstone (2019–present)

Other burials

John Anderson and his son John Anderson of Douhill, both 17th century Lord Provosts of Glasgow
Robert Wishart, Catholic Bishop of Glasgow
James Law, Episcopal Archbishop of Glasgow (1615–1632)
Peter Lowe (surgeon), (1550-1610) doctor and medical author
Charles Macintosh, inventor of the Mackintosh
Peter Murdoch of Rosehill, Lord Provost 1730-1732
Rev Prof George Jardine (1742-1827)

Gallery

Cathedral with Cathedral Square
Cathedral viewed from the pulpit, Cathedral Square
Cathedral engraving by John Slezer, (1693)
An old postcard view of the cathedral (1893)
Glasgow Cathedral choir

Rob Roy in the Crypt of Glasgow Cathedral (more accurately, the Lower Church of Glasgow Cathedral), by the Dalziel Brothers, after Sir Walter Scott's novel, Rob Roy.
Cathedral interior from side, Cathedral Square

References

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/glasgow-cathedral/
http://www.glasgowcathedral.org.uk/
Architecture of Glasgow, by Andor Gomme and David Walker, published in 1968
The Buildings of Scotland: Glasgow, by Elizabeth Williamson and others, published in 1990
Bain, Joseph, ed., Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, 1357–1509, vol. 4, HM Register House, Edinburgh (1888), p.339, nos.1690–2
Dickinson, Gladys, ed., Two Missions of de la Brosse, SHS (1942), 81, 85–87
Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 8, HMSO (1982), 38–39, no. 232.
Extracts from the Burgh Records of Glasgow, (1876), 100.

External links

Official site of Glasgow Cathedral
Historic Environment Scotland. "Glasgow Cathedral, precinct and graveyard (SM90150)".
Historic Environment Scotland. "Glasgow Cathedral, excluding scheduled monument SM90150, 70 Cathedral Square, Glasgow (LB32654)".
Glasgow Cathedral Precinct – History and original drawings of the Cathedral area.
Glasgow Cathedral – from Virtual Scotland
Glasgow Cathedral Photographs

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[1] ttps://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/glasgow-cathedral/

[2] ttp://www.glasgowcathedral.org.uk/

[3] Architecture of Glasgow, by Andor Gomme and David Walker, published in 1968

[4] The Buildings of Scotland: Glasgow, by Elizabeth Williamson and others, published in 1990

[5] Bain, Joseph, ed., Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, 1357–1509, vol. 4, HM Register House, Edinburgh (1888), p.339, nos.1690–2

[6] Dickinson, Gladys, ed., Two Missions of de la Brosse, SHS (1942), 81, 85–87

[7] Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, vol. 8, HMSO (1982), 38–39, no. 232.

[8] Extracts from the Burgh Records of Glasgow, (1876), 100.