Coats Paisley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coats Paisley |
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 Coats Paisley
Location in Renfrewshire
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| 55°50′41″N 4°25′57″W / 55.8448°N 4.4324°W | |
| Location | High Street Paisley, Renfrewshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| History | |
| Founded | May 1894 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Deconsecrated, now public use |
| Heritage designation | Category A |
| Architect(s) | Hippolyte Blanc |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
Coats Paisley is a beautiful building in Paisley, Scotland. It used to be a church called Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church. People even called it the 'Baptist Cathedral of Europe' because it was so grand!
This amazing building has been a key part of the Paisley skyline for over 100 years. Its tall, striking crown steeple reaches about 60 meters (almost 200 feet) into the sky. Coats Paisley is also a very important historic building, known as a Category A listed building.
Contents
Who Was Thomas Coats?
Thomas Coats (1809-1883) was a very important person in Paisley. He helped start the famous J.&P Coats company, which made thread. Thomas was also a philanthropist, meaning he loved to help others and give money to good causes.
He was a strong believer in the Baptist Church. Thomas cared a lot about his town. He helped fix up Paisley Abbey and paid for projects like the Coats Observatory and Paisley Fountain Gardens. After he passed away in 1883, his family decided to build a special Baptist church to remember him.
Building History
The idea for the church started with a design competition in 1885. Six skilled architects were chosen to submit their plans. The winning design came from Hippolyte Jean Blanc.
Construction began in late 1885. It took many years to build, finally finishing in May 1894. The church served its community for a long time. However, over the years, fewer people attended services. Also, the building needed a lot of expensive repairs. Because of this, the last church service was held in August 2018.
After the church closed, people wanted to save the building. A plan was started to raise money to fix it up. The goal was to turn it into a place for arts and culture.
Amazing Architecture
Coats Paisley is built in the Gothic Revival style. This means it looks like old medieval churches. It's made from red sandstone and has a cross shape. You can see flying buttresses along the sides, which are supports that help hold up the walls.
The main tower has an open crown steeple at the top. At the front, a grand set of stairs leads to four large oak doors. Inside, the main hall can seat almost 1,000 people! The ceiling is vaulted, meaning it's curved like an arch.
The building is full of beautiful details. You can find colorful mosaics, painted decorations, and even carved stone figures called gargoyles. There's also fancy carved marble and alabaster. Above the front of the church, the vaulted ceiling is painted with angels. On either side, you can see the huge organ. It has about 3,040 pipes! This organ was built by William Hill & Sons and is one of the few in Britain that hasn't been changed.
What It's Used For Now
Today, Coats Paisley is managed by the Coats Memorial Preservation Trust. It's no longer a church but a busy event space. It hosts many different events like weddings, school proms, and graduation ceremonies. Companies also use it for special events.
The building is so grand that it's even used for television shows and movies! For example, parts of Season 5 of the historical drama Outlander were filmed at the former church and on its grounds.
See also
- Paisley, Renfrewshire
- List of Category A listed buildings in Renfrewshire
- List of listed buildings in Paisley, Renfrewshire
