Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, Glasgow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kelvinside Hillhead Church |
|
|---|---|
| Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church | |
 |
|
| 55°52′39″N 4°17′36″W / 55.877520°N 4.293262°W | |
| Location | Glasgow |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Website | Kelvinside Hillhead Parish |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Hillhead Parish Church |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Architect(s) | James Sellar |
| Completed | 8 October 1876 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kelvinside and Hillhead |
| Presbytery | Presbytery of Glasgow |
Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church is a church in Glasgow, Scotland. It belongs to the Church of Scotland. This church serves the areas of Hillhead and Kelvinside. It was first known as Hillhead Parish Church.
Contents
History of the Church
Building the First Church
The area of Hillhead grew a lot in the second half of the 1800s. This was especially true after the University of Glasgow moved to Gilmorehill in the 1870s. The Church of Scotland decided to build a temporary church. This church was made of corrugated iron. It opened in 1871.
A New Permanent Church
The temporary church soon became too small. So, the church decided to build a permanent one. Finding a good spot was tricky because of old mine workings. But a new church was finally opened on October 8, 1876. At first, the church was overseen by Govan Old Parish Church. In 1882, it became its own parish for church matters. This meant it had its own church leaders.
Joining Other Churches
Other churches were also built nearby. One of these was Belmont Church. Belmont Church joined with Hillhead Parish Church in 1950. Later, in 1978, Belmont and Hillhead Parish Church joined with Kelvinside (Botanic Gardens) Church. This is when it became known as Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church. The church used the old Hillhead Parish Church buildings.
The former Kelvinside Parish Church (Botanic Gardens) was empty for four years. Then, it was turned into a restaurant and music place called "Òran Mór". This new venue opened in 2004. The ceiling inside was designed by a famous Glasgow artist named Alasdair Gray.
About the Building
Design and Location
The church building was designed by the architect James Sellars. It was finished in 1876. Its design was inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. The church is located on Observatory Road in Hillhead. It is a very important building. It is listed as a Category A building. This means it is of special historical or architectural interest.
Stained Glass Windows
The main part of the church has nine windows with beautiful stained glass. One of these windows was made by the Victorian artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones. The newest window is called the Te Deum Laudamus window. It was installed in 1958 and made by Sadie McLellan.
The Church Organ
The large organ in the gallery was built in 1876 by Henry Willis. It was rebuilt two more times by Willis and Sons. These rebuilds happened in 1906 and 1930. The organ was first placed under the rose window. In 1906, parts of the organ were enclosed. In 1930, many of the organ pipes were moved to where they are now.
Recent Repairs
The church roof was completely replaced between 2017 and 2018. This big project was managed by Page & Park Architects. Other improvements were also made. These included fixing the flashing, pointing, and gutters.
Church Leadership
The church does not currently have a permanent minister. A team helps lead the church. This team includes Rev Dr Doug Gay. He is a professor at the University of Glasgow. Olive and John Drane also help the team.
See also
Other Churches Nearby
- Jordanhill Parish Church (Church of Scotland)
- Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church (Church of Scotland)
- Knightswood St. Margaret's Parish Church (Church of Scotland)
- St. John's Renfield Church (Church of Scotland)
- St. Luke's Cathedral (Orthodox)
- St. Mary's Cathedral (Episcopalian)
- Wellington Church (Church of Scotland)
