St Andrew's-by-the-Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's-by-the-Green |
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| Former names | St Andrew's Episcopal Church |
| General information | |
| Type | Church |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Location | 33 Turnbull Street Merchant City, G1 5PR Glasgow |
| Coordinates | 55°51′14.81″N 4°14′39.44″W / 55.8541139°N 4.2442889°W |
| Current tenants | Glasgow Association for Mental Health |
| Construction started | 1750 |
| Completed | 1751/2 |
| Renovated | 1988 |
| Cost | £1,250 12s 9½d |
| Renovation cost | £600,000 |
| Owner | Christian Action (Glasgow) Housing Trust |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Andrew Hunter |
| Renovating team | |
| Renovating firm | Miller Partnership |
St Andrew's-by-the-Green is a very old building in Glasgow, Scotland. It was built in the 1700s and used to be a church. It was the first Episcopal church ever built in Glasgow. Today, it is considered a very important historic building, known as a category-A-listed building. You can find it on Turnbull Street, right next to Glasgow Green.
Contents
Building History: St Andrew's-by-the-Green
Work on the church started in 1750. It was finished either in 1751 or 1752. This makes it the oldest Episcopal church building in Scotland since the time of the Reformation. It is also one of the oldest church buildings in Glasgow.
The design for the church was created by Andrew Hunter. He was a Presbyterian, which was a different type of church. Because he designed an Episcopal church, his own church removed him from their group. The total cost to build the church was about £1,250. This included buying the land, the stone work, and the inside decorations.
The church was built near a low part of Glasgow Green. This meant it often got flooded. Later, the parkland was made higher to protect the church from the river.
Church and Politics: A Time of Change
In the past, there was a big disagreement between two groups. One group supported the Hanoverian kings, and the other supported Jacobites. The Jacobites believed that Bonnie Prince Charlie should be the true king.
After a failed uprising in 1745, many Episcopal churches decided to support the Hanoverian monarchy. They agreed to use the English Prayer Book and pray for the Hanoverian kings. These churches were called "Qualified Chapels." St Andrew's Episcopal Church was one of them.
After Bonnie Prince Charlie died in 1798, most of these Qualified Chapels joined back with the main Episcopal Church. The St Andrew's congregation joined in 1805. One leader, Reverend Alexander Jamieson, continued his own church until he died in 1825. He is buried at St Andrew's-by-the-Green.
Later Years and New Purpose
Over time, fewer people lived in the center of Glasgow. This meant the church had fewer members. The last church service was held in April 1975. By 1978, the building was being damaged by vandals. Important items, like the pulpit, were moved to the People's Palace for safety.
The Church Organ: A Musical First
St Andrew's was the first church in Glasgow to have an organ for public worship. Because of this, people sometimes called it "Whistlin' Kirk" or the "Kist o' Whistles." The organ was bought in 1744 from another church in Edinburgh.
The organ was built by John Snetzler in 1747. It was moved into St Andrew's-by-the-Green in 1775. It might not have been used for services until 1777. The organ was made bigger in 1788. Then, a completely new organ replaced it in 1812.
The old organ was sold in 1813. It moved with its new owners to different locations. In 1982, the church where it was located was torn down. The organ, which was the oldest in the city, was given to the University of Glasgow. You can still see it in their Concert Hall today.
Renovation and Current Use
In 1985, the Christian Action (Glasgow) Housing Trust bought the church. They wanted to use it as offices. A big effort was made to raise money to fix up the building. They raised £600,000 for the renovation.
In June 2003, the building became the main office for the Glasgow Association for Mental Health.
