St Andrew's in the Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's in the Square |
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| Former names | St Andrew's Parish Church |
| General information | |
| Type | Church |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Location | Merchant City, Glasgow |
| Address | St Andrew's Square |
| Coordinates | 55°51′17.52″N 4°14′34.81″W / 55.8548667°N 4.2430028°W |
| Construction started | 1739 |
| Completed | 1756 |
| Renovated | 1998-2000 |
| Client | Tobacco Lords |
| Owner | Glasgow Building Preservation Trust |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Allan Dreghorn |
| Main contractor | Mungo Naismith |
| Renovating team | |
| Awards and prizes | Europa Nostra Diploma, Civic Trust Commendation, Glasgow Institute of Architects Special Award, Scottish Award for Quality in Planning, Dynamic Place Award, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Commendation |
St Andrew's in the Square is a beautiful old building in Glasgow, Scotland. It was built a long time ago, in the 1700s! It used to be a church, but now it's a special place where people celebrate Scottish music, songs, and dance. It's known as one of the best classical churches in Scotland. You can find it in St Andrew's Square, close to Glasgow Cross and Glasgow Green.
Contents
The Story of St Andrew's
This amazing building was constructed between 1739 and 1756. It was designed by Allan Dreghorn, and a skilled builder named Mungo Naismith helped make it. The church was inspired by a famous church in London called St Martin-in-the-Fields.
St Andrew's in the Square was one of the first churches built for the Presbyterian faith after the Scottish Reformation. Rich merchants in Glasgow, known as the Tobacco Lords, wanted this church built. They wanted to show off their wealth and power.
Changes Over Time
Later, between 1786 and 1787, a square was built around the church by William Hamilton. This area became a very fashionable place for Glasgow's wealthiest families to live.
However, as the city grew, many people started moving to the west side of Glasgow in the 1800s. This meant fewer people lived near the church, and its congregation became very small. The last time a religious service was held in the church was in June 1993.
Important Moments in History
St Andrew's has seen many important events in Scottish history:
- In December 1745, before the church was even finished, the Jacobite army camped around the building. Their leader, Bonnie Prince Charlie, was with them. They were returning from battles in England that didn't go as planned.
- On November 23, 1785, huge crowds gathered at the churchyard. They came to watch Vincenzo Lunardi take off in a hot air balloon! He flew south-east towards Hamilton and Lanark, eventually landing in Hawick.
- A famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, wrote a beautiful song called "Ae Fond Kiss". He wrote it for a woman named Agnes Maclehose, who was married in this church in 1776.
Bringing the Building Back to Life
In October 1993, the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust took over the church. They bought it for a very small amount of money – just £1! Their goal was to save the building and give it a new purpose.
The Trust worked hard to renovate St Andrew's. They removed parts that had been added later, bringing back the church's original bright and open feel. They also dug down about 4 to 5 meters to create a basement. This new space now has a cafe, dressing rooms, practice areas, and restrooms.
The renovated building officially opened to the public on November 30, 2000, which is St Andrew's Day.
Awards for the Renovation
The amazing work done to restore St Andrew's in the Square has won several awards:
- Europa Nostra Diploma
- Civic Trust Commendation
- Glasgow Institute of Architects Special Award
- Scottish Award for Quality in Planning
- Dynamic Place Award
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Commendation
See also
In Spanish: St Andrew's in the Square para niños
