St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Cathedral
Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St Andrew or Glasgow Metropolitan Cathedral
Glasgow Metropolitan Cathedral on the banks of the River Clyde
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Location	Glasgow, Strathclyde
Country	Scotland
Denomination	Catholic
Website	www.cathedralG1.org
Architecture
Heritage designation	Category A
Designated	15 December 1970
Architect(s)	James Gillespie Graham
Style	Gothic Revival
Years built	1814-1816
Administration
Archdiocese	Glasgow
Province	Glasgow

The Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, also known as Glasgow Metropolitan Cathedral, is a large Catholic church in Glasgow, Scotland. It's the main church for the Archdiocese of Glasgow. The cathedral was designed in 1814 by James Gillespie Graham in the Neo Gothic style. You can find it on the north bank of the River Clyde in Clyde Street. St Andrew's Cathedral is where the Archbishop of Glasgow, currently William Nolan, has his official seat. The church is named after Saint Andrew, who is the patron saint of Scotland.

History of St Andrew's Cathedral

Interior of St Andrew's Cathedral

For a long time, from 1560 until 1791, Catholics in Glasgow had to practice their faith in secret. This was due to the Scottish Reformation, which changed the main religion in Scotland.

Building a New Church in Glasgow

By the late 1700s, many Irish Catholic immigrants moved to Glasgow. This happened during the start of the Industrial Revolution. Because of this, there was a big need for a Catholic church in the city. In 1805, there were about 450 Catholics in Glasgow. By 1814, this number grew to 3,000. That year, Reverend Andrew Scott decided to build a new church on Clyde Street.

The land for the church was bought from a company called Bogle and Scott. This company used to trade tobacco and sugar. The Bogle and Scott families were well-known in Glasgow. They owned many estates and held important city jobs.

The church was finished in 1816. It was designed by James Gillespie Graham (1776–1855). St. Andrew's Church officially brought the Catholic presence back to Glasgow.

Challenges During Construction

Building the church was not easy. People who were against the Catholic Church tried to stop the work. They would tear down what was built during the day at night. This caused delays, and guards had to protect the building site.

However, other Christian groups in the city helped. They donated money to finish the church. This showed a spirit of friendship and cooperation. The church building is not very grand. It doesn't have a tall steeple or a bell tower. This was because there were still rules about how noticeable Catholic churches could be. These rules were finally removed in 1829.

Becoming a Cathedral

In 1878, the Catholic Church in Scotland was reorganized by Pope Leo XIII. Because of this, St Andrew's Church became a pro-cathedral in 1884. A pro-cathedral is a church that serves as a cathedral temporarily. It was also greatly updated at that time by architects Pugin and Pugin.

In 1947, new Catholic areas (dioceses) were created for Motherwell and Paisley. This meant the Archdiocese of Glasgow became a main (metropolitan) diocese again. St Andrew's then became a metropolitan cathedral.

The Cathedral Organ

The large pipe organ in the cathedral has an interesting history. It was first built in 1903 by Henry Willis & Sons. It was originally in the Elgin Place Congregational Church. When that church closed in 1981, the organ was moved and reinstalled at St Andrew's Cathedral.

The organ was taken apart and stored during the cathedral's renovation in 2009-2010. Currently, an electronic organ is used. There is a special fund to help bring the original Willis organ back.

St Andrew's Parish Community

The community of St Andrew's Parish started in 1792. That year, a parish priest was appointed for Glasgow again. Two hundred people came to the first Mass in a rented hall. Five years later, a new building in the Calton area held 600 people each Sunday. The first Mass in the new St Andrew's Church on Clyde Street was held on December 22, 1816.

Over time, new churches opened, and the city center changed. This led to fewer people living in the cathedral's local area. However, many people still come from other places to attend services. Shoppers, workers, students, and tourists also visit the cathedral. They come for quiet prayer, Mass, or the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The archbishop also holds important services here often. These events attract worshippers from all over the archdiocese.

Cathedral Renovation Project

A big restoration project started on August 14, 2009. The cathedral needed major repairs and improvements. The renovation included new heating and lighting systems. The church was also redecorated, and gold leaf was restored.

New bronze doors were installed. The pipe organ was repaired and put back. A new painting by Peter Howson was added. It shows the martyrdom of St John Ogilvie. The work finished in April 2011. The cathedral officially reopened on April 11, 2011.

Clergy Who Served at St Andrew's

Many important clergy members have served at St Andrew's Cathedral. Here are some of the people who have led the parish:

• Rt. Rev. Mgr. Alexander Munro (1867–1892)
• Rev. James Mackintosh (1893–1900)
• Rev. James McCarthy (1900–1914)
• Rev. George Ritchie (1914–1923)
• Rev. James Mullin (1923–1925)
• Rt. Rev. Mgr. William Canon Daly (1925–1947)
• Very Rev. Joseph Canon Daniel (1947–1965)
• Rev. Denis Meechan (1965–1967)
• Rev. John McGuckin (1967–1980)
• Very Rev. John Canon Brannan (1980–1983)
• Rt. Rev. Mgr. Hugh N. Canon Boyle (1983–?)
• Rt. Rev. Mgr. Christopher McElroy (?–2017)
• Very Rev. Gerald Canon Sharkey (2017–2022)
• Very Rev. Andrew Canon McKenzie (2022–present)

See also

In Spanish: Catedral de San Andrés (Glasgow) para niños