St Andrew's Square, Glasgow facts for kids
St Andrew's Square is a public square in Glasgow, Scotland. It is located in the southeast part of the city, near Glasgow Cross and Glasgow Green. The square is famous for its beautiful 18th-century church, St Andrew's in the Square, which gives the square its name.
The church was finished in 1758. It was designed by architect Allan Dreghorn and master builder Mungo Naismith. It is considered one of the best churches of its kind in Britain. Inside, it has very fancy 18th-century rococo plasterwork. The building is so important that it is listed as a Category A building. St Andrew's Square is one of six main squares in Glasgow's city centre.
When the church was first built, it stood in open fields next to the Molendinar Burn. Later, the city council encouraged the development of the square. They sold land to a builder named William Hamilton, who constructed buildings between 1786 and the early 1790s. The square soon became a popular place for Glasgow's richest merchants to live. It was known as a home for the city's wealthiest people. The Royal Bank of Scotland even opened a branch here in the 18th century.
In 1864, a map called Sulman's Bird's Eye View of Glasgow showed how close the square was to the busy trading area of Glasgow Cross and the University of Glasgow.
However, as the 19th century went on, the area around the square became more industrial. Many wealthy residents moved to other parts of the city. Most of the old buildings around the square were taken down in the 1980s. As part of a project called GEAR (Glasgow East-end Recovery Project), new buildings were constructed in a Georgian style. This project, helped by the Scottish Development Agency, also made the square free of traffic.
About St Andrew's in the Square Church
St Andrew's in the Square is the old church located in the middle of St Andrew's Square. Its design was inspired by St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London. It used to be known as St Andrew's Church of Scotland Parish church.
History of the Church Building
The church was built between 1739 and 1756. It is the fourth oldest church in Glasgow. The older churches are Glasgow Cathedral, the Tron Church in Trongate, and the nearby St Andrew's-by-the-Green. This church was the first Presbyterian church built in Glasgow after the Reformation.
In 1807, the first organ in a Presbyterian church was played here. However, its use was stopped until the main church assembly could decide if it was allowed. The church congregation moved to a new location in 1993. After that, the building was reopened as a place for arts events and other gatherings.
Images for kids
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St Andrew's in the Square - Glasgow
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St Andrew's in the Square as viewed from St Andrew's Street.
