St Andrew's in the Square facts for kids
St Andrew's in the Square is a very important old church building in Glasgow, Scotland. It was built in the 1700s and is known as one of the most beautiful classical churches in Scotland. Today, it's a special place called Glasgow's Centre for Scottish Culture, where people can enjoy Scottish music, songs, and dance. You can find it in St Andrew's Square, close to Glasgow Cross and Glasgow Green, on the edge of the city's East End.
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 |
Contents
The Story of St Andrew's
This church was built between 1739 and 1756. It was designed by Allan Dreghorn and built by Mungo Naismith, a master builder. The church was inspired by St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.
St Andrew's in the Square is one of Glasgow's oldest churches. It was the first church built for the Presbyterian faith after a big change in religion in Scotland. Rich merchants, known as the Tobacco Lords, paid for it. They wanted to show how wealthy and powerful they were.
Later, between 1786 and 1787, a square was built around the church. Fancy homes were built there for Glasgow's richest people. But over time, many people moved to the west of the city. The area around the church became less fancy, and fewer people came to church. The church stopped being used for religious services in June 1993.
Famous Moments at the Church
St Andrew's has seen some exciting moments in Scottish history.
In December 1745, even before the church was finished, the Jacobite army camped around it. This army was led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. They rested inside the church's half-built walls after their battles in England 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, finally landing in Hawick.
A famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, also has a connection here. In 1776, a woman named Agnes Maclehose got married in the church. She was known as Clarinda. Her special letters to Robert Burns, who used the name Sylvander, made him write his famous song "Ae Fond Kiss" for her.
Bringing the Church Back to Life
In October 1993, the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust bought the church for just £1. They wanted to save the building. The Trust worked hard to fix up the church between 1998 and 2000. They turned it into a Centre for Traditional Scottish Music, Song, and Dance.
During the renovation, they removed parts that were added in Victorian times. This made the church feel bright and open again, just like it was originally. They also dug down about 4 to 5 meters under the floor. This created a basement with a cafe, dressing rooms, practice areas, and restrooms. The 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 renovate St Andrew's in the Square 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
