St Columba's Catholic Church, Glasgow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Columba's Church |
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| Location | Woodside, Glasgow |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Columba |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Category A listed |
| Designated | 6 April 1992 |
| Architect(s) | Gillespie, Kidd & Coia |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1937 |
| Completed | 1941 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | West End |
| Archdiocese | Glasgow |
| Province | Glasgow |
St Columba's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Woodside, Glasgow, Scotland. It was finished in 1941 and designed by the famous architects Gillespie, Kidd & Coia. The church stands on Hopehill Road, just southwest of Garscube Road. From 2005 to 2016, priests from the Dominican Order served the church. Since 2016, the Holy Ghost Fathers have been in charge. St Columba's Church is a very important building, listed as a Category A building, which means it has special historical or architectural value.
Contents
A Look Back: How St Columba's Church Was Built
On March 26, 1937, a priest named Father Denis Flynn asked for permission to build a new Catholic church in Woodside, Glasgow. Around that time, there was a big event called the 1938 Empire Exhibition in Scotland. A special Catholic building at this exhibition was designed by an architect named Jack Coia. He was then chosen to design St Columba's Church.
Building the church faced a big challenge: World War II started. Construction had to stop for a while. But in 1941, during the Blitz (a time of heavy bombing in Britain), permission was given to continue building. The church was completed during this difficult time. The local families helped pay for the church's construction. Each family paid a small amount of money (about 6d, which was six old pennies) for the bricks used. St Columba's Church was the only church finished in Glasgow during World War II.
Architecture: The Church's Design
The design of St Columba's Church is inspired by the Italian Romanesque style. This style often uses round arches and strong, simple shapes. The church has a basilica layout, which means it has a large central hall with aisles on the sides.
The front of the church, which faces west, has a unique cross-shaped window. While the outside of the church is made of brick, it is built over a strong concrete frame. The roof is a special type called a mansard roof, which has slopes on all four sides. Above the main entrance door, there is a sculpture of the Paschal Lamb, which is an important symbol in Christianity.
Inside the church, you can find the stations of the cross. These are a series of images that show events from the last day of Jesus' life. These paintings were created by Hugh Adam Crawford and originally came from the Catholic building at the Empire Exhibition. In the sanctuary, which is the area around the altar, there is a beautiful marble screen called a reredos. It has a carved crucifix made by the artist Benno Schotz.
The Parish Community
In 2005, Dominican priests began to serve the St Columba's parish. They stayed until 2016, when they moved from the area. After them, the Holy Ghost Fathers arrived and served the community until January 7, 2021. At that point, the Blessed Sacrament Fathers took over running the parish. The Holy Ghost Fathers moved to the south side of Glasgow to be closer to the Queen Elizabeth University Teaching Hospital, where they also work as chaplains (religious advisors).
The church holds several Masses (worship services) each week. On Saturdays, there is a Mass at 4:00 PM. On Sundays, there are Masses at 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. From Monday to Friday, Masses are held at 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM.
See also
- Archdiocese of Glasgow
