St Columba Church of Scotland, Glasgow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Columba's Church
The Parish Church of Saint Columba
Eaglais Ghàidhlig Chaluim Chille
St Columba's Church, St Vincent Street, Glasgow
Location	Glasgow
Country	Scotland
Denomination	Church of Scotland
Website	Church Website
History
Status	Parish church
Dedication	St Columba
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Tennant and Burke
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic Revival
Completed	17 September 1904
Specifications
Number of spires	1
Spire height	67.06 m (220 ft 0 in)
Administration
Parish	St Columba's
Presbytery	Glasgow

St Columba's Church is a Church of Scotland Parish church that serves a Gaelic congregation in Glasgow.

History

The Church of Scotland congregation of St Columba in Glasgow dates back to 1770. It was established to cater for the spiritual needs of the large number of Gaelic speakers from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland settling in Glasgow in search of employment. The church still has a service in Gaelic every Sunday, as well as weekly services in English.

Shortly before leaving Scotland to emigrate to South Africa in 1903, the poet Duncan Livingstone carved the inscription Tigh Mo Chridhe, Tigh Mo Gràidh ("House of My Heart, House of My Love") on the lintel of the main door of the church.

The current church building in Glasgow's St Vincent Street was opened on Saturday 17 September 1904, and is built in the Gothic Revival style. It was designed by architects Tennant and Burke and is now protected as a category B listed building. Because of its size and association with Gaeldom and the Gaelic language it is also popularly known as the Highland Cathedral.

Past ministers have included two former Moderators of the General Assembly: the Very Rev Dr Norman Macleod (Caraid nan Gaidheal) (minister 1835-1862) in 1836; and the Very Reverend Dr Alexander MacDonald (minister 1929-1954) in 1948.