St George's Tron Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St George's Tron Church
The Parish Church of St George's Tron
The building in 2024
Location	Glasgow
Country	Scotland
Denomination	Church of Scotland
Churchmanship	Evangelical
Website	Church Website
History
Former name(s)	St George's Parish Church
Status	Active
Dedication	Saint George
Architecture
Functional status	Church
Architect(s)	William Stark
Completed	1808
Administration
Presbytery	Glasgow

The St George's Tron Church is a historic Church of Scotland church located in Glasgow, Scotland. It stands right in the city centre, on Nelson Mandela Place, which is near Buchanan Street. This street is one of the busiest shopping areas in Scotland. The church building is very old and important in this part of Glasgow. It's easy to spot as you walk along West George Street.

History of the Church

The church first opened its doors in 1808. It was originally known as St. George's Parish Church. The first people who attended this church came from another church called the Wynd Church. In 1815, a famous minister named Thomas Chalmers served here. He later became a leader during a big change in the Church of Scotland.

In 1940, St George's Parish Church joined with another church called Tron St Anne. This is how it got its current name, St George's Tron.

Ministers and Their Impact

Many important ministers have served at St George's Tron. One of them was Tom Allan, who was a key figure in the Scottish evangelical movement in the mid-1900s. He passed away in 1965. After him, George Baillie Duncan became minister from 1965 to 1977. He focused a lot on teaching and preaching from the Bible.

Other notable ministers included Eric Alexander, who served from 1977 to 1997, and Sinclair Ferguson, who was minister in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

In 2004, Reverend Dr. William J. U. Philip became the minister. During his time, he helped start Cornhill Scotland. This is a special organisation that trains people to become good preachers and Bible teachers.

In 2012, Reverend William Philip and many members of the church decided to leave the Church of Scotland. They moved to a new building on Bath Street. There, they continued as an independent church, now known as The Tron Church.

The Church Today

After the congregation moved, Reverend Alastair Duncan was appointed in 2013 to help restart a new church community in the old St George's Tron building. He was formally inducted as minister in 2020.

Today, St George's Tron is open to the public every day of the week. It has a cafe called the Wild Olive Tree cafe, which is open Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, they have a special Cafe Church Service. They also hold other services throughout the week.

Community Activities

In 2015, an artist named Iain Campbell worked at St George's Tron for a while. He created a painting called "the last supper." This painting showed men who were going through tough times eating together. It was a way to remember a cafe project that the church ran with Glasgow City Mission. This project helped people in need.

The Glasgow Street Pastors also use St George's Tron as a "safe zone" on Friday and Saturday nights. They help people on the streets and offer a safe place to go.

Building Design and Features

The building was designed by an architect named William Stark. The City Fathers, who were important leaders in Glasgow, asked him to design it. The church officially opened in 1808.

Building Improvements

Between 2007 and 2009, the church building went through a big refurbishment. This work was done by CRGP architects and surveyors. During this time, many of the church's original features were uncovered and restored. These features had been hidden by changes made over the years. The refurbishment also fixed some weak spots in the church tower.

The inside of the church now has a modern and open design. This makes it a great space for the Wild Olive Tree cafe and other activities.

See also

• George Baillie Duncan
• Sinclair Ferguson