St James' (Pollok) Parish Church facts for kids

St James' Parish Church is a historic church located in the Pollok area of Glasgow, Scotland. It belongs to the Church of Scotland. This church has a very interesting past, as it was moved from one part of Glasgow to another!

About St James' Church

St James' Parish Church is not just any old building. It's a special place of worship that has been around for a long time. It was first built in the late 1800s. The church is known for its unique architectural style.

Building Style and Design

The church was designed by an architect named Henry Edward Clifford. He built it in a style called Neo-Gothic. This means it looks like the old Gothic churches from the Middle Ages. It has pointed arches and tall windows. The church also has a cruciform shape, which means it looks like a cross when you view it from above.

A Church on the Move: Its History

The most amazing thing about St James' Church is that it wasn't always in Pollok. It was actually built somewhere else and then moved!

From Titwood to Pollok

The church was first known as Titwood Parish Church. It was built between 1893 and 1895 in an area called Pollokshields, which is also in Glasgow. Imagine building a huge church and then moving it!

Why the Church Moved

In 1941, the Titwood church joined with another church nearby. This meant the Titwood building was no longer needed. But instead of tearing it down, they decided to move it! Between 1951 and 1953, the church was carefully taken apart. Each piece was then transported to Pollok.

Rebuilding and Reopening

Once in Pollok, the church was put back together, piece by piece. This was a huge job! Architects Thomson, McCrea, and Sanders were in charge of this big move. While the church was being rebuilt, the people who would worship there met in a school hall and then a wooden hut. The newly rebuilt church, now called St James', officially opened its doors on 3 September 1953.