St Matthew's Church, Paisley Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Matthew's Church

St Matthew's Church Location in Renfrewshire
55°50′32″N 4°25′16″W / 55.842290°N 4.421220°W / 55.842290; -4.421220
Location	Paisley
Country	Scotland
Denomination	Church of the Nazarene
Previous denomination	Church of Scotland
Website	St Matthew's Church of the Nazarene
History
Founded	1907
Architecture
Architect(s)	William Daniel McLennan
Style	Art Nouveau and Perpendicular Gothic

St Matthew's Church in Paisley, Scotland, is famous for its unique look. It features Art Nouveau architecture designed by WD McLennan. It also has a beautiful stained glass window by Robert Anning Bell.

This church was built between 1905 and 1907 (118 years ago) (1907). It sits on a small traffic island on Gordon Street, right next to an old fire station. The church was first called St George's East Free Church. Later, in 1929, it became part of the Church of Scotland. Its name was then changed to St Matthew's.

In 1988, the church closed because fewer people were attending. The Church of the Nazarene took over the building. They had been meeting in a different hall nearby. Twenty-eight members from St Matthew's joined the Nazarene congregation.

Amazing Architecture
Inside the Church
Art Nouveau Details
See also

Amazing Architecture

The design of St Matthew's Church is very special. Historic Scotland describes it as an "Art Nouveau interpretation of Perpendicular Gothic". This means it mixes a modern, flowing style (Art Nouveau) with an older, grand church style (Perpendicular Gothic).

The church was designed by William Daniel McLennan, who was from Paisley himself. He was even a member of the church! McLennan lived at the same time as another famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. McLennan was known for his Art Nouveau buildings. You can see his work in many houses in Paisley, as well as in the Bull Inn and another church in the Ralston area. The first plans for St Matthew's included a huge spire, but this idea was not used. McLennan also designed the inside parts of the church. This includes the organ case, the font (for baptisms), and the pulpit (where sermons are given). He even designed the outside railings and the notice board.

Inside the Church

The inside of St Matthew's Church is wide and open. It has a main area called a nave. There are also balconies, or galleries, on the right side and at the back. The pulpit, on the left side, has a wooden crown of thorns above it. On the right side of the choir area, there is a large organ. This organ is still used today.

Around the church, you can find several small rooms. There are also halls at the back of the building. A special tulip design appears all over the church. You can see this tulip shape on the wooden parts, on stone, and in the stained glass windows. It's even on the brass lectern (a stand for reading) at the pulpit and on the light switches! Most of the windows are plain white. They have only small pieces of colored glass.

The most impressive window is a huge stained glass window on the west side, behind the choir. This window was made by Robert Anning Bell. It is not the first window that was there. The original window was simpler. This large, colorful window was added later to remember those who fought in the Great War.

Many people compare St Matthew's to Mackintosh's Queen's Cross Church in Glasgow. That church is no longer used for services. Some people believe St Matthew's is the most important Art Nouveau church in all of Scotland.