Wellington Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wellington Church |
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| Wellington Parish Church | |
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| 55°52′21″N 4°17′13″W / 55.872528°N 4.287051°W | |
| Location | 76 University Avenue, Glasgow |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Church of Scotland |
| Website | wellingtonchurch.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Founder(s) | United Presbyterian Church of Scotland |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Category A |
| Designated | 6 July 1966 |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Lennox Watson |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Groundbreaking | 1883 |
| Completed | 1884 |
| Administration | |
| Presbytery | Presbytery of Glasgow |
Wellington Church is a church in Glasgow, Scotland. It's part of the Church of Scotland. You can find it on University Avenue, right across from the University of Glasgow.
Contents
The Church Building
A famous architect named Thomas Lennox Watson designed the church. It was built between 1883 and 1884. It was first for a group called the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Later, this group joined with another to form the United Free Church of Scotland in 1900.
The outside of the church looks amazing! It has a grand neoclassical entrance with many tall Corinthian columns. These columns make it look like an ancient Greek temple. This style was popular with the United Presbyterian Church. It was different from the Gothic Revival style many other churches used back then.
Church History
The church's community started way back in 1792. They were known as an "Anti-Burgher" group. In 1820, they became part of the United Secession Church. This group later joined to form the United Presbyterian Church in 1847.
In 1828, they opened their first church building. It was on Wellington Street in central Glasgow. By the 1880s, the community had grown too big for this building. So, they decided to build a new church. The new location was on Gilmorehill, near the university. The university had also moved to this area a decade earlier.
What the Church Does Today
Wellington Church helps the local Hillhead community. It also supports the students and staff of the university nearby. Even though the university has its own chapel, Wellington Church hosts many university events. These events can be religious or not. The church also holds music concerts. People can enjoy recitals played on its original Forster and Andrews pipe organ.
The church community cares a lot about fairness in the world. They were involved in the "Make Poverty History" campaign in 2005. They also took part in events about climate change in 2021. The church even won an award for being an "eco-congregation" in 2004. Wellington Church has also welcomed groups working for social justice.
Wellington Church has a place called the Crypt Café. It serves breakfast and lunch on weekdays. Many university students and staff enjoy eating there.
Since 2004, Wellington has run the International Welcome Club. This club helps people new to Glasgow. It offers free English language lessons online and in person. It's for students, workers, or visitors from anywhere.
In 2006, there was an idea for Wellington Church to join with Lansdowne Church. This was because fewer people were attending both churches. Also, the Lansdowne building was expensive to keep up. But in 2007, Lansdowne Church decided not to merge at that time.
In 2022, Glasgow University started using Wellington's main hall. They use it as a lecture theatre during school terms.
Wellington Church is part of the Presbytery of Glasgow. This is a group of churches in the Church of Scotland.
Church Leaders
The current minister at Wellington is Reverend Richard Baxter. He has been serving since February 2022. Before him, Reverend Dr Roger Sturrock helped out as a temporary minister. He now serves as an Assistant Minister.
The minister before them was Reverend Dr David Sinclair. He served until September 2017. He became the minister in May 2008. He was also a leader in the Church of Scotland's main office in Edinburgh.
The minister before Reverend Sinclair was Reverend Leith Fisher. He retired in October 2006. He passed away in 2009 after a car accident. Over 1,000 people attended his memorial service at Wellington.
Other important past ministers include:
- The Very Rev Ernest David Jarvis DD: He was minister from 1929 to 1958. He was also a top leader of the Church of Scotland in 1954.
- Reverend Maxwell Craig: He served the church between 1973 and 1989.
See also
- 1884 in architecture
- List of Category A listed buildings in Glasgow
- List of Church of Scotland parishes
Other churches nearby
- Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church
- Jordanhill Parish Church
- St John's Renfield Church
