St Andrew's in the Square
Encyclopedia
St Andrew's in the Square is an 18th Century category-A-listed former church in Glasgow
, Scotland
, considered one of the finest classical churches in Britain, and now Glasgow's Centre for Scottish Culture, promoting Scottish music, song and dance. The church is located in St Andrew's Square, near Glasgow Cross
and Glasgow Green
, on the edge of the City's East End.
in London, was built between 1739 and 1756 by Master Mason Mungo Naismith, and designed by Allan Dreghorn. While construction of it was started before the nearby St. Andrew's-by-the-Green
, it was completed after, making it either the third or fourth oldest church in Glasgow, depending on criterion. The earlier two buildings were Glasgow Cathedral
and the Trongate steeple
. It was the first presbyterian church built after the Reformation
, and was commissioned by the city's Tobacco Lords
as a demonstration of their wealth and power.
The church was enclosed by a later square, built by William Hamilton between 1786 and 1787, which became fashionable homes for some of Glasgow's wealthiest merchants. The migration of the city westwards throughout the 19th century, however, resulted in a gradual slumming of the area and a dwindling congregation. The church was last used for a religious service in June 1993.
St Andrew's has played its part in Scottish history; in December 1745, before the church's completion, the Jacobite
army, led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, camped around the site, and within its semi-built walls, on its return from their failed invasion of England, and on 23 November 1785, huge crowds of Glaswegians gathered to watch Vincenzo Lunardi
take off from the churchyard in a hot air balloon
on a flight which took him south-east to Hamilton
and Lanark
, before eventually landing in Hawick
. Agnes MClehose (née Craig) married her husband James McLehose in the church in 1776. Agnes is better known as Clarinda whose love letters to Robert Burns under the name Sylvander inspired him to write 'Ae Fond Kiss' for her.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, considered one of the finest classical churches in Britain, and now Glasgow's Centre for Scottish Culture, promoting Scottish music, song and dance. The church is located in St Andrew's Square, near Glasgow Cross
Glasgow Cross
Glasgow Cross is a major junction in the city centre of Glasgow, which has, at its centre, five streets running from it: the High Street, Gallowgate, London Road, the Saltmarket and the Trongate ....
and Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
, on the edge of the City's East End.
History
The church, inspired by St Martin-in-the-FieldsSt Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours.-Roman era:Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410...
in London, was built between 1739 and 1756 by Master Mason Mungo Naismith, and designed by Allan Dreghorn. While construction of it was started before the nearby St. Andrew's-by-the-Green
St. Andrew's-by-the-Green
St. Andrew's-by-the-Green is an 18th Century category-A-listed former church in Glasgow, Scotland, and the first Episcopal church built in the city...
, it was completed after, making it either the third or fourth oldest church in Glasgow, depending on criterion. The earlier two buildings were Glasgow Cathedral
Glasgow Cathedral
The church commonly known as Glasgow Cathedral is the Church of Scotland High Kirk of Glasgow otherwise known as St. Mungo's Cathedral.The other cathedrals in Glasgow are:* The Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew...
and the Trongate steeple
Collegiate Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Anne, Glasgow
The Collegiate Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Anne, Glasgow, was founded in the middle of the sixteenth century by James Houstoun, Subdean of Glasgow and Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1534-41. The church was located on the south side of Trongate. Two copies of its Latin...
. It was the first presbyterian church built after the Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
, and was commissioned by the city's Tobacco Lords
Tobacco Lords
The Tobacco Lords were Glasgow merchants who, in the 18th Century made enormous fortunes by trading in tobacco from Great Britain's American Colonies....
as a demonstration of their wealth and power.
The church was enclosed by a later square, built by William Hamilton between 1786 and 1787, which became fashionable homes for some of Glasgow's wealthiest merchants. The migration of the city westwards throughout the 19th century, however, resulted in a gradual slumming of the area and a dwindling congregation. The church was last used for a religious service in June 1993.
St Andrew's has played its part in Scottish history; in December 1745, before the church's completion, the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
army, led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, camped around the site, and within its semi-built walls, on its return from their failed invasion of England, and on 23 November 1785, huge crowds of Glaswegians gathered to watch Vincenzo Lunardi
Vincenzo Lunardi
Vicenzo Lunardi was born in Lucca, Italy. His family were of minor Neapolitan nobility, and his father had married late in life. Vicenzo was one of three children...
take off from the churchyard in a hot air balloon
Hot air balloon
The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air...
on a flight which took him south-east to Hamilton
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
and Lanark
Lanark
Lanark is a small town in the central belt of Scotland. Its population of 8,253 makes it the 100th largest settlement in Scotland. The name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade"....
, before eventually landing in Hawick
Hawick
Hawick is a town in the Scottish Borders of south east Scotland. It is south-west of Jedburgh and south-southeast of Selkirk. It is one of the farthest towns from the sea in Scotland, in the heart of Teviotdale, and the biggest town in the former county of Roxburghshire. Hawick's architecture is...
. Agnes MClehose (née Craig) married her husband James McLehose in the church in 1776. Agnes is better known as Clarinda whose love letters to Robert Burns under the name Sylvander inspired him to write 'Ae Fond Kiss' for her.
Renovation
At the congregation's request, the church was acquired from them by the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust in October 1993 for the sum of £1. The Trust has since renovated the building, transforming it into a Centre for Traditional Scottish Music, Song and Dance. Victorian additions to the building have been removed, restoring the church's original light and airy feel, while a 4-5 metre deep excavation of the floor produced a basement cafe as well as dressing rooms, rehearsal space and toilets. The building was officially opened to the public on 30 November 2000; St. Andrew's Day.Awards
The renovation of St Andrew's in the Square has won the following awards:- Europa NostraEuropa NostraEuropa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, is the representative platform of 250 heritage NGOs active in 45 countries across Europe...
Diploma - Civic Trust CommendationScottish Civic TrustThe Scottish Civic Trust is a registered charity. Founded in 1967, and based in the Category A listed Tobacco Merchants House in Glasgow, the Trust aims to provide "leadership and focus in the protection, enhancement and development of Scotland's built environment"...
- Glasgow Institute of Architects Special Award
- Scottish Award for Quality in Planning
- Dynamic Place Award
- Royal Institution of Chartered SurveyorsRoyal Institution of Chartered SurveyorsThe Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is an independent, representative professional body which regulates property professionals and surveyors in the United Kingdom and other sovereign nations....
Commendation