A Glasgow Album: Alexander 'Greek' Thomson 5: Glasgow City Free Church

Welcome to my wee photoblog on Glasgow, where we feature the joys and unjoys of walking and cycling through a fascinating, beautiful and often badly run city. For the blog's origin see the 'Introduction' post -

http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/02/introduction.html

An alphabetical list of all posts so far can be found at the end of this post. Today is Sunday, 18 September, 2011. and as it is Doors Open Day - see http://www.doorsopendays.org.uk - we are going to have a look inside the Free Church in St Vincent St. For the previous posts on Alexander 'Greek' Thomson, see

Alexander Greek Thomson
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2010/05/alexander-greek-thomson.html
Alexander 'Greek' Thomson 2: the Egyptian Halls Part 1: the Interior
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/02/alexander-greek-thomson-2-egyptian.html
Alexander 'Greek' Thomson 3: the Egyptian Halls Part 2: the Interior
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/02/alexander-greek-thomson-3-egyptian.html
Alexander 'Greek' Thomson 4: Eton Terrace, 41-53 Oakfield Avenue
http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/09/alexander-greek-thomson-4-eton-terrace.html

For details of the building see

http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-33150-261-st-vincent-street-st-vincent-street-c

From the BLB website

'Greek Revival individually interpreted. Rectangular temple plan with lower aisles raised on full-storey podium containing halls and other apartments with graduated
plinth; tall rectangular tower at NE, linked to lower section and breaking into main body of church behind temple front. Ashlar. Hexastyle fluted Ionic temple fronts to N and S; entablature; pediment with antefixae and acroterion; dwarf-pilastered clerestory with ramped
blind openings to returns; pilastered aisles.'

The church was built for the United Presbyterian Church 1857-59 and is the only complete church by Thomson to survive. It now hosts the Free Church of Scotland congregation, a small but lively Christian group. See their website

http://www.greekthomsonchurch.com/

Heading up St Vincent St

Going in - Thomson Heritage plaque on right

The interior is described by British Listed Buildings (see link above) thus

I'NTERIOR: unusual internal arrangement - the floor of the church is contained in the upper part of the substructure, only the gallery level and above are within the "temple". Galleries and clerestory supported
on stylised Greek cast-iron columns; end walls with pilaster decoration; pulpit set in panelling; coffered ceiling decorations.'

Without flash. .

. . .with flash

'Let Glasgow Flourish' is of course the Glasgow motto. Below is a historical note on the motto from here -
http://www.scotland-guide.co.uk/ALL_AREAS_IN_SCOTLAND/Glasgow/City/St_Mungo_and_the_Glasgow_coat_of_arms/Glasgow%60s_motto.htm

'The city`s motto is a shortened version of the inscription on a bell that was made in 1637 for the Tron Kirk (of which the Tron Steeple still exists): Lord let Glasgow flovrichse throvgh the preaching of thy word and priasing thy name. In 1663 this motto became Lord let Glasgow flourish through the preaching of thy word and in 1699 this was shortened to Let Glasgow flourish.'

In the right-hand stairwell; a kind member of the congregation has let us go upstairs. Think Thomson would have liked the low-energy bulb

Am not a big fan of sepia tints but it works here - will do a few more thus

The roof

The left-hand stairwell

We'll pop down for a wee look

Back in gallery

Another look at stairwell


Thomson liked this shape - see the flanking stonework at 18 Gt George St - http://glasgowalbum.blogspot.com/2011/09/alexander-greek-thomson-4-eton-terrace.html

The white flakes come from above. . .

. . .up there

Note crack

This is the pulpit from Finnieston Free Church - itself a magnificent building, now converted into flats. See

http://www.park-residences.co.uk/development.html

We're heading back downstairs now

Through the green door we go. . .

. . .looking down. . .

. . .looking back

We've put the cord back up

Going back in for a last look

Thin crack in column

Heading out through the left-hand door

looking down St Vincent St. On the right there is the very fine St Columba Church of Scotland, built 1904. Popularly known as the Highland Cathedral because of its popularity with Gaels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Columba_Church_of_Scotland,_Glasgow