CHurch Overview

Remarkable Greek Revival two storey church occupying a significant urban corner site in Glasgow’s West End, designed and built 1883-85 by local architect and interior designer Thomas Lennox Watson, who was also responsible for the nearby Wellington Church on Gilmorehill. 

With its attractive Ionic columns and bold pediment it resembles a grand Greek temple, built in blonde polished sandstone from Overwood Quarry, rather than white gleaming marble from the Attica and Cycladic Islands. Watson also added a smalled ‘temple’ next door, with the church built to accommodate 800 and its hall a further 500. Inside, its impressive sanctuary housed a columned horsehoe gallery with a panelled front and a handsome coffered ceiling above.

Long noted for the pleasing harmony of its Classical exterior architectural features with the richness of its original dark woodwork and pews, beneath the ornate plaster ceiling, its sanctuary interior nonetheless maintained an unpretentious intimacy, assisted by the sunlight that filtered through the delicately coloured glass.

Its decorative stonework, fittings and furnishings were provided by some of the best craftspeople operating in Victorian Britain, such as the stonemasonry by Alexander Muir & Sons, ironwork from Walter McFarlane & Co’s Saracen Foundry, plasterwork by Mitchell Rigalli and marble mosaic floors created by the firm of Walker & Emley in Newcastle. 

Other items of note inside included an impressive two manual Lewis & Co pipe organ in an elaborate case, that was installed in when the building opened, and a number of memorials to former church pastors. Its adjacent single storey hall, known latterly as “The Tryst” was well-used by the congregation, local community and generations of local students. 

As the congregational numbers declined, planning permission was sought in 2011 to convert its peripheral buildings into flats. The congregation was by then only meeting in their adjacent Tryst building and in 2016, its members took the decision to move out of there too. The following year the congregation formed a partnership with a property developer to convert the building into a combination of residential uses and community facilities, intending to retain the impressive Classical façade.

In 2021, the property developer removed the roof of the church, citing pressing safety concerns and in 2022 the developer purchased the church outright from the Baptist congregation. Plans were submitted thereafter seeking to demolish the entire church on the grounds that it would no longer be economical to redevelop along the lines agreed previously.

After a long-drawn out civic campaign, with many heritage groups (including ourselves), local organisations and residents objecting strenuously to the proposed demolition, in June 2026 members of Glasgow City Council’s Planning Committee voted narrowly in favour to allow the demolition of this historic church.

Church is now closed and earmarked for demolition

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Disclaimer

The information about churches in Scotland’s Churches Scheme has been provided by the congregations or taken from the Historic Scotland list and published sources, in particular, the Buildings of Scotland volumes and the RIAS Illustrated Architectural Guides. To contact this specific church please complete the Contact this Church form above. The information is not authoritative; please contact Scotland’s Churches Trust to let us know of any errors or omissions.