Òran Mór (

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well ...

: "great melody of life" or "big song") is a theatre, restaurant, entertainment and music venue in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

. From 1862 until 1978 the building was the Kelvinside Parish Church (Botanic Gardens) before becoming redundant and then converted into an entertainment venue in 2004.

History

The building was founded as the Kelvinside Free Church, as a parish church of the Free Church of Scotland. The foundation stone was laid on 4 September 1862, and the church was built in the

Neo-Gothic Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

style, on designs by J. J. Stevenson. A spire was built in an Italian Gothic Pyramid style. After the Free Church of Scotland joined the United Presbyterian Church in 1900 to form the

United Free Church of Scotland The United Free Church of Scotland (UF Church; gd, An Eaglais Shaor Aonaichte, sco, The Unitit Free Kirk o Scotland) is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland (or UP) and ...

, the church was renamed the Kelvinside United Free Church. The name was once more changed when the

merged into the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland. The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...

, becoming Kelvinside Parish Church in 1929. Between 1929 and 1978, the church served as a

Parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

of the

. By the late 1970s, the congregation had dwindled and in 1978, it was decided to merge Kelvinside Parish Church with Hillhead Parish Church, and retaining the use of the latter building for worship. Consequently, the former Kelvinside Parish Church became redundant and derelict. In 2002, works commenced to refurbish the building and turn it into an arts and leisure centre, with it being renamed Òran Mór. The building was opened in June 2004. The building appeared in ''The Amazing Race'' in 2022, and was the venue for the memorial service for

Derek Watson (actor and musicologist) Derek Watson (6 November 1948 – 17 September 2018) was a Scottish musicologist, actor, musician and bookseller. He has been described as a Scottish cultural icon. Acting career Watson began work at the Citizens Theatre in 1972. He was init ...

References

{{Reflist Theatres in Glasgow Restaurants in Glasgow Music venues in Glasgow 1862 establishments in Scotland 19th-century Church of Scotland church buildings Former churches in Scotland