St. Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow
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The Cathedral Church of St Mary the Virgin (
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 as ...
: Cathair-eaglais Naomh Moire), commonly called St Mary's Cathedral, is a
cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...
of the
Scottish Episcopal Church The Scottish Episcopal Church ( gd, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba; sco, Scots Episcopal(ian) Kirk) is the ecclesiastical province of the Anglican Communion in Scotland. A continuation of the Church of Scotland as intended by King James VI, and ...
. It is located on the Great Western Road, in the west end of
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 ...
,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
. The current building was opened on 9 November 1871 as St Mary's Episcopal Church and was completed in 1893 when the spire was completed. The architect was
Sir Gilbert Scott Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878), known as Sir Gilbert Scott, was a prolific English Gothic Revival architect, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches and cathedrals, although he started ...
. It was raised to cathedral status in 1908. The total height of the
cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...
is 63 metres. The church structure is protected as a category A
listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
. The other cathedrals in Glasgow are St Andrew's (Roman Catholic), St Luke's (Eastern Orthodox) and St Mungo's, the city's mediaeval cathedral, now used by 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 Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...
, which has a
presbyterian polity Presbyterian (or presbyteral) polity is a method of church governance ("ecclesiastical polity") typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or ...
and does not use the term ‘cathedral’ to describe its churches.


Rector and provost

The twin roles of
rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...
of the congregation and provost of the cathedral are carried out by one person. The candidate for the post of rector and provost is nominated as rector by the vestry on behalf of the congregation and elected as provost by the bishop meeting in chapter. Frederic Llewellyn Deane was the first provost in 1908, four years after becoming rector. His successor, Ambrose Lethbridge, became provost in 1918, a year after being installed as rector. Following the sudden death of Bishop Goldie in October 1980, the installation of Malcolm Grant as rector and provost was delayed until after the enthronement of Bishop Rawcliffe in spring 1981.
Kelvin Holdsworth Kelvin Holdsworth (born 21 October 1966) is a British priest of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Since 2006, he has served as Rector (ecclesiastical), Rector and Provost (religion), Provost of the St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow, St Mary's Cathedral, ...
was installed as rector and provost on 31 May 2006, the
Feast of the Visitation In Christianity, the Visitation is the visit of Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, to Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist, in the Gospel of Luke, . It is also the name of a Christian feast day commemorating this visit, celebr ...
.


Previous rectors and provosts

Source: * Richard Samuel Oldham : Junior Incumbent 1851 to 1859; Sole Incumbent 1859 to 1878; Dean of the Diocese 1877 to 1879 * Frederic Edward Ridgeway : Rector 1878 to 1890; Dean of the Diocese 1888 to 1890 * Richard Howel Brown : Rector 1890 to 1904 *
Frederic Llewellyn Deane Frederic Llewellyn Deane (19 September 1868 - 1952) was the inaugural Provost of St. Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow and then bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney from 1917 to 1943. Biography Frederic was born at Stainton le Vale in Lincolnshire on 19 Septe ...
: Rector 1904 to 1917; First Provost 1908 to 1917 * Ambrose Lethbridge : Rector 1917 to 1927; Provost 1918 to 1927 *
Algernon Giles Seymour Algernon Giles Seymour (1 September 1886 – 22 October 1933) was an Anglican priest in the first part of the 20th century. Seymour was born into an aristocratic and ecclesiastical family. His father was Albert Seymour, sometime Archdeacon of Ba ...
– 1927 to 1933 * Kenneth Charles Harman Warner – 1933 to 1938 * John Gabriel Murray – 1938 to 1944 *
Martin Patrick Grainge Leonard Martin Patrick Grainge Leonard DSO was an Anglican suffragan bishop from 1953 until his death. Leonard was born at Torpenhow, near Cockermouth, Cumberland, on 5 July 1889. He was educated at Rossall, Fleetwood, Lancashire and Oriel College, ...
– 1944 to 1953 *
Frank Fairbairn Laming Frank Fairbairn Laming (24 August 1908 – 3 June 1989) was an Anglican priest in the 20th century. He was born on 24 August 1908 and educated at Durham University and Edinburgh Theological College and ordained in 1937. His first post was as Ass ...
– 1953 to 1966 * Hugh McIntosh – 1966 to 1970 * Harold Chad Mansbridge – 1971 to 1980 *
Malcolm Etheridge Grant Malcolm Etheridge Grant (born 6 August 1944) is an Anglican priest. He was born on 6 August 1944, educated at Dunfermline High School, the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Theological College and ordained in 1970. His first post was as ...
– 1981 to 1991 : (also Assistant Curate 1969 to 1972) * Peter Francis – 1992 to 1996 *
Philip (Griff) Dines (Philip Joseph) Griff Dines is a former Provost of St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow He was born on 22 June 1959 and educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, University College London and Clare College, Cambridge. He was ordained in 1987 af ...
– 1997 to 2005


Congregation

St Mary's combines two roles, as the cathedral for the diocese and as a large urban congregation. Members are drawn from a wide area in and around the city of Glasgow. There is active lay-participation in worship and in administrative and outreach activities. The turnover of the congregation is high.


Music and the arts

St Mary's enjoys a strategic position at the heart of Glasgow's inner west end, and has sought over a number of years to broaden its outreach by making the cathedral a centre of artistic activity, concerts, art exhibitions and a variety of other events are hosted from time to time. The musical tradition within worship is particularly strong, in keeping with the identity of the congregation as the cathedral church for the diocese. An adult voluntary mixed choir sings to a professional standard under the Director of Music, Friðrik (Frikki) Walker. In October 2007, the choir was augmented by the addition of a treble section. The organ is a three manual William Hill instrument which was rebuilt in 1967 and completely restored in 1990. The cathedral has a peal of ten bells. The tenor bell weighs 32 cwt.


Cathedral organists

*William Green Martin * George Pattman 1904–1917 * John Pullein 1917 – ???? *Gordon Cameron *Albert Heeley *Kenneth Mackintosh *Derek Williams *Timothy Redman *James Laird *Bernard J Porter *Stuart Muir *Friðrik Walker 1996 – current


Assistant organists

* Friðrik Walker ARCO * David Hamilton FRCO * David Spottiswoode * Iain Ogg * Stuart Muir ARCO * Stephen Jones * John Gormley * Oliver Rundell ARCO * Christopher Hampson * Peter Yardley-Jones * Geoffrey Woollatt ARCO * Mark Browne FRCO * Peter Wakeford * Steven McIntyre FRCO


Organ scholars

* Mark Browne (2004–2005) * Christopher Hampson (2005–2006) * Kirsty Traynor (2007–2008)


Restoration

From the mid-1980s to 2002 St Mary's Cathedral has undergone an extensive restoration.


Phase 1 – Remedial works at the crossing

As a result of water ingress to the organ serious damage was discovered to the beams supporting the crossing. Repair work was put in hand, and a survey of the building condition carried out. Following the survey, an extensive fundraising project was commenced in early 1986.


Phase 2 – Chancel and organ

The chancel, tower and crossing were restored. The building re-roofed and the clestory windows renovated. To carry out this work, the opportunity was taken to completely overhaul and rebuild the organ. The ''topping out'' ceremony took place at the top of the spire on 19 December 1989. The dedication was carried out by Bishop Derek Rawcliffe with Provost Malcolm Grant, with the cathedral choir singing ''Ding Dong Merrily on High''. In June 1990, the cathedral choir undertook a one-day tour of all seven mainland Scottish Anglican cathedrals as part of the fundraising effort to overhaul and rebuild the organ.


Phase 3 – Synod Hall

The roof of the Synod Hall was replaced, new lighting, provision of new toilets, the Sacristy Corridor was levelled, a choir room provided, the bishop's vestry was replaced by a disabled toilet with level access to the cathedral to the crossing and a wheelchair lift between the disabled toilet and the Synod Hall. The cramped kitchen was dispensed with and replaced with a catering area in the north end of the hall.


Phase 4 – The nave

The largest works to date that required the congregation to worship at the nearby Lansdowne Parish Church from October 2000 to March 2002. Work included the provision a new glazed porch, new tiled flooring to replace the temporary flooring from previous phase, completion of the Gywneth Leech decorations and a new lighting scheme.


Prehistory

By tradition, the congregation was founded by Alexander Duncan in 1715.Constitution of the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Glasgow. Also, James Gordon: ''Glasghu Facies – The History of Glasgow'' (1873), probably quoting James Cleland: ''Annals of Glasgow'' (1816). However, a list of principal members of the congregation from 1713 shows that its origins extend back to 1689 when the Episcopalian structure of the Church of Scotland was removed by Act of the Scottish Parliament, and the Scottish Episcopal Church as a separate entity emerged. In 1689, Episcopalianism was not widely supported in the West of Scotland, but there were families in Glasgow with Episcopalian and Jacobite sentiments, some with links to the church authorities prior to disestablishment. During the reign of
William III William III or William the Third may refer to: Kings * William III of Sicily (c. 1186–c. 1198) * William III of England and Ireland or William III of Orange or William II of Scotland (1650–1702) * William III of the Netherlands and Luxembourg ...
they kept a low profile, becoming more assertive after the accession of Queen Anne in 1702. The earliest contemporary report of the congregation, from
Robert Wodrow Robert Wodrow (167921 March 1734) was a Scottish minister and historian, known as a chronicler and defender of the Covenanters. Robert Wodrow was born at Glasgow, where his father, James Wodrow, was a professor of divinity. Robert was educate ...
,Robert Wodrow: ''Analecta'' (1843); ''Correspondence'' (1842); ''Early Letters'' (1937) describes a service which took place in 1703 to mark the anniversary of the execution of
Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...
. The service was held in the lodgings in Saltmarket of Sir John Bell, a former
Provost of Glasgow The Right Honourable Lord Provost of Glasgow is the convener of the Glasgow City Council. Elected by the city councillors, the Lord Provost serves not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city. The office is equi ...
, and resulted in a riot. At this period several clergy were involved, including two local men,
John Fullarton John Fullarton (c.1645 – 1727), of Greenhall, Argyll, was a Scottish clergyman and nonjurant Episcopal Bishop of Edinburgh between 1720 and 1727. Origins Fullarton was the son of James McCloy, alias Fullarton, of Ballochindryan and Jean Stew ...
(formerly incumbent at
Paisley Abbey Paisley Abbey is a parish church of the Church of Scotland on the east bank of the White Cart Water in the centre of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, about west of Glasgow, in Scotland. Its origins date from the 12th century, based on a for ...
) and John Hay (formerly at New Monklands); Alexander Burgess (formerly at Temple near Rosslyn) also makes an appearance. The earliest reference to Alexander Duncan dates from 1710 when, with John Fullarton, he attends the deathbed of Lady Dundonald in the Place of Paisley. Glasgow's Episcopal clergy had been operating outside the law ( non-juror), but in 1712 a clergyman arrived prepared to take the oath to make him 'qualified'. William Cockburn set up a meeting-house (he calls it a chapel); the location is not recorded. In 1713 he also marked the death of Charles I. His sermon on that occasion survives, with a list of the congregation, which includes established Glasgow families such as the Bells, Barns, Crawfurds, Grahames, and Walkinshaws, and Alexander Duncan. Sir Donald
MacDonald of Sleat Macdonald, MacDonald or McDonald may refer to: Organisations * McDonald's, a chain of fast food restaurants * McDonald & Co., a former investment firm * MacDonald Motorsports, a NASCAR team * Macdonald Realty, a Canadian real estate brokerage ...
played an important part, and his Highland retainers, Gaelic-speaking and in kilts, acted as guards. This chapel was attacked by a rabble a few days after Queen Anne's death and Cockburn fled, an event commemorated in an anonymous ballad, ''The Downfall of Cockburn's Meeting House'', found amongst Wodrow's papers. Members of the congregation played an active part in the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715, fighting for the
Old Pretender James Francis Edward Stuart (10 June 16881 January 1766), nicknamed the Old Pretender by Whigs, was the son of King James II and VII of England, Scotland and Ireland, and his second wife, Mary of Modena. He was Prince of Wales fro ...
, whilst the rest of Glasgow supported the Hanoverian side. Some of the Jacobites fled; some had their estates confiscated. John Walkinshaw escaped from Stirling Castle by changing clothes with his wife, and made for the Old Pretender in Avignon; later he acted as the Prince's envoy in discussions for his marriage to Princess Clementina Sobieska. The congregation survived, depleted and impoverished, and subject to increasingly restrictive laws. In 1728 a meeting house was opened in Broad Close opposite the university, with Duncan (a
college bishop In the early days of the Scottish Episcopal Church, college bishops were men who were consecrated bishops in order to maintain apostolic succession but (extraordinarily) not appointed to any episcopal see An episcopal see is, in a practical u ...
since 1724) assisted by a Mr Wingate. This was soon closed by the magistrates and Wingate sent packing. Duncan, now an old man, held services in his own home until his death in 1733. Evidence is sketchy as to the nature of the Christian observance by the Episcopal congregation in Glasgow in the first half of the eighteenth century, and mostly comes from Wodrow. He mentions a
Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
and prayer-book, presumably the
Book of Common Prayer The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the name given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The original book, published in 1549 in the reign ...
, and also a canonical gown. Cockburn uses the term
Liturgy Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partic ...
.
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were preached. There is
Holy Communion The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instituted ...
at
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(which Wodrow calls
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) and
Easter Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samuel ...
with, in 1713, an
altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in paga ...
being set up in anticipation (perhaps an indication that Communion was infrequent). (Wodrow's own preference was to attend a sermon against holy days). Of the other
Sacraments A sacrament is a Christian rite that is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol of the real ...
,
Baptism Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...
s and
Marriages Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
by 'unqualified' Episcopal ministers had been outlawed in 1695, although Baptisms certainly took place. Wodrow noted wrily that the congregation only started to mark the fast for the martyrdom of Charles I after disestablishment. Episcopal ministers attended the sick and the dying, and took funerals. The
Litany Litany, in Christian worship and some forms of Judaic worship, is a form of prayer used in services and processions, and consisting of a number of petitions. The word comes through Latin ''litania'' from Ancient Greek λιτανεία (''litan ...
, used by Episcopalians elsewhere is Scotland at this period, was probably used in Glasgow. The congregation collected money for the poor. Some English practices (e.g. their way of distributing Communion) were replacing the Scottish traditions, and this caused complaints. Seven years passed before the arrival of the next incumbent, George Graham from Perthshire, who had a meeting house in Candleriggs. The
Jacobite rising of 1745 The Jacobite rising of 1745, also known as the Forty-five Rebellion or simply the '45 ( gd, Bliadhna Theàrlaich, , ), was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the Monarchy of Great Britain, British throne for his father, James Franci ...
had brought
Bonnie Prince Charlie Bonnie, is a Scottish given name and is sometimes used as a descriptive reference, as in the Scottish folk song, My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean. It comes from the Scots language word "bonnie" (pretty, attractive), or the French bonne (good). That ...
to Glasgow.
Clementina Walkinshaw Clementina Maria Sophia Walkinshaw (1720 – 27 November 1802) was the mistress of Charles Edward Stuart. Born into a respectable Scottish family, Clementina began to live with the Prince in November 1752 and remained his mistress for eight yea ...
, daughter of John Walkinshaw, would later become his mistress, and mother of his only child. The penal laws restricting Scottish Episcopalians now became draconian. Graham left the following year. His replacement, in 1750, was David Lyon, with a meeting-house in Stockwell Street. From 1751, Episcopalians prepared to acknowledge the Hanoverian king could attend the
qualified chapel A Qualified Chapel, in eighteenth and nineteenth century Scotland, was an Episcopal congregation that worshipped liturgically but accepted the Hanoverian monarchy and thereby "qualified" under the Scottish Episcopalians Act 1711 for exemption fr ...
,
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 is situated on the corner of Turnbull Street and Greendyke Street, overlooking Glasgow Green, ...
. David Lyon, by now the only Scottish Episcopal priest ministering to a flock scattered across the West of Scotland, took part in the secret meeting held in
Moffat Moffat ( gd, Mofad) is a burgh and parish in Dumfriesshire, now part of the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area in Scotland. It lies on the River Annan, with a population of around 2,500. It was a centre of the wool trade and a spa town. ...
in 1769 to discuss a Protestant bride for Bonnie Prince Charlie. David Lyon was followed by Andrew Wood, then Andrew Macdonald. Macdonald wrote novels, poetry, and plays, and is the only member of this lineage to appear in the ''
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''. He eventually left Glasgow for London where he died young. A book of ''Twenty-eight Miscellaneous Sermons'' by Andrew Macdonald was published posthumously in 1790. The next incumbent from 1788 was Alexander Jamieson from Marykirk, Kincardineshire. The penal laws were repealed in 1792. The congregation grew, for many years meeting in a class room in the Grammar School. In 1825 they moved to St Mary's Chapel in Renfield Street, moving to the present building in 1871. The incumbents of the Renfield Street chapel were George Almond (1825–1848), Bishop Walter Trower (1848–1853) and Richard Oldham.Gavin White: ''St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow'' A History'' (1995) (A summary of – Roger Edwards: ''Glasgow's Episcopalians – Rebel Romantics'' (2008)). See
Old Saint Paul's, Edinburgh Old Saint Paul's is an historic church of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town in Scotland. It is one of the original congregations of the Scottish Episcopal Church, part of the Anglican Communion, which evolved wit ...
for the rather different experience of Edinburgh's Episcopalians.


References


Notes


Sources

*


External links


Official site of St Mary's Cathedral


– Features modern drawing of the cathedral's patron looking down towards Great Western Road. {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow Churches completed in 1893 19th-century churches in the United Kingdom Category A listed buildings in Glasgow Listed cathedrals in Scotland Tourist attractions in Glasgow Mary's Glasgow, Saint Mary's Gothic Revival church buildings in Scotland George Gilbert Scott buildings Anglo-Catholic church buildings in Scotland Listed churches in Glasgow