St Columba Church of Scotland, Glasgow
St Columba's Church is a Church of Scotland Parish church that serves a Gaelic congregation in Glasgow.History
The Church of Scotland congregation of St Columba in Glasgow dates back to 1770. It was established to cater for the spiritual needs of the large number of Gaelic speakers from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland settling in Glasgow in search of employment. The church still has a service in Gaelic every Sunday, as well as weekly services in English.
Shortly before leaving Scotland to emigrate to South Africa in 1903, the poet Duncan Livingstone carved the inscription Tigh Mo Chridhe, Tigh Mo Gràidh on the lintel of the main door of the church.
The current church building in Glasgow's St Vincent Street was opened on Saturday 17 September 1904, and is built in the Gothic Revival style. It was designed by architects Tennant and Burke and is now protected as a category B listed building. Because of its size and association with Gaeldom and the Gaelic language it is also popularly known as the Highland Cathedral.
Past ministers have included two former Moderators of the General Assembly: the Very Rev Dr Norman Macleod in 1836; and the Very Reverend Dr Alexander MacDonald in 1948.
