St Vincent Street Church by Alexander Greek Thomson Architect, Historic Architecture Photos, Location, Images
St Vincent Street Church Glasgow
Alexander Thomson Building in Glasgow, Strathclyde, western Scotland, UK
post updated 2 December 2023
Date built: 1859
Architect: Greek Thomson
Address: 265 St Vincent St
Location: just west of city centre
Alexander Thomson building photos © Adrian Welch, 2008
St Vincent St Church
A photograph from 1968 visit by Norwegian architecture student Dag Nilsen:
Alexander Greek Thomson building photo © Dag Nilsen
St. Vincent Street Church is a free Church of Scotland, evangelical & presbyterian church in central Glasgow.
The north facade of the property from the east:
building facade image © Adrian Welch
The building is surrounded by modern high-rises and requires investment / refurbishment.
St Vincent St Church Architect : Greek Thomson
St Vincent Street Church Building
St. Vincent Street Church is a Presbyterian church on St. Vincent Street in Glasgow, Scotland. It was designed by Alexander Thomson (also known as “Greek” Thomson) and built from 1857 to 1859 for the former United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Elements (probably the tower) are by Thomson’s young assistant, the church architect Robert Gordon Wilson, who was a member of the UP church.
This eminent structure is a Category A listed building. The church building is owned by Glasgow City Council.
From 1971 until 2021 it was used by a congregation of the Free Church of Scotland: Glasgow City Free Church. In 1998 the building was listed in the 1998 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund, and again in 2004 and 2006. The Fund helped restore the tower, with support from American Express.
In October 2021, Glasgow City Free Church were forced to vacate the building due to falling plaster. It has since lain unused.
The building north facade from the west:
building facade image © Adrian Welch
It’s all Greek to us
“A council has come under fire from conservationists who claim it has not done enough to restore a city centre church regarded as one of the most important 19th century monuments in Scotland. Five years ago the World Monuments Fund in Britain (WMF), a conservation charity, helped complete a £5 million restoration project on the spire of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson’s St Vincent Street Church in Glasgow, which was built in 1859.
’I sometimes wonder whether Glasgow realises what an architectural masterpiece the city has at the centre. St Vincent Street Church is of international importance as the greatest work by Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson that survives’.”
Scotsman, 10 June 2002
This historic building in more detail – west facade:
building image © Adrian Welch
The architectural context : The Pinnacle Glasgow – quite an ungainly building that is located close by.
Location: west Glasgow, Strathclyde, southwest Scotland, UK
Architecture in Strathclyde
Historic Glasgow : best buildings of the past
Glasgow Churches
Another sadly dilapidated Glasegian church property design by Greek Thomson architect:
Caledonia Road, Caledonia Rd, Gorbals, south of the city centre
Caledonia Road Church
Major Strathclyde Religious Building Designs – selection:
Gorbals Parish Church
Design: ADF Architects
Gorbals Parish Church
Church of St Paul the Apostle
Church of St Paul the Apostle
Queens Cross Church, Garscube
Architect: Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Queens Cross Church
Queen’s Park United Presbyterian Church, Langside Road
Architect: Alexander “Greek” Thomson
Queen’s Park Church
Ruchill Free Church Halls, Ruchill St
Ruchill Free Church Halls
Glasgow School of Art Building
Glasgow Building Designs
Contemporary Glasgow Property Designs – recent architectural selection below:
Golfhill School Flats
image courtesy of Spectrum Properties
Golfhill Public School Dennistoun Flats
Magnet – New Office Building in Glasgow
image courtesy of developer
Magnet Glasgow Office Building
Comments / photos for the St Vincent Street Church Glasgow designed by Alexander Thomson architect, Strathclyde, southwest Scotland, UK, page welcome.
