“Sixpence for a brick.” That was the rallying cry in Woodside Glasgow. It helped build St Columba’s Church during World War II.
Welcome to St Columba’s Church a testament to faith and community spirit. It stands as a Roman Catholic Parish church.
Let’s dive into the story of this remarkable building. Fr Denis Flynn sought permission to build the church in 1937. Jack Coia designed the Catholic Pavilion for the 1938 Empire Exhibition. He then received the commission for St Columba’s Church.
Construction faced delays due to World War II. But permission was granted in 1941 to continue. St Columba’s Church was completed during the Blitz. Imagine building a church amidst wartime chaos.
Local families bore the construction costs. Each family contributed sixpence for every brick. This collective effort shows their commitment. St Columba’s Church was the only church completed in Glasgow during the war.
The architecture draws inspiration from the Italian Romanesque style. Its basilica layout offers a sense of grandeur. A cross-shaped window adorns the front of St Columba’s Church facing west. The exterior is brick built over a concrete frame. It also features a mansard roof.
Above the central door behold the sculpture of the Paschal Lamb. The Stations of the Cross were painted by Hugh Adam Crawford. These came from the Catholic Pavilion at the Empire Exhibition. Inside the sanctuary admire the marble reredos. It features a carved crucifix by Benno Schotz.
Dominican priests served the parish from 2005 to 2016. Then the Holy Ghost Fathers took over. As of January 7 2021 the Blessed Sacrament Fathers administer the parish.
St Columba’s Church holds five Sunday Masses. These take place at 4:00 pm on Saturday. Sunday Masses are at 8:30 am 10:00 am 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Weekday Masses occur at 10:00 am and 12:30 pm.
Dr John Hume an inspector of historic buildings examined numerous churches. From 1000 churches he shortlisted 184 as the best. St Columba’s Church made the cut.
Today St Columba’s Church stands as a Category A listed building. This recognizes its historical and architectural importance. The church is an architectural masterpiece. It opened in 1941 during the Clydebank and Govan blitz. It stands as a symbol of hope and resilience.