Was it fate, or perhaps a cosmic alignment that led to St Benedict’s R.C. church being built here? St Benedict’s R.C. church stands as a testament to faith. It embodies architectural ambition. But its story is entwined with challenges.
Let me tell you more about St Benedict’s R.C. church. It is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a place of spiritual solace. It is also a landmark.
St Benedict’s R.C. church, in Easterhouse, Glasgow, faced serious structural problems. Water damage threatened its very existence. This church was not alone. Other Catholic buildings from the 1960s suffered similar fates.
Award-winning architects Gillespie Kidd and Coia designed St Benedict’s R.C. church. They also designed other buildings. These buildings later faced demolition due to structural faults. St Peter’s College at Cardross became derelict. St Bride’s Church in East Kilbride required major repairs. A tower had to be pulled down. Similar issues plagued these structures.
Another St Benedict’s R.C. church in Drumchapel was demolished in April 1991. The Catholic Church claimed it could not afford repairs. The water damage was too extensive. This earlier St Benedict’s R.C. church was completed in 1970. Many of these buildings shared design features. Copper roofs were a common element. St David’s at Plains near Airdrie was also demolished. However, it wasn’t for the same reasons.
Despite the issues, 27 churches designed by Gillespie Kidd and Coia are listed buildings. Six were built during that troubled spell in the 1960s. Historic Scotland listed fourteen of them just 18 months prior.
Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell diocese launched a 3 million appeal. The appeal sought cash for church repairs in the future. East Kilbride-based architects DTA conducted a feasibility study. The study aimed to save St Benedict’s R.C. church in Easterhouse.
However, DTA also applied for consent to demolish St Benedict’s R.C. church. They planned to replace it with a new building and pastoral center. Donal Toner of DTA noted technical problems. These related to water penetration, heat loss, and structural stability. St Benedict’s R.C. church achieved category B listing in 1994. Gillespie Kidd and Coia dissolved in 1987.
Professor Isi Metzstein, who worked with the firm, expressed surprise. He did not know why either of the St Benedict’s R.C. churches would be demolished. He said they were not consulted. They were not involved in recent years.
Father Tom Connelly, a Catholic Church spokesman, offered a possible explanation. Post-war material shortages might have contributed to the problems. He also suggested some designs were better suited to sunnier climates. Parishioners at St Benedict’s R.C. church in Easterhouse raised thousands. They wanted to pay for repairs over the years.
Today, St Benedict’s R.C. church is still known as St Benedict’s. In 2016, St Benedict’s Parish and St. Clare’s Parish were conjoined. They formed a new parish called the Parish of St. John Bosco. The churches are still known as St. Benedict’s, and St. Clare’s respectively.
The Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco reside in the Convent within the grounds of St Benedict’s Church. One sister acts as a Pastoral Assistant to the Priest. St Benedict’s R.C. church stands as a reminder. It embodies resilience, faith, and the enduring spirit of its community.