Remember the name Thomas Rickman? He was the architect behind this Gothic Revival masterpiece, the Ramshorn Theatre. Originally built as St David’s Parish Church in 1824, it replaced a church from 1720. This is the only church in Scotland that Rickman designed.
The Ramshorn Theatre stands in what was once a very fashionable area. Many prominent Glaswegians are buried in the surrounding Ramshorn Cemetery. Industrialist David Dale and tobacco merchants Andrew Buchanan and John Glassford rest here. Even Pierre Emile L’Angelier, a figure in the Madeleine Smith murder case, is buried here.
Look closely at the exterior of the Ramshorn Theatre. See the plaque dedicated to Sir John A. MacDonald? He was Canada’s first prime minister. He was born in this parish. You will also spot plaques honoring Professor John Anderson. He founded the institution that became the University of Strathclyde. His grandfather, also named John Anderson, served as minister at the Ramshorn Church.
Inside the Ramshorn Theatre, admire the stained-glass windows. These are the work of W and J J Kier of Glasgow. They tell stories from the Old and New Testament.
The church’s congregation dwindled over time. In 1982, it merged with the Barony Church. The University of Strathclyde bought the church in 1983. Page/Park Architects converted it into a theatre and performance space. From 1992 to 2011, the Ramshorn Theatre hosted student productions and touring companies. It played a vital role in Glasgow’s performing arts scene.
In 2019, the Ramshorn reopened as the home of SCILT. That is Scotland’s National Centre for Languages. It also houses the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools. Both are part of the University of Strathclyde.
Before it was the Ramshorn Theatre, the cemetery was the most fashionable place to be buried in Glasgow. Among those buried are Robert and Andrew Foulis. They were Glasgow’s leading booksellers and publishers during the Enlightenment. They even founded an Academy of Fine Arts.