The carved panels above the entrance. Magnificent aren’t they? Depicting St Augustine loaves and fishes a chalice and water. This is St Augustine’s RC Church in Glasgow. A truly remarkable place.
This church wasn’t always here. It’s a testament to post-war reconstruction. Part of Glasgow Corporation’s ambitious housing development in Milton. In 1953 the parish was established. The parishioners themselves raised funds. They even had a ‘Hippo Club’ buy-a-brick scheme. It was quite the community effort.
Construction on the church and presbytery on Ashgill Road finished in 1954. Architect Charles William Gray of Reginald Fairlie and Partners designed this striking building. Its Spanish ranch style is unique. Note the harled walls the ashlar base course. The brown painted window frames. And that stunning green Westmoreland slate roof. It’s a Category-B listed building. A designation earned in 1992.
The interior is equally impressive. A parabolic arched roof spans the space. Simple fittings highlight the building’s architecture. The presbytery linked by a low arcaded passage is just as interesting. Its asymmetrical two-storey design is a perfect complement to the church.
St Augustine’s wasn’t alone in its impact. The eponymous secondary school opened in 1954. It was the first Catholic comprehensive school in Scotland. The Lord Provost of Glasgow formally opened it. The Archbishop of Glasgow blessed it. It closed in 1998. The associated primary schools St Ambrose and St Augustine’s merged in 2009. They formed St Monica’s Primary School named after Augustine of Hippo’s mother. Quite the legacy.
St Augustine’s RC Church has served its community for seventy years. And it continues to thrive. A testament to faith community spirit and outstanding design. A real Glasgow landmark. Don’t forget to look closely at those incredible carved panels.