What if these stones could talk? Welcome to Govan Old Parish Church the oldest place of worship in Glasgow. This isn’t just a church it’s a portal to Glasgow’s past.
Govan Old Parish Church has a rich history. The churchyard dates back to Celtic times. The church itself was built in 1888. Robert Rowand Anderson designed it in the Early English style with Scottish touches. It’s been called the people’s cathedral.
Inside Govan Old a treasure awaits. Thirty-one monuments survive. These monuments date from the 9th and 10th centuries. They showcase medieval Scottish sculpture. See flat cross slabs and free-standing crosses. A sarcophagus and hogback monuments are here too. The intricate carvings tell silent stories.
The soft lighting enhances the stained glass windows. Masters of the day created them. Names include CE Kempe and Burlison & Grylls. Clayton & Bell and Shrigley & Hunt also contributed. Red stone and polished wood pews create a warm atmosphere at Govan Old.
Imagine Govan in the 9th and 10th centuries. This was a center of power. Govan’s graveyard and sculptures suggest royal patronage. The Govan Stones collection is internationally significant. A sarcophagus was rediscovered in 1855 during a grave digging.
John Stirling Maxwell commissioned a photographic record. Forty-six carved stones were captured. Plaster casts were made by Robert Foster. T & R Annan & Son photographed them. These photos appeared in Early Christian Monuments of Scotland.
Ralegh Radford compared Govan’s stones to those at Inchinnan. He saw them as part of a Govan School of carving. Today thirty monuments are inside the church. One remains in the graveyard.
The Govan Stones include one sarcophagus. There are two cross-shafts and two upright cross-slabs. Five hogbacks and twenty-one recumbent cross-slabs also feature. The Govan Sarcophagus shows a huntsman on horseback. Animals resembling deer are also carved.
Govan Old is open daily from April 1 to October 31. The hours are 1pm to 4pm. Admission is free. A small gift shop sells books and local crafts. Donations help maintain Govan Old and its collection.
Govan Old Parish Church is more than a building. It’s a repository of stories. It connects us to early medieval Scotland. The Govan Stones whisper tales of kings and craftsmen. They speak of faith and artistry. Take a moment to appreciate this unique place. Let the stones tell you their stories.