St Silas Church, Glasgow

St Silas Church is an evangelical Anglican church in the Woodlands area of Glasgow, Scotland, adjacent to Kelvingrove Park and the University of Glasgow.[1] The congregation was founded in 1864 and holds to the theology of the Thirty-nine Articles in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.[1] The church is a category B listed building

History

Although the church was founded as an Anglican chapel in Scotland in 1864 due to concerns about the Oxford Movement's sway on the Scottish Episcopal Church it remained independent from the denomination.[2] It became the last of what at its height was 11 Anglican churches to join The Scottish Episcopal Church in 1982.[3] The church then left the denomination in 2019 following their perception that the denomination had departed from the authoritative teachings of the Bible.[4] Following this decision the Church joined the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE), a diocese of the Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE).[4]

During the ministry of J.C. Ryle as bishop of Liverpool he was also the bishop for St Silas where he regularly preached at least once a year.[5]

Activities

In addition to the weekly services, on the first Sunday of every month a traditional 1662 Book of Common Prayer service is conducted which uses the morning prayer liturgy of the Daily Office (Anglican).[6]

The building

The land was bought by Archibald Campbell (the father of Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood), George Burns and William Burnley and the building was designed by John Honeyman (architect), who later worked alongside Charles Rennie Mackintosh.[7] Minor alterations were made in 1907-08 during the time that Mackintosh worked with Honeyman.[8] Sculptor Thomas Earp[7] contributed carved stonework to the building project.

The building is listed as a 'category B' listed building by Historic Environment Scotland with a noted special interest in its ecclesiastical nature, the memorial to World War One and World War Two and the memorial to Archibald Campbell of Blythswood. Also mentioned is the quatrefoil pulpit, stained glass windows from the 1880s and a golden brass eagle lectern from 1887.[9]

A extension was added to the building in 2005 by Wellwood Leslie Architects, comprising a contemporary church hall, meeting rooms and office space over two levels.[10]

Memorials

On the north west wall sits a mural memorial to Archibald Campbell of Blythswood which reads: "In memory of Archibald Campbell of Blythswood, who gave the site on which this church is built and freed it of feu duty, also contributed largely to its erection in order to provide a place of worship for all time, where the services of the Church of England might be conducted in their simple and Protestant form and the gospel of the grace of God be preached. A.D. 1864. This tablet was placed here by his son Sholto D. Campbell Douglas A.D. 1904. Sometime incumbent A.D. 1886-1899 who afterwards became Lord Blythswood and died September 30th 1916 leaving £10,000 for the augmentation of the Ministers Stipend upon the terms set forth in the Vestry."

The St Silas' Episcopal Mission in Partick ran from 1886 to 1952 and was also designed by John Honeyman.[11] On its closure four tablets were moved into the Park Road building. These tablets range from 1875 to 1935 and are in remembrance of people who dedicated their lives to the Mission.[12]

Partners

Denominationally the Church is a member of the Anglican Network in Europe and the Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON).[13] Additionally St Silas partners with the John Paton Foundation (named after the Scottish missionary John Paton)[14]

References

  1. 1 2 "About Us". St Silas Church. St Silas Church Glasgow. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Introducing St Silas". St Silas Church. St Silas Church Glasgow.
  3. ↑ Stranraer-Mull, Gerald (2012) [2000]. A Church for Scotland: A History of the Scottish Episcopal Church (PDF). Edinburgh. p. 23. Retrieved 24 November 2023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. 1 2 Yeomans, Emma (18 June 2019). "St Silas church congregation breaks ties with 'unbiblical' Episcopal church". The Times. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Farley, Ian David (1988). J.C.Ryle - Episcopal evangelist a study in late Victorian evangelicalism. Durham: Durham University. p. 106.
  6. ↑ "Church Life - Sundays". St Silas Church. St Silas Church Glasgow. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  7. 1 2 Williamson, Elizabeth; Anne, Riches; Higgs, Malcolm (1990). Buildings of Scotland: Glasgow. London: Penguin. p. 275.
  8. ↑ "M287 Alterations to St Silas Church". Mackintosh Architecture. University of Glasgow. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "ELDON STREET/PARK ROAD ST SILAS ENGLISH CHURCH (EPISCOPAL CHURCH)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "St Silas Episcopal Church". Wellwood Leslie Architects. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  11. ↑ Williamson, Elizabeth; Anne, Riches; Higgs, Malcolm (1990). Buildings of Scotland: Glasgow. London: Penguin. p. 371.
  12. ↑ "St Silas' Episcopal Mission Church, Partick". The National Archives. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Our Churches". Anglican Network in Europe. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "About". The John Paton Foundation. Retrieved 24 November 2023.

55°52′20″N 4°16′48″W / 55.87221°N 4.28004°W / 55.87221; -4.28004

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