Description of the attraction
Glasgow Cathedral has many names - the High Church (High Kirk) Glasgow, St. Kentigern's Cathedral, but the most famous name is St. Mungo's Cathedral. The title "Cathedral" is more historical than factual, since the cathedral now belongs to the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
The history of the cathedral is closely related to the history of the city of Glasgow and its patron Saint Mungo. The real name of the saint is Kentigern, he came from a noble royal family, and Mungo is his nickname. Under the name Kentigern, he is revered in Ireland and Wales, as well as in the Orthodox Church. The cathedral was erected on the spot where in VI St. Mungo personally built his church. The cathedral houses the tomb of St. Mungo, which is a place of pilgrimage. The cathedral was built in the XII century by order of King David, who was present at the foundation of the building in 1136. The cathedral is an excellent example of Scottish Gothic architecture. Most of the timber structures and floors date back to the 14th century. The cathedral is located on a slope and therefore consists of two parts - the Upper Church and the Lower Church.
Unfortunately, very few medieval churches have survived in Scotland since the Reformation, and Glasgow Cathedral is the only remaining large cathedral in mainland Scotland. In 1583, the Glasgow City Council decided to restore the cathedral, although this was not the responsibility of the city. The cathedral has survived to this day only thanks to this decision. The old altar wall of the cathedral is also one of the rare surviving examples. Not all decorative elements of the cathedral are old - in particular, you can see excellent post-war stained glass windows here.
Formally, the cathedral has not been a cathedral since 1690, since there is no episcopal see here. Now the Presbyterian Church of Scotland holds services in the cathedral, and the building of the cathedral itself belongs to the crown.
