A city centre church has been granted a category A-listed status by Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

St Columba’s Church on St Vincent Street had previously been classed as a B-listed building for over 50 years before a review and public consultation was held by HES in March.

Glasgow Times:

The church's new category-A listing is said to recognise the "the quality and extent of its exterior and interior design" which includes a striking statue of St Columba and an inscription of ‘Tigh Mo Chridhe, Tigh Mo Gràidh’ by the poet Duncan Livingstone above its main entrance.

Glasgow Times:

The early 20th-century building is the largest church built for a Gaelic-speaking congregation outside of the Scottish Highlands and to this day retains plenty of its original character.

St Columba's was the only church in Glasgow to continue to hold a Gaelic language service on Sunday mornings from 2011 until 2020 when services in the church were suspended.

Dara Parsons, Head of Designations at HES, said: “St Columba’s Church has remained largely unaltered, retaining many of its interior and exterior details.

"While the Decorated Gothic style of St Columba’s was widely used in church design in Glasgow during the 19th century, the level of detail and wealth of carved stonework detailing that adorns St Columba’s both internally and externally is exceptional.

“The outstanding design along with the church’s significant role within the Gaelic speaking community, adds to the building’s special architectural and historic interest, and we are delighted to recognise its national importance with category A status.”

For more information on the St Columba’s Church building record click here.