The Church that Endures the Test of Time: Quick Tour to Glasgow Cathedral
The Church that Endures the Test of Time: Quick Tour to Glasgow Cathedral
The city of Glasgow in Scotland offers the best of both worlds. On the surface, the city is modern and vibrant. But if you examine closely, it is a city with a rich and colorful history as evidenced by the splendid array of monuments and buildings that date all the way back to the Middle Ages (12th-century). The best example of its rich history and wonderful architecture is the Glasgow Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of Glasgow or St. Mungo’s Cathedral.
This popular attraction in Glasgow exhibits Gothic style architecture. The architectural display is both awe-inspiring and elegant. However, the beauty of this medieval structure belies its strength and persistence: the architectural structure has survived the 1560 Protestant Reformation in Scotland. The majority of the building was re-constructed and reinforced in the 15th century although some of its parts were preserved from the original 12th century structure. The square located in front the Cathedral houses St. Mungo Museums of Religious Life and Art, which also hosts different international art exhibitions from every religion all over the world.
A Cathedral of Romantic Mystery
In spite of the tall windows of the Glasgow Cathedral, its interior is quite dark, resulting to an impressively mysterious and romantic vibe. The Gothic arches easily catch anyone’s attention along with its breathtaking 32-meter high wooden ceiling. This ceiling was restored multiple times already while some of its panels date all the way back to the 14th century.
Another great feature inside the church is the colossal stone choir, which depicts the 7 deadly sins. All of its impressive stained glass windows were made and installed in 1947.
The door to sacristy is located right behind the choir in the left corner of the church. This is where the University of Glasgow was founded in 1451, making it one of the most historic places in the city.
St. Mungo’s Tomb
Another really interesting feature that adds to the cathedral’s mysterious appeal is the tomb of St. Mungo, also known as St. Kentigern, The tomb is located underground, in the old crypt, beneath the arches of the church. St. Mungo is a late 6th-century apostle of the Britonnic Kingdom of Strathclyde. He is the founder and patron saint of the city of Glasgow. This is why there’s a symbol of the saint – a bell, a tree and a fish with a ring – in the city’s coat of arms.
This tomb was once a shrine and a great center for Christian pilgrims, until the Scottish Reformation. It was said that his remains still rests inside the crypt. There’s a spring called “St. Mungo’s well” that is located eastward from the apse.
A Historical Structure that Adapts to Modern Times
Unlike many churches in the world, Glasgow Cathedral survived the test of time and even able to adapt to the requirements of modernization, particularly in the area of new systems of communication. Through this, it allowed one company to start a new and efficient way of communication line known as Broadconnect private network and Broadconnect hosted PBX. Both technologies are designed for private network, delivering important voice and confidential data communications between the church’s personnel on a 24/7 basis.
Today, Glasgow Cathedral remains as one of the top visited attractions in Scotland. Its combination of historic charm and persistence throughout the centuries add to the factors that have helped it generate tourist interest.
