Govan Old Church
Govan Old Church is an A-listed building of architectural and historic interest and the ‘home’ of an active and committed Church of Scotland congregation. The present building, designed by the distinguished Scottish architect Robert Rowand Anderson and completed in 1888, is the fourth parish church on a site where archaeological excavations have revealed Christ ian burials dating back to at least the 6th century and some believe pre-Christ ian worship took place. The outstanding collection of early medieval sculptures from the 9th to 11th centuries (the Govan sarcophagus, 5 ‘hogbacks’ and numerous crosses and grave-markers) and fine stained glass windows (by Charles Kempe and others) attract numerous visitors each year.
The Friends of Govan Old aim to
- Preserve the fabric of Govan Old
- Contribute to the development of the cultural heritage of Govan – and Glasgow generally
- Encourage visitors through the daily opening of the church
- Extend awareness of the history of Govan (parish and church) through supporting research and promoting publications
- Support Govan Old Parish Church as a living centre of worship, witness and Service
The church is open for public worship at 10am on Mondays to Fridays (including public holidays) for a short (c15 minutes) daily service that has taken place every day since the present building was completed in 1888.
For those interested in visiting the church at other times to explore its history more fully, the building is open, with guided tours available, from the first Wednesday in June to the third Saturday in September on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm. Visits by groups and individuals are also welcome at other times by prior arrangement.
Postal address – Govan Old Parish Church , PO Box 7325 , Glasgow G51 3BW
Telephone – 0141-440-2466
The church is located (convenient for access from the M8, by local buses or Glasgow underground to Govan station) at 866 Govan Road .