HISTORY OF ST. ALPHONSUS CATHOLIC CHURCH CALTON GLASGOW SCOTLAND

St. Alphonsus, established in 1846 is the third oldest Catholic Parish in Glasgow, following the Cathedral in Clyde Street (1816) and the neighbouring St. Mary's in Abercromby Street (1842). The present building is the second, having been opened in 1905. It is the last of a number of Churches built around the turn of the century by Peter Paul Pugin, grandson of  the famous Victorian architect A. W. Pugin, who designed the Houses of  Parliament.

St. Alphonsus de Liguori (1696 - 1787) is described as the John Wesley of Italy. He was born in Naples and prompted great revival of religious enthusiasm by his preaching among the poor. He founded a religious congregation known as the Redemptorists, whose centre in Scotland is in Kinnoul, Perth. This is the only Church in Scotland dedicated to St. Alphonsus.

The Church of St. Alphonsus is set in one of the oldest parts in Glasgow, a short walk from the site where St. Mungo established his monastery and original settlement, (where Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis now stand)-and from Glasgow Cross where in 1615 John Ogilvie was hanged, drawn and quarted for acting as a priest. The parish sits between St. Andrew's Cathedral and St. Mary's and all three take the Glasgow Green and the River Clyde as their boundary.

St. Alphonsus Church and Presbytery are located in the very heart of the Barras Market, the oldest and best known market in Scotland, which opens on Saturdays and Sundays.

Many people pop into the church for a moment of prayer, to light a candle for some intention, to listen to the music, which is presented from time to time, or to have a look at the Church. Most find the atmosphere of the church with its Neo-Gothic features, polished wood and bright but dignified surroundings conductive to a few moments peace from the bustle of the Barras.

The most imposing feature of the church is the High Altar and the decorative screen behind the altar, called 'Reredos'. It consists of a central canopy and throne upon which the crucifix rests. The two lesser canopies cover groups of kneeling angels.

The stained glass in the church represents a pleasing contrast between ancient and modern. The window above the High Altar represents St. Alphonsus. On the left the Ascension of Our Lord and on the right is the Assumption of Our Lady'

Above the main entrance to the church the Rose Window is a modern illustration of the Eight Beatitudes and was executed and installed in 1996 to mark the 150th Jubilee of the Parish by Lorraine Lamond, a local stained glass artist.

The statues behind the altar represent a wide collection of well known Saints- the apostles Peter and Paul: Andrew patron Saint of Scotland and Patrick and Brigid, patron Saints of Ireland; Columba of Iona, and Mungo, founder of Glasgow-two of the great builders of Christianity in Scotland; Margaret, Queen of  and Patroness of Scotland who reformed the Scottish Church in the 11 century; Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscans and Clare of Assisi; who founded the Poor Clares; Louise de Murillac, founder of the Sisters of Charity; Theresa of Avila who reformed the Carmelite Order and is one of  only two women declared a Doctor of the Church.

A close look reveals that the eyes of all the Saints and Angels look towards the centre, towards the tabernacle, where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.

The side Altars are dedicated to the Sacred Heart and Our Lady, whose statue carved from limestone, together with  that of the Holy Family beautifully sculpted from Cean marble, are the finest in the church.

The icon painting of St. Alphonsus, situated near the Sacred Heart altar is a replica of an original painted in the Basilica of St. Alphonsus in Salerno, the main church and foundation of the Redemptorist Order. Two devotions associated St. Alphonsus are represented in the church.

The extravagant gilt framed picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is the image used throughout the world for the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, a devotion begun by the Redemptorists. 

The fourteen Stations of the Cross are found in almost every Catholic Church, a pictorial story of Christ's journey to Calvary. The devotion was made popular in the Middle Ages by the Franciscans for ordinary people who were unable to make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land to visit the places (stations) associated with the death of Christ. The best-known version of the prayers was composed by St. Alphonsus. The present Stations, painted on copper panels, were designed and made in 1934 by a well-known Benedictine monk, Fr. Theodore of Prinknash Abbey.

The organ, located in the Choir Loft is a fine instrument and was built for the original church in 1880, and transferred to the new church in 1905. It has been rebuilt three times since, having been damaged in 1943 by a bomb, in 1988 by falling plaster, and in 1995 by a fire. It is now three manual with twenty two stops controlling one thousand and ninety pipes, ranging from sixteen feet to one quarter of an inch.

The offering  boxes located in the church support a variety of good causes, including St. Anthony's Box, which is used to support the parish's own work among the many homeless and needy in this area.

On entering the Church you will see the holy water font where Catholics bless themselves with holy water. In the past in the Holy Land and other hot countries the householder provided water for travellers so that they could wash the dust from themselves. It would have been discourteous of the host not to provide water and of the guest not to wash before entering the house. The custom remains as a symbol of respect for God's house, and as a symbol to welcome all who enter it. As you leave you will see on the glass panel at the entrance to the church the word 'Peace' written in five major Scripts of the world-Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Sanscript and Chinese. May the peace of Christ be with you.

We hope if you are ever in Glasgow, Scotland or at the Barras you will visit our Church.