ABOUT ST. BRIDE'S
BRIEF HISTORY
St Bride's Episcopal Church began its life as one of a number of temporary church buildings which sprang up in the West End of Glasgow in the late nineteenth century. It was part of a wider movement encompassing all denominations, to make provision for their followers in the new suburbs of the city. The Scottish Episcopal Church was a small but increasingly successful denomination. In the mid-nineteenth century Episcopalianism in Glasgow had seen rapid growth, albeit from a low base. Although the 1792 Relief Act had granted legal toleration to Scottish Episcopalians, there were only six congregations in the diocese of Glasgow in 1832. By 1888 there were sixty-seven congregations in the city, an elevenfold increase.
Further congregations were added during the episcopate of William Harrison (1888-1903). Twenty-two new missions were started under his aegis, at the rate of almost one every two years. As part of this programme Harrison agreed to a proposal made by a group of business and professional men in 1891 for the creation of a church in the affluent Kelvinside area. An arrangement was made for them to have the use of a small wooden chapel which had been in the grounds of Douglas Castle. One of the interested businessmen was J. B. Fleming, owner of the Kelvinside Estate. He provided a plot of land for the church in Beaconsfield Road. Fleming, along with R. Y. Pickering, the managing director of the largest railway carriage and wagon building firm in Scotland, became joint trustees of the church.4 Others in the group of founders included James Parker Smith, the Liberal Unionist MP for Partick and owner of Jordanhill; Francis H. Newbery, head master of the Glasgow School of Art; William Kennedy of Hugh Kennedy and Sons, railway and public work contractors; and R. W. Shanks, a Partick fishmonger.
Between 1891 and 1893, the Beaconsfield Road mission was served by curates from St Mary's, Great Western Road. By 1893 it was ready to support its own priest-in-charge. Pickering and Fleming guaranteed £250 a year to the priest, until the end of 1897. The Revd T. M. R. Younghughes was appointed to the post. His new church had room inside for 114 people and all the seats were 'free and unappropriated.' It was dedicated to St Bride of Kildare, patron saint of the Douglas family. It was also in debt: well over £600 was owed to Pickering and Fleming and 'the congregation scarcely existed, except on paper.'
For further information please download the History of St.Brides.pdf (318kb)
LOCATION
St. Bride's Episcopal Church
69 Hyndland Road
Glasgow
G12 9UX
CLERGY
Rector
Currently vacant
Non-Stipendiary Priest
The Revd Sydney Maitland
0141 339 4573