St Mungo's Cathedral
St Mungo’s Cathedral
Opened by King David I in 1136, St Mungo’s Cathedral is a beacon of the Glaswegian community and is one of its proudest pieces of historical architecture. The only Medieval cathedral to have remained intact after the Protestant Reformation in 1560, the church is named after St Mungo, the founder and patron saint of Glasgow, a 6th century apostle said to have performed four miracles which led to the city’s formation. In the lower crypt visitors can find the tomb of the saint, as well as various beautiful chapels and quiet prayer areas. Grand and imposing to look at, the cathedral is a prime example of Scottish Gothic architecture, with its ornate facade of high windows and soaring towers creating a dramatic silhouette on the city’s horizon. Be sure to wander over the bridge beside the cathedral to view the stunning Necropolis, a unique Victorian graveyard similar to the celebrated Pere la Chaisse in Paris. This place exhibits beautiful tombs and gravestones designed by famous Glaswegian architects such as Charles Rennie MacKintosh and Alexander Thomson.
