Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

C J Menart, 1909-10; Presbytery, 1890 by Pugin and Pugin; later alterations by Gillespie Kidd and Coia, 1953-4 (see Notes) including fresco restoration by William Crosbie. Roman Basilica style church of predominantly rock-faced red ashlar with steel frame. Base and eaves courses. Semicircular-arched, keystoned openings; stone transoms and mullions.

E (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: symmetrical with triple-arched entrance to ground; giant Diocletian window set between giant Ionic pilasters with sculpture of St. Andrew and St. Patrick and figure of Christ to supporting pedimented gable, flanking stair towerlets with Baroque caps.

S AND N ELEVATIONS: giant Diocletian windows to each 3-bay flank.

INTERIOR: 3-bay with paired marble Ionic columns; sumptuous use of white marble to chancel with columns supporting timber baldachino. Passage aisles flanked by fluted pilasters. Figure of Christ by Jack Mortimer over altar.

Multi-pane leaded glazing pattern with some figurative coloured glass. Grey slates.

PRESBYTERY TO N: 3-storey, 3-bay with top floor above main cornice and with gabled dormerheads and chamfered openings, roll-moulded openings below; grey rubble with ashlar dressings. Slate roof.

GATEPIERS: iron-railed low boundary wall to street, square gatepiers.

Statement of Special Interest

Place of worship currently in use as such (2010).

The Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart is a particularly fine example of an early 20th century Romanesque Basilica in Glasgow characterised by its giant Diocletian window and flanking Baroque-capped stair towers. The unusual and high quality exterior design is complemented by a very fine interior which incorporates an important fresco by Charles Baillie, as well as the adjacent presbytery by architects Pugin and Pugin.

The Sacred Heart Mission, Bridgeton, was formed in 1873 with a timber church mission hall opening in 1874. This building was replaced by the present building in the same site. The ceiling is now partly segmental as a result of major structural alterations carried out by renowned 20th century church architects Gillespie, Kidd & Coia from 1953-54. The church has a capacity of 800.

Charles J Menart was a Belgian born architect who specialised in a Roman-Baroque style working primarily for the Archdioceses of Glasgow and Aberdeen. Key among his other commissions include St Aloysius' Church in Garnethill, Glasgow and St Thomas's in Keith, Banffshire (see separate listings).

The village of Bridgeton was established in 1776 with the burgeoning cotton industry and resultant influx of people to the city. Since 1705 the area had been known as Barrowfield but became Bridgeton when the Rutherglen Bridge was built along with a new road to the north boundary, now known as Bridgeton Cross. The advent of steam power and increased mechanisation at the end of the 18th century led to the construction of many mills as well as associated textile industries such as dyeworks and bleachfields in Bridgeton. The area became the industrial suburb of Glasgow and was annexed to the city in 1847.

List description revised as part of the Glasgow East End listing review, 2010

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.