St Augustine's Episcopal Church

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St Augustine's Episcopal Church

The St Augustine's Episcopal Church is an Episcopal church building in the Scottish town of Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire . In 1980 the building was included in the Scottish List of Monuments in the highest category A. The church is still in use as such today.

history

The history of Christianity in what is now Dumbarton can be traced back to the 4th century. At that time, what is now Dumbarton Castle was the ruler 's seat of the Kingdom of Alt Clut , which in 314 sent three bishops to represent the kingdom at the Council of Arles . In the 6th century, the Irish princess Modwenna had a chapel dedicated to Saint Patrick built on the walls of Alt Clut.

During construction work on the neighboring Riverside Parish Church in 1848, a grave slab was found below what is now Riverside Church. It shows the cross and sword, which is why it is assumed that it dates from the time of the Crusades. Since nobles were often buried inside churches, this indicates a church was built at this location in the 11th or 12th century; at least on a Christian use. Furthermore, it can be assumed that there was already a church in Dumbarton when King Alexander II raised the settlement to Royal Burgh in 1222 . The oldest written evidence dates from 1320 when King Robert I assigned the church to Kilwinning Monastery . Little is known about this building, however.

In 1837 the Dumbarton episcopal congregation was estimated at 35 people. In 1848 a room on Church Street was rented as a prayer room, which they dedicated to Saint Patrick. In 1856 a chapel dedicated to the Evangelist Luke was opened on Cardross Road . To accommodate the growing Episcopal congregation, construction began in 1873 on St Augustine's Episcopal Church, which can accommodate 550 people. As an architect draws Robert Rowand Anderson of Edinburgh for the design responsible. Due to financial bottlenecks, the construction phase dragged on longer than expected and the building was not consecrated until 1899. It was consecrated to Augustine by Hippo . However, the interior design continued until 1923. The church was restored in the 1990s and 2000s. The reopening took place in 2003.

description

The neo-Gothic church building is located in the south of Dumbarton near the Levenufer . The Presbyterian Riverside Parish Church is diagonally across from it. The masonry consists of ashlar stones. The south-facing entrance portal is worked with a pointed arch . Above is a quadruple lancet window with detailed tracery . Along the main nave, twin lancet windows are arranged on eight vertical axes. A lower extension to the left of the main portal is more recent.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ Information from the parish
  3. ↑ a b Information from Riverside Parish Church
  4. ↑ Information from the parish

Web links

Coordinates: 55 ° 56 '36 "  N , 4 ° 34' 5.9"  W.