St. Charles Borromeo

Introduction

Saint Charles Borromeo in North Kelvinside, within the Archdiocese of Glasgow, was built in 1959-60 by Gillespie Kidd and Coia. The church is a Category B listed building, listed on 06/04/1992.

Architecture and furnishings

The design partly derived from Auguste Perret's church at Raincy and also owes its origin to the form of top-lit engine works. The church is a long 7-bay rectangular-plan building with a narrow 7-bay apse, built of reinforced concrete with brick infill panels. The church has a skeletal cloche with platforms and bells hung under a concrete roof, topped with a weathervane. The interior has tall concrete wall columns swelling at top to support a ridged vault, encircling the nave and apse.

The stations of the Cross frieze was designed by Benno Schotz, and the sanctuary lamp is also by Schotz. The seating was designed by Coia, and the altar is made of Mexican onyx. The apse has a shallow three-bay west projection. The baptistry is circular and lit by a clerestorey.

Chapels project from the side aisles within the interior. The architect and the sculptor served as models for figures in the frieze. An unfortunate extension to the north is part of the church.