Probus enjoy hearing story about Cathedral

Members of Bothwell and Uddingston Probus Club were given a talk on the history of Glasgow Cathedral by ex-president Robert Keys.

The first church on site was built by St Mungo around 550 AD, but the present building was started 600 years later and dedicated in 1197.

The site of the original wooden church is incorporated into the north east corner of the Cathedral and the unfinished ground level structure was roof vaulted by Archbishop Blackadder about the year 1500.

Later towers were added to the front of the church but were later demolished by the Victorians.

As it stands, the Cathedral is a superb example of Scottish Gothic architecture and is the oldest building in the city.

Among the many items of interest shown in the speaker’s pictorial tour was a memorial tablet to James Lowe who, in 1599, received the Royal Charter from King James VI to found the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

They later helped to set up the Glasgow Humane Society, which is still run by the Geddes and Parsonage families to this day, to rescue people from the Clyde.

The fine composition present in the modern stained glass windows installed by the Society of friends of Glasgow Cathedral in the last 80 years are a colourful feature of the interior along with the Choir screen and the Choir barrel roof with its one metre bosses decorated with symbols of the life of Christ.

Many other items of interest are available to the visitor and it is not surprising that they come from all over the world to see this magnificent building.

Last year visitor numbers topped the 300,000 mark.

The speaker was warmly thanked for his fine presentation by member Gordon Murray.

The Probus Club’s next meeting is today (December 15) when Professor Brian Williams CBE will give a talk entitled Healthy Ageing.