Govan Old Parish Church, 866, 868 Govan Road, Glasgow

Govan Old Parish Church, built between 1883 and 1888 by Sir R Rowand Anderson, with a chancel extension in 1906 and subsequent dedication in 1908, is an example of Early Pointed Gothic architecture. The church follows a cruciform plan and includes foundations for a projected steeple to the west, which remains unbuilt.

The south elevation features a “west” door framed by three pointed arches with moulded archivolts resting on nook shafts adorned with bell capitals. The central door has wrought-iron hinges, and the flanking arches each contain a pair of arched windows. A broad band of ashlar stone runs above, intended to hold bas-relief sculpture which was never installed. Above this are three tall lancet windows with a continuous hood mould and two blind trefoils. The gable apex has a small pointed window and two trefoils. The church is crowned with a cross finial, and features prominent angle buttresses.

The east elevation presents a six-bay buttressed nave with lancet windows, incorporating blank projections for the aisles, and Norman-style doors on the south side. A twin-gabled baptistery projects from the north, displaying two rose windows, pinnacled buttresses, and six small, blocked lancets. The chancel was extended eastward in 1906.

The north elevation is dominated by a large rose window positioned above three lancets and flanked by two clasping, pinnacled turret buttresses with fleur de lis finials. Lower basement windows illuminate church offices. The west elevation mirrors the east, with a small arched entrance situated in front of the twin-gabled transept. A brick wall marks the location of a planned porch that would have linked to the unbuilt tower. A tall, gabled, plate traceried window provides light to the staircase leading to a gallery in the transept. The smaller Steven Chapel features eight lancets, a wallhead stack to the west, and a three-light trefoil window to the north. The church is roofed with slate.

Inside, the church exhibits a very ecclesiological design. A tall, wide nave is topped with a wooden roof supported by engaged, clustered columns featuring bell capitals. The clerestory has lancet windows and blind tracery, all linked by a continuous hood mould. The walls are constructed of red brick with grey ashlar bands, and the aisles are relatively narrow. Small galleries are located at the rear and above the transept. The church holds a significant collection of early Christian monuments.

The chancel features encaustic tiled floors, wrought-iron gates, and a 1906 blind arcade with stiff-leafed capitals, carved spandrels below a band of foliated carving. The arcade incorporates three lancets and a large rose window. A traceried altar frontal is also present. The Steven Chapel includes three cusped lancets near the altar and six windows along the side, along with a wooden roof.

Notable stained glass is found throughout the church, including exceptional works by C.E. Kempe (London) over the altar, on the south and east walls, and in the transept and side gallery. Glass in the Steven Chapel is by Clayton and Bell, while the baptistery's glass is the work of Shrigley and Hunt.

A significant series of sepulchral monuments are present, including hogbacked tombstones, cross-shafts, upright crosses, recumbent slabs, and a sarcophagus.