St Mungo’s Cathedral (Glasgow, Scotland) – Visit tips + Photos

The Glasgow Cathedral, also known as the St Mungo's Cathedral is one of the main monuments to visit in the city. From the outside you might be disappointed, but enter the building and you will be impressed but its architecture, colorful stained glass windows and the unique feature of the lower church. Have a look:

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Video - St Mungo's Glasgow

Let's start with a short video of the St Mungo's Cathedral Glasgow. Come and visit with me!

I recommend adding it to your itinerary, even if you have only one day in Glasgow.

PLANNING TIPS - St Mungo's Cathedral Glasgow

Getting to the Glasgow Cathedral

• Located off Castle Street East of central Glasgow - at the East end of Cathedral Street
• Near the Glasgow Royal infirmary, the Necropolis and the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
• Bus stops - After Cathedral Square - Many local busses stop there and the Hop on Hop Off bus too

Visiting St Mungo's Cathedral Glasgow

• Glasgow Cathedral Opening hours: 9:30am to 5:30 pm from April to September and 10am to 4pm from October to March (afternoons only on Sundays) - last admission 30 min before closure
• Free entrance
• It is quite touristy inside with souvenirs and all
• A few steps to access the Lower church

Architecture of the St. Mungo's Cathedral

From the outside the St mungo's Cathedral Glasgow does not look like a cathedral. It looks more like a simple medieval church.

However once inside, the impression is very different. Despite a reasonable size, the effect from the inside is that it appears huge. This upper part is divided in 2 by the pulpitum which you can see in the photos below.

The Cathedral is 87m long, 20m wide and 32 m high (105ft). The middle section is quite narrow which give that impression of very high ceiling.

The building is not technically a cathedral but the name remain because of history.

Stained glass Windows at the Glasgow Cathedral of St Mungo's

The other main interest of the St Mungo's Cathedral Glasgow are the very colorful and modern stained glass windows. The Dioceses decided in 1856 to start adding those stained glass windows.

The mosaic method was used for most of those windows where colored glass was used and painted in some places. This explains why they are so vibrant in color and why it darkens the church.

The next 2 pictures are of the Creation Window. Located on the West side of he Nave, it has been created by Francis Spear in 1958. It is a very modern and colorful representation of Adam and Eve.

Glasgow Cathedral Organ

Originally built in 1979, the Glasgow Cathedral Organ was enlarged several times in the 20th century and completey reconstructed in 1996.

The current organ is currently placed on both sides of the church over the Pulpitum. the console is placed centrally. The Great organ is on the North side and the Solo on the South one. You can listen to it on the Glasgow Cathedral Organ page.

The Sacristy of the Glasgow Cathedral

The Sacristy at the St Mungo's Cathedral Glasgow dates back to the 15th century. Its oak door is the only original left in the church. Th Sacristy also has vey colorful stained glass windows.

The Lower Church

The most unique feature of the St Mungo's Cathedral Glasgow is the lower church. As it was built agains the hill where the necropolis is, a lower level has been built.

The arches cover the whole spaces creating a felling of stepping back in time. Several artefacts are presented in the lower church with tombs and sculpture for example.

in the lower church, there is a display with the evolution of the map of the Glasgow Cathedral. Here are a few Glasgow Cathedral Facts: 

• St Mungo's original church was built of wood in 550AD. The Tomb of St Mungo is still in the cathedral today
• Churches in stone have been built before on that site but destroyed
• What we see today date in part from the early 1200s. it is a medieval cathedral
• Major alteration were done in the 1800s with the removal of 2 towers
• The Glasgow Cathedral is the only one on mainland to have survived the Reformation of 1560 intact.

Cathedral Architecture - Exterior

And to finish, here a a few photos of the Glasgow Cathedral from the outside :

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