A tall Italian Gothic church now gathers theatre, music, food and Alasdair Gray’s vast ceiling mural beneath one roof.
Quick facts
- Date
- Built 1862–1863; altered 1886, 1902 and 1929; converted and reopened 2004
- Architect / designer
- J. J. Stevenson of Campbell Douglas and Stevenson; later work by Jeffrey Waddell; conversion led by Peter McGurn
- Type
- Northern Italian Gothic former church adapted as an arts and hospitality venue
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB32872)
- OS grid reference
- NS 56849 67304
Architecture and continuing use
A five-stage tower and pyramidal spire rise above an aisled nave, clerestory and three-sided apse. Pointed arches, blind arcading and a circular turret enrich the sandstone exterior.
Its story
J. J. Stevenson designed the Kelvinside Free Church in the 1860s. After redundancy and dereliction, a major conversion reopened the building as Òran Mór in 2004.
Why it is included
The building combines an important church design with a widely used cultural conversion and a major contemporary work by Alasdair Gray.
What to notice
- The tall pyramidal spire above Great Western Road.
- Blind arcading and paired Gothic windows.
- Alasdair Gray’s ceiling mural in the former auditorium.
Reading the surroundings
This is a busy hospitality and events venue. Public areas follow current opening, ticketing and private-event arrangements.
Timeline
- Built 1862–1863 J. J. Stevenson designed the Kelvinside Free Church in the 1860s. After redundancy and dereliction, a major conversion reopened the building as Òran Mór in 2004.
- Present Active theatre, music, dining, bar, wedding and events venue.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The statutory title reflects an intermediate institutional use rather than the current venue name; modern interior work belongs to the 2002–2004 conversion.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Òran Mór, LB32872 — Designation category, mapped location, construction phases, fabric, authorship and architectural interest.
- Òran Mór — Current venue uses, address, conversion history and cultural programme.
Location
OS grid reference NS 56849 67304 · Location confidence: High: the HES designation supplies a mapped National Grid Reference and a current operator, council, congregation or institutional source confirms the Place relationship and present identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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