23 March 2010: St Vincent Street United Presbyterian Church, Glasgow

Alexander (‘Greek’) Thomson (1817-1875) was a prominent Glaswegian architect who co-founded the Glasgow Institute of Architects.  He was styled ‘Greek’ because his work reflected a modern interpretation of the pre-Roman classical architecture of Greece, Egypt and India.  His contribution to the late Victorian architecture of Glasgow was significant with his designs for terraces, villas, tenements, churches and warehouses.

Of the three churches designed by Thomson, St Vincent Street Church built in 1859 is the only one surviving intact – Caledonia Road Free Church (built 1856-57) is now a fire-damaged ruin and Queen’s Park United Presbyterian Church (built 1869) was destroyed in the Second World War.

Thomson has also been credited as a pioneer of sustainable development.  In 1868 he prepared a design for the Glasgow City Improvement Trust to redevelop slum housing around the High Street.  Although his designs were not realised at the time, his proposals regarding spacing of houses, improved ventilation and glazing for warmth and safety have since been praised.