08/12/2025
A well-used and much-loved church building on the south side of was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called to Pollokshaws Parish Church on Shawbridge Street at 2.44am following reports it was alight.
Part of the 182-year-old B-listed building collapsed and residents in nearby flats were evacuated but fortunately there were no reports of injuries.
Pollokshaws Parish Church was a busy, active place of worship and the sanctuary and attached hall complex hosted a lot of ongoing community and church led activities.
Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said the news was very upsetting and plans to visit the site on Friday along with Rev Dr Grant Barclay, clerk to the Presbytery of Glasgow, to stand in solidarity and support the congregation.
“The Church is shocked and saddened by the sudden devastating loss of a beloved gathering place that has stood at the heart of the community for generations,” she said.
“We stand with the congregation which is grieving for a place of worship where God has been glorified in word and music, a place of joy where life and love have been celebrated in the happiest of times and a place of refuge where tears have been shed and anguished prayers uttered in the hardest of times.
“Following this awful fire, so much will be on hold, time will be needed to grieve, to re-think, to re-imagine, to seek God's guidance.
“Our dear brothers and sisters in Christ in Pollokshaws can be assured that the thoughts and prayers of the wider Church of Scotland family are with them.”
Firefighters have been fighting the fire from outside the building due to the risk of further collapse and Shawbridge Street was closed to traffic.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Rev Adam Dillon, Interim Moderator of Pollokshaws Parish Church, said: “The congregation is devastated by the sudden loss of its building by fire in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“Pollokshaws has undergone many changes over the years, from the construction of the high-rise flats to their demolition giving way to a new Shaws chapter, the church has stood as a quiet and faithful witness to its people and community.
“Originally built in 1843, the church has been renewed and reinvigorated over the years creating the welcoming and flexible space it was.
“For 182 years, the church has been a cornerstone of the fabric of the Shaws.
“Cherished by many who have had associations with Pollokshaws through rites of baptism, and marriage and funeral services, as well as by generations of faithful worshippers, youth and children’s organisations and other community groups, it is our hope as a resurrection people, that a new Pollokshaws can yet rise out of the ashes for generations to come.”
The congregation worshipped at Eastwood Parish Church yesterday and will gather at Thornliebank Parish Church on Sunday at 11am.
Image provided by Vyro Media.
