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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Site Details
Name
St Aloysius RC Church
Town, District or Village
Garnethill
Parish
City or County
Glasgow
Status
Country
Scotland
Grid Ref
Grid Ref N
Grid Ref E
Notes
The building is one of the first examples of reinforced concrete roof construction in a British church.
The new Jesuit Church of St Aloysius has just been opened in Glasgow. The church is in the Italian Renaissance style of the 16th century and has an extreme length of 160 feet, a breadth of 99 feet and a height varying between 60 feet and 75 feet. The nave, 44 feet across, is spanned by a vault of reinforced concrete and lit by a number of cupolas. A tower of a campanile type rises to a height of 150 feet. As has been the case at Westminster Cathedral, the interior of St Aloysius is left bare and unadorned, and it will be the work of further years to sheathe the church in marble and enrich it with the decorations. [Building News 25 February 1910 p. 271]
The Roman Catholic Church of St Aloysius has been fitted with a reinforced concrete roof by the Expanded Metal Company. The church is cruciform in shape and is faced with red freestone. The reinforced concrete roof rises from the main walls over the nave, transepts and apse, the roof is in semi-circular arches and the roof of the nave has a clear span of 44 feet 6 inches and a length of 65 feet. This roof is supported on arched ribs which are reinforced to take the whole of the thrust. [Building News 25 March 1910 p. 424]
A similar report appeared in Building News 9 September 1910 but this also noted that the ribs carried a slab 4.5 inches thick forming the roof covering, this slab being reinforced with expanded steel. Two four-light cupolas in this roof also acted as ventilators
Building Type Classification
The building is classified under the following categories:
Class classic
Classification
Original Classification
Notes
Church
Not Known
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Street Addresses
The following street addresses are associated with this building:
Str Add classic
Address
Current Address
Notes
Rose Street
Yes
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Events
The following date-based events are associated with this building:
event classic
Event Type
From
To
Notes
1908
1910
Church opened February 1910
1910/03/30
Tower finished
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People
Design and Construction
The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
design classic
Person
Partnership Group
Role
From
To
Notes
Charles Jean Menart (or Ménart)
1908
1910
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Related Buildings, Structures and Designs
References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this building:
bio ref classic
Author
Year
Title
Part
Publisher
Notes
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts
1921
682
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts
1911
894
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Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this building:
period ref classic
Periodical Name
Date
Edition
Publisher
Notes
Building News
1910/02/25
p424 - description of roof construction
Building News
1910/09/09
p381 - Further details of roof construction
Building News
1910/02/25
p 271 - church "just opened"
Builder
1909/11/06
XCVII
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Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this building:
arc ref classic
Source
Name
Cat Number
Item Name
Notes
Strathclyde Regional Archives
Glasgow Dean of Guild
2/2287, 3 September 1908
Historic Environment Scotland
Listed Buildings Register
33115
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