LANARK-L Archives

From: "John Duncan" <>
Subject: [LKS] GOVAN - "THE WORKSHOP OF THE WORLD" [SUN WORSHIP].
Date: Sat, 9 Nov 2002 15:56:12 +1100

The village of Govan had 1,000 inhabitants in 1790, but in 1904 had grown to 91,000 thereby becoming the fifth largest burgh in Scotland.
Since attaining Burgh Status in 1864, Govan's growth was phenominal. Indeed, before being annexed to Glasgow in 1912 it was more rapid than any town in the United Kingdom or even the then new countries of America and Australia.
In her heyday she was aptly called the workshop of the world and in common with other Clydeside shipyards, provided three-quarters of the world's ships.

If we throw back the curtain of time and look back through the centuries at the story of Govan, we discover that about fourteen hundred years ago Saint Constantine, who was thought to be a king of Cornwall, relinnquised his kindom and devoted himself to Christianity.
He joined Saint Columba, leader of the Celtic Church in Iona, and came to Clydeside to evangelise the people, first founding a church and monastery where the Govan Parish Church now stands.
While endeavouring to convert the West Coast of Scotland he was martyred in Kintyre about 576 A.D..
Reverently his body was brought back and buried in his own church in Govan.

In pre-Christian times sun worship was practised in this hallowed place and the Sun Stone, an instrument in this pagan form of worship, can be seen in the Stephen Chapel inside Govan Parish Church.

This church has probably the richest collection of antiquities in all Scotland.
The finest example is the sarcophagus, a stone coffin with religious carvings on its side.
During digging operations for an interment in the south-east corner of the graveyard in the year 1855 the church sexton dicovered it.
The roots of two large elm trees had the sarcophagus firmly enmeshed in their strong grasp.
Today it is appropriately mounted in the chancel of the church with an inscription around the pedestal which simply states: "The reputed shrine of Saint Constantine, King and Martyr, preserved within the ancient church, buried in the churchyard A.D. 1762, discovered A.D. 1855, placed here 1908."

Their is also the shaft of the Ancient Govan Cross, with the figure of a man mounted on a horse or an ass.
Scrolled on its face, a small plaque attached states that it was deposited in Govan Parish Church by Glasgow Corporation in 1928.
Previous to this the ancient Govan Cross was in the possession of the Parker-Smith family of Jordanhill for almost a hundred years.
Sir John Stirling Maxwell, Bart., of Pollock, was largely responsible for the church being able to acquire this interesting relic.

Also on view are five hog-backed stones which appear to resemble marine creatures of the sea.
They are thought to be of Scandinavian origin and may well have been headstones erected over the graves of Viking chiefs who frequently marauded the West Coast of Scotland.

Positioned at intervals along the wall of the interior of the church are ancient Celtic Crosses with their story lost in the mists of time, but which leads one to conjecture from whence they they came.
Situated on the wall is a memorial plaque with a list, from 1690 -1929, of the Lairds of Holmfauldhead, a noted Govan family.
Farther along the wall is a larger plaque indicating the names of the known clergy of the successive churches built on this hallowed site, beginning with the Celtic Church 570-1147, the Roman Catholic Church 1160 -1560, and successive Protestant Church ministers since the Reformation era date of 1567.
It may be interesting to note that a past minister of the church, the Rev. Roger Sandilands Kilpatrick,
D. D., 1899-1912, claimed to be a direct descendant of Kilpatrick who, during the time of Robert the Bruce, was involved in the killing of the Red Comyn at the Greyfriars Church, Dumfries.

Reluctantly we leave the interior of this cathedral-like church, which was rebuilt in 1888.
The previous church on the same site was erected in 1826 and its spire was a model of the church in Stratford on Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace.
In 1879 this latter Govan church was dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt at the corner of Logie Street and Golspie Street [White Street] and is now renamed Elder Park Parish Church.

We now find ourselves in the Kirk Graveyard, which contains over three hundred tombstones which are erected over the rude forefathers of Govan Parish.
Many of the tombstones are broken and some of the epitaphs are obliterated by the action of wind and rain, but still they tell us something of the story if we but care to study the faded lettering.

Here, for instance, in the middle of the graveyard, is a sunken gravestone, tilted at an angle which states in quaint lettering:- "Here lies the corps of William Murdoch late sergeant in the Scot's Fuziliers. Born in Cumlock 1717 died 1762."
On the north wall of the churchyard is situated a memorial dated 1812 and the chiseled inscription solemnly declares that this burying ground is the property of John Campbell, late of the 77th Regiment.
The rest of the epitaph is broken away, leaving us to surmise sadly the rest of the story.
Near to the east wall is the grave of yet another soldier.
The gravestone is black with age and the epitaph tells us in graphic words:- "In Memory of Lieutenant Colonel Gwyn, late inspecting Field Officer of this district, who died August 30th 1851, aged 41, in consequence of the wounds he received in the Battles of Talavera and Busaco."

The lettering on a grey granite tombstone, broken at the base and lying forlornly on the ground, states plainly:- "William Gardner, late farmer Greenfield, died June, 1834 aged 95 years."
His farm has long been swallowed up by the rapidly expanding Govan but Greenfield Street keeps the name alive for future generations to remember.
A number of yards to the south a headstone signifies the last resting place of John Baird, Southcroft, Govan. The present Southcroft Street reminds us of this ancient steading and maintains the geographical lie of the old land of Southcroft.

Beneath the foundations of the Pearce Institute, which lies adjacent to Govan Parish Church, lies what is thought to be the ancient Holy well of Saint Constantine.
It was discovered around 1902 during the excavations for the Pearce Institute.
The Holy wells played an important part in the life of the community in mediaeval times.
There waters were used for baptismal purposes and to cure the sick and consequently pilgrims were attracted to the sacred place. Not far from the well was situated the "Moat Hill", where the affairs of the district in early days were believed to have been conducted. It has long since been swept away due to building operations.

/ ........to be continued.

John Duncan, Melbourne, Australia.

This thread:

• [LKS] GOVAN - "THE WORKSHOP OF THE WORLD" [SUN WORSHIP]. by "John Duncan" <>