Comment: The only claim to notability is being a category B listed historical building. Sadly, much of the rest of the article relies too much on material from the church or related religious outlets. That advertisement/ evangelization content needs to go. The content should only be what third-party sources say. Chris Troutman (talk) 17:24, 24 November 2023 (UTC)
Church in Glasgow
St Silas is an evangelical Anglican church that meets in the area of Woodlands, Glasgow .[1]. The Church was founded in 1864 and has held the theology of the Thirty-nine Articles in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer to be true ever since[1]. Today the church aims to proclaim the good news about Jesus to the city of Glasgow. The services are described as evangelical, contemporary and welcoming[2]. Its three key objectives are to reach the nearby community with the gospel, grow Christians in their love for Jesus and send them out into the world to share the gospel[1]
History
Although the Church was founded as an Anglican chapel in Scotland in 1864 due to concerns about the Oxford Movement's sway on the Scottish Episcopal Church it remained independent from the denomination.[3]. It became the last of what at its height was 11 Anglican churches to join The Scottish Episcopal Church in 1982[4]. The Church then left the denomination in 2019 following their perception that the denomination had departed from the authoritative teachings of the Bible[5]. Following this decision the Church joined the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE), a diocese of the Anglican Network in Europe (ANiE)[6].
Activities
St Silas holds services on a Sunday and has small group bible studies on evenings during the week. Currently the same service is held twice in the morning at 9.30am and 11.30am. There is a evening service with a different sermon series at 6pm. On the first Sunday of every month a traditional 1662 Book of Common Prayer service is held at 4.30pm[7]. This service uses the morning prayer liturgy of the Daily Office (Anglican). All of these services consist of instruction from the Bible , Christian worship and prayers.
Midweek activities include Roots Groups for students and young workers and Growth Groups at congregant's homes across the city[8]. On the first Wednesday of the month the whole church family meets to pray together instead of evening small groups.
The building
The land was bought by Archibald Campbell (the father of Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood), George Burns and William Burnley, and the building was designed by John Honeyman (architect) who later worked alongside Charles Rennie Mackintosh[9]. Indeed, minor alterations were made in 1907-08 while Mackintosh worked with Honeyman so it's possible that he designed some of the alterations seen today[10]. Renowned sculptor Thomas Earp[11]contributed carved stonework to the building project.
The building is listed as a 'category B' listed building by Historic Environment Scotland with a noted special interest in its ecclesiastical nature, the memorial to World War One and World War Two and the memorial to Archibald Campbell of Blythswood. Also mentioned is the quatrefoil pulpit, stained glass windows from the 1880s and a golden brass eagle lectern from 1887[12].
Memorials
On the north west wall sits a mural memorial to Archibald Campbell of Blythswood which reads: "In memory of Archibald Campbell of Blythswood, who gave the site on which this church is built and freed it of feu duty, also contributed largely to its erection in order to provide a place of worship for all time, where the services of the Church of England might be conducted in their simple and Protestant form and the gospel of the grace of God be preached. A.D. 1864. This tablet was placed here by his son Sholto D. Campbell Douglas A.D. 1904. Sometime incumbent A.D. 1886-1899 who afterwards became Lord Blythswood and died September 30th 1916 leaving £10,000 for the augmentation of the Ministers Stipend upon the terms set forth in the Vestry."
The St Silas' Episcopal Mission in Partick ran from 1886 to 1952 and was also designed by John Honeyman. On its closure four tablets were moved into the Park Road building. These tablets range from 1875 to 1935 and are in remembrance of people who dedicated their lives to the Mission[13].
Partners
Denominationally the Church is a member of the Anglican Convocation in Europe and is subsequently connected to the Anglican Network in Europe and the Global Anglican Futures Conference (GAFCON)[14]. Additionally St Silas is affiliated with the West of Scotland Gospel Partnership[15] and a member of the Evangelical Alliance[16]. It also partners with the John Paton Foundation, which is named after the Scottish missionary John Paton, in aiming to support and fund those training for full time gospel ministry[17]