Òran Mór ( Scottish Gaelic: "great melody of life" or "big song") is a theatre, restaurant, entertainment and music venue in Glasgow. From 1862 until 1978 the building was the Kelvinside Parish Church (Botanic Gardens) before becoming redundant and then converted into an entertainment venue in 2004.

History

The building was founded as the Kelvinside Free Church, as a parish church of the

Free Church of Scotland Free Church of Scotland may refer to: * Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900), seceded in 1843 from the Church of Scotland. The majority merged in 1900 into the United Free Church of Scotland; historical * Free Church of Scotland (since 1900), rema ...

. The foundation stone was laid on 4 September 1862, and the church was built in the Neo-Gothic style, on designs by

J. J. Stevenson John James Stevenson FRSE FSA FRIBA (24 August 1831 – 5 May 1908), usually referred to as J. J. Stevenson, was a British architect of the late-Victorian era. Born in Glasgow, he worked in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. He is particularly asso ...

. A spire was built in an Italian Gothic Pyramid style. After the

joined the United Presbyterian Church in 1900 to form the United Free Church of Scotland, the church was renamed the Kelvinside United Free Church. The name was once more changed when the United Free Church of Scotland merged into the Church of Scotland, becoming Kelvinside Parish Church in 1929. Between 1929 and 1978, the church served as a Parish church of the Church of Scotland. By the late 1970s, the congregation had dwindled and in 1978, it was decided to merge Kelvinside Parish Church with Hillhead Parish Church, and retaining the use of the latter building for worship. Consequently, the former Kelvinside Parish Church became redundant and derelict. In 2002, works commenced to refurbish the building and turn it into an arts and leisure centre, with it being renamed Òran Mór. The building was opened in June 2004. The building appeared in ''The Amazing Race'' in 2022, and was the venue for the memorial service for Derek Watson (actor and musicologist).

References

{{Reflist Theatres in Glasgow Restaurants in Glasgow Music venues in Glasgow 1862 establishments in Scotland 19th-century Church of Scotland church buildings Former churches in Scotland