St George's-Tron Church

St George's-Tron Church

Coordinates: 55°51′43″N 4°15′14″W / 55.861832°N 4.253941°W / 55.861832; -4.253941

The St George's Tron Church, in Glasgow, Scotland, is a Church of Scotland Parish church in the city centre, located in Nelson Mandela Place near Queen Street Station. It should not be confused with the 17th–century Tron Church, which lies to the south-west on Trongate and was redeveloped in the 1980s as the Tron Theatre.

The building, which was commissioned by the City Fathers was designed by William Stark, was opened in 1808, originally as St. George's Parish Church.

A notable minister of the parish was Tom Allan, a key figure in the Scottish evangelical movement of the mid-20th century. Another notable minister, also an evangelical, was Eric Alexander, who served from 1977 to 1997.

In 2012 the minister and the 500 strong congregation left the Church of Scotland over the issue of allowing openly gay clergy. They moved to a nearby building in order to continue as an independent congregation. The Church of Scotland has declared its intention to sue them, has sent bailiffs in to seize property, has reported the congregation to the charity regulator and made demands for payment of £1m. There was controversy after Messengers of Arms attended the congregational prayer meeting and requested the minister come and meet with them. They then served him a writ. The following day, Messengers at Arms presented at his home to serve the same writ. This controversial move was reported in the national press and on BBC news.

Right on the busiest shopping street in Scotland (above Buchanan Street, Glasgow) the building is a significant presence, and the oldest in the area. It stands as a terminating vista for West George Street.