Despite lying just off one of the busiest retail stretches in the city, Byres Road, this category A…read morelisted building is rarely seen by visitors on account of its partially-hidden location on leafy Observatory Road. A great pity; given it's one of the m ost beautiful the city has to offer, particularly when it's lit at night. With a small but loyal congregation, this church is beautifully maintained and also offers facilities to several groups in the surrounding areas of Hillhead and Dowanhill. The recently restored stained glass windows are breathtaking and, alone, are well worth visiting for when the church opens it doors on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Hillhead Parish Church is the most overlooked building in the west end. I can't believe I am only…read morethe third person to review it when nearby Oran Mor has, at the moment, eight reviews and Glasgow University has five. Even the flagpole in Queens Park has three and it's just a flagpole! Tucked inbetween Saltoun Street, Observatory Road and Grosvenor Terrace, the church is literally a stone's throw from Byres Road but has a hidden feel. The architecture is simply stunning; modelled on Sainte Chapelle in Paris and completed in 1876, the imposing stained glass windows circle the building, illustrating different events in Jesus' life. Restoration work is being carried out on the church's roof caused by wind damage following a storm. A blog on its process can be found on the church's website.

As Glasgow's Jesuit church, this could either be seen as the hub of the secret organisation that…read morerules the world, or a rather elegant building that offers slightly more intellectually stimulating sermons and, on Sunday, services with a superior choir. It is the home church of the Jesuit school, and is often populated by students at their worship, but it is open all day to visitors who either want to perform their own religious duties or marvel at the recent, and rather fetching, redecoration. The building has been restored to its original grandeur inside, with clean, bright walls and some lovely fresco style illustration. The masses are usually about an hour long, and do offer a more intellectual take on Christianity. Yet even unbelievers will enjoy the restoration, and the oasis of peace the building offers, as long as the school is not using the space

st aloysius rc church is located in the centre of glasgow just north of sauchihall street shopping…read moreprecinct and therefore very handy for shoppers/visitors/tourists a lot of money has been spent in refurbishment in the past few years - on the organ and on the beautiful frescos - and last month celebrated the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone it is well worth a visit - beautiful renaissance design modelled on the 'church of the gesu' in rome - lots of varied coloured marble the nearby jesuit-run schools/college are famous for their teaching tradition since 1859 and their choir & musicians perform at various masses the church services at christmas/easter are especially worth a visit

I have often wondered why St Mirin's is called a cathedral and not a church. And come to think of…read moreit, what the difference between a church and a cathedral actually is. (Yes I probably do have too much time on my hands). It can't be stature. St Mirin's is nice but there are lots of impressive churches in Glasgow that are not cathedrals. After a bit of googling, I discovered a cathedral is the seat of a bishop. So St Mirin's is a cathedral because it is the seat of the Bishop of Paisley. So now I can relax. St Mirin's was actually built as a church in 1932 and became a cathedral in 1948 following the establishment of the diocese of Paisley (diocese is an administrative area of the Catholic church). It seats 1300 and is built in a Norman style of white freestone. I have visited St Mirin's a few times over the past few years to attend weddings. The marble alter was very impressive and the young priest was warm and down to earth. It is definitely one of the nicest churches (sorry, cathedrals) in the area.

There is a a choir now in St. Mirin's cathedral that is now beginning to become known in the…read moredistrict. Well worth a listen. The choir sings every Sunday at the 12noon Mass.

It's hard to look at Oran Mor in the city's West End and believe that, as a church, it lay empty…read morefor so long. So spare a thought for the poor old Lansdowne situated 10 minutes further along Great Western Road. Built in 1863 and one of the slimmest churches in Europe, the building is among the West End's most beautiful yet sports hoardings outside begging for someone, somewhere to give it a "a new future". It's as if it were an abandoned puppy in a TV advert. While the hoarding hints at theatre possibility, the problem, of course, lies with the controversy that always comes hand-in-hand with changing the use of such sensitive buildings. Whatever its future may be, it's worth a scout around and grabbing a few pictures of it in its current glory while it's still there.

Perfect! I recently…read morehired out the large hall upstairs in this place for the Yelp Passport to The West End Launch Party. After meeting with Penny, one of the caretakers, I viewed the hall and was instantly impressed by it. The venue is a tad on the eh... rustic side? But hey, it's an old building. For an event though, it;s perfect as it pretty much offers a blank canvas to operate on whilst at the sametime giving you an excellent backdrop. Facilties wise it's basic, but functional. Toilets, kitchen, space. All good and ideal for a market type event. Best of all though has to be the customer service I received though-out. I made a request to have the hall for the entire day to allow for preperation and what have you. This required shifting a previous booking to a different location within the hall. This was done with ease and in such a way as to create no hard feelings with the other event. It's a great spot. Perfect for Kelvinbridge. Great building, good acoustics for music and spot on for the event.

If your looking for great quality food at a great price then the Oasis Cafe within St Stephen's…read morechurch is the place to go. They have daily specials so your not stuck with the same old same old. The food I have experienced here has been top notch. Last night I was treated to smoked Salmon Risotto and what a plate full! This particular dish I would have been impressed with in any of Glasgow's top restaurants and at a fraction of the price only £5.75! Don't get me wrong, its by no means a fine dining experience and obviously its a church so don't bother asking for the drinks menu, that's on the blackboard under hot beverages and soft drinks. The menu also has all the basic soups, sandwiches, salads, pastas, cakes and scones. They also have take away so if your looking for a roll and bacon or just a simple sandwich then they will make it up freshly. They're open 9am till 7pm so perfect for a pre theatre.

I had a nice cup of tea here last year, after going to the pantomime. Apart from the preponderance…read moreof leaflets and older members of the congregation, there isn't much to show that this is a church facility: it just keeps the hipsters out, I guess, and the tea is rather lovely. It is smart, quiet- hardly exciting but a bit of a rest from the bustle of the town. It is also convenient for the church, if you are a fan of architecture, and near to the King's Theatre. It does have limited opening hours, though.

One of the finest designs by Glasgow's other great architect, GFC has a beautiful exterior that…read moredisplays Indian influences and a sharp, clear interior that expresses the rational revolution that inspired the Scottish protestant movement. Determinedly elegant and sparse, the austerity contributes to an atmosphere of calm, intelligent contemplation: perfectly in tune with the theology of the Free Church. Despite its city centre location, this is not a bustling church but one where thoughtfulness is valued: for anyone wishing to get off the increasingly kitsch treadmill of MacIntosh, it is more than worth a visit.

This was my #1 choice for Doors Open Day 2015. The grandiose, Greek façade of the GFC has peaked my…read morecuriosity for years, but I never thought to venture in as I thought it was closed to the public. The gravity of the building belies the warm welcome visitors receive from the congregation inhabiting the building. Like many a Greek temple, unfortunately this building is in need of some work. Entering into the vestibule, you'd be forgiven for thinking you are in just another church. It's fairly unspectacular & somewhat dated, but look at the pillars supporting the staircases at either end and you'll see the first sign that this building is a wee bit special. Entering through either of the double doors and you're immediately transported to a venue which could easily be a smaller sibling of Glasgow grand theatres. You're line of view is cut off by the overhanging balcony, before the space opens up in front of you. The yellow oak pews, striped with dark strips of mahogany, have buffeted by years of worshippers, the dark crimson paint on the walls has faded and is in need of retouching. The pulpit and organ are set on a stacked platform in front of the pews, the top of the organ reaching up almost to the gods themselves. The wooden frame of the organ has ornate carvings on either side and is peppered with a printed motif. What really gives this place it's character is the balcony and upper cornicing. As I arrived at the top of the stairs I came face to face with a small door (that's small to even to a person of my diminutive stature) which frankly looked like something out of a creepy fantasy/horror film. Turning away from the door to hell, I was immediately struck with the feeling of being in another place. Although I could look right down onto what would be the congregation and pulpit etc, the balcony feels abandoned and almost of a different era. Peeling paint, dusty piles of old forgotten books and broken handrails suggest that the upper levels aren't normally used by anyone. I really felt that I could be exploring an old, abandoned building, the light streaming in from the windows only highlighted the dust I was kicking up. Looking up, again I could see beautifully carved decorations running around the perimeter. Alexander 'Greek' Thomson was said to have been inspired by Greek & Middle Eastern themes, I saw hints of Asia (maybe that's just wishful thinking), whatever it is it's impressive. Sat upstairs, away from the crowds, so to speak, you get a real sense of the church's past. Looking up and down and picturing the yourself perched above St Vincent Street, you can only the gravitas the church must once have enjoyed, how different it once was to today.. Today the church is on a list of 100 most endangered buildings. The city has already been forced to buy and save it from ruin, I just hope that this rough diamond doesn't get lost to another developer or dilapidation.

This one is worth a visit. No crowds, no tourists, and garnering far less attention than it's big…read morebrother Glasgow Cathedral, this is what I like to see. Out of the way, lesser known stops that are equally stunning yet peacefully serene. A Neo Gothic Catholic church designed in 1814, the structure sits on the north bank of the River Clyde. A spectacular organ built in 1903 was relocated here in 1981, and the entire building was significantly renovated in 2009. A mirrored memorial stands outside the building dedicated to the Arandora Star ship disaster of 1940, the largest in the world dedicated to this disaster. Look for the 200-year-old olive tree in the courtyard near the memorial.

Situated on the banks of the Clyde, just across from the court, I have often popped in for a quiet…read morethink. Since my religious life has been reduced to visiting churches when the congregation are out, I haven't caught more than the end of a mass here, but I find it one of the more congenial spots for a little rest after shopping, a peaceful contemplation of life before going out for the night or a total tearful breakdown after getting dumped, again. St Andrews is nicely old fashioned: the pews are scattered with penitents and regular worshippers, spending time alone with their faith- or, as in my case, existential doubt. It has shrines, a sense of calm and plenty of spots for personal prayer. I find this an atmosphere far more conducive to prayer than the updating that many churches have embraced. It also has a good selection of prayer books and helpful texts at the back.

Lenzie Union Parish Church is a very important place for the Lenzie community. As well as offering…read moreall the normal Church services - it also has two large community halls that house the activities of many local groups. These two halls - known as the Old Hall and the New Hall for obvious reasons - are home to events as diverse as Mother & Toddler groups, coffee mornings, school lunch clubs and charity fundraising events. Both halls are equipped by kitchens and toilets, although the facilities in the New Hall are a lot bigger. The New Hall also has a stage. In the foyer of the New Hall you will find a community noticeboard with posters detailing almost every event that is taking place in Lenzie. Although there is a small car park at the Church - most visitors park in a neighbouring side road.