The Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. It covers Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire (including Glasgow), Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire and west Stirlingshire (south of the River Forth). The cathedral of the diocese is St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow.
History
The Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway is a union of two of the oldest dioceses in Scotland. The Diocese of Galloway (also known as Candida Casa or Whithorn) is thought to have been founded by Saint Ninian in the 5th century. The Diocese of Glasgow is thought to have been founded by Saint Mungo (or Kentigern) around 550. On 9 January 1492, the Diocese of Glasgow was raised in rank to be an archdiocese.
During the Scottish Reformation, the heritage and jurisdiction of the church passed into the hands of Church of Scotland. However, the small Scottish Episcopal Church continued the line of bishops of both diocese, even though, in the 16th century, many of them held the office in title alone. In 1697, the Diocese of Galloway was united with the Diocese of Edinburgh. In 1708, the episcopal line experienced a hiatus before continuing with Alexander Duncan, in 1731, as Bishop (rather than Archbishop) of Glasgow. However, when Duncan died two years after his appointment as bishop, the see fell vacant once more. In 1787, William Abernethy Drummond became Bishop of Edinburgh and Galloway and Bishop of Brechin in a temporary personal union of the dioceses. To this he added the then vacant see of Glasgow in union with Edinburgh and Galloway. Within a year, Drummond gave way to John Strachan as the newly appointed Bishop of Brechin, and, in 1805, resigned from the united see of Edinburgh and Galloway (to Daniel Sandford) to focus on ministry in Glasgow. Drummond continued as Bishop of Glasgow until his death in 1809, when the see was reunited with Edinburgh and Galloway.
In 1837, James Walker, bishop of the triple see and Primus, gave way to Michael Russell to be the first modern Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway. In 1878, the Roman Catholic Church formed a new Archdiocese of Glasgow and Diocese of Galloway in its modern structures. In 1888, the counties of Selkirkshire, Peeblesshire and Roxburghshire, which were historically part of the Diocese of Galloway, were transferred from the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway back to Edinburgh.
Gregor Duncan was elected the fourteenth bishop of the diocese on 16 January 2010. He was consecrated and enthroned as bishop on 23 April 2010,Scottish Episcopal Church Website item, 23 April 2010 and retired on 11 October 2018.
Kevin Pearson was elected the fifteenth bishop of the diocese on 18 January 2020. He was installed by deed on 1 July 2020, and retired on 31 August 2025.
Nicholas Bundock was elected the sixteenth bishop of the diocese on 18 January 2025. He was consecrated and enthroned as bishop on 3 May 2025.
Bishops
Companion Dioceses The Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway formerly had companion links with the Episcopal Diocese of Byumba (Rwanda), the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky (ECUSA) and the Lutheran Diocese of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Area and population The diocese covers the historic counties of Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, Wigtownshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfriesshire and western Stirlingshire.
This total population of approximately 2,334,000 gives the diocese a ratio of one priest to every 68,600 inhabitants and one church to every 42,400 inhabitants.
List of churches The diocese currently has 32 stipendiary clergy and 54 active churches. BeneficeNameLinkClergyRefHelensburgh (St Michael and All Angels) St Michael & All Angels, Helensburgh (1814)Rector: Dominic IndDumbarton (St Augustine) St Augustine, Dumbarton (1848)Rector: Heller GonzalezBearsden (All Saints) All Saints, Bearsden (1897)Rector: David GuestMilngavie (St Andrew) St Andrew, Milngavie (c1880)Rector: Andrea HagenbuchGlasgow (Cathedral of St Mary the Virgin) St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow (c1689)Provost: Kelvin Holdsworth Vice-Provost: VacantGlasgow East End Churches St John, Baillieston (1850) St Serf, Shettleston (1899)Priest-in-Charge: Tess LoweGlasgow (St Bride) St Bride, Glasgow (1891)Priest-in-Charge: Peter BradleyGlasgow (All Saints) All Saints, Jordanhill (c1861)Priest-in-Charge: Sydney MaitlandGlasgow (St Oswald) St Oswald, King's Park (1931)Priest-in-Charge: Alison MathewGlasgow (St Margaret) St Margaret of Scotland, Newlands (1898)Rector: Gordon Fyfe Assistant Priest: Charlotte MethuenGlasgow (St Ninian) St Ninian, Pollokshields (1870)Rector: Verity BrownGlasgow (St Matthew) St Matthew, PossilparkPriest-in-Charge: David WostenholmBishopbriggs (St James-The-Less) St James the Less, Bishopbriggs (1875)Rector: Paul WatsonLenzie (St Cyprian) St Cyprian, Lenzie (1873)Rector: VacantCumbernauld (Holy Name) Holy Name, CumbernauldRector: Kirstin FreemanAirdrie (St Paul) SS Paul & John the Evangelist, Monklands (1843)Motherwell (Holy Trinity) Holy Trinity, Motherwell (1884)Rector: VacantWishaw (St Andrew) St Andrew, Wishaw (1893)Cambuslang (St Cuthbert) St Cuthbert, Cambuslang (1899)Priest-in-Charge: VacantEast Kilbride (St Mark) St Mark, East Kilbride (1953)Hamilton (St Mary the Virgin) St Mary, HamiltonRector: Matthew LittleUddingston (St Andrew) St Andrew, Uddingston (1890)Lanark (Christ Church) Christ Church, Lanark (1850)Rector: Drew SheridanClarkston (St Aidan) St Aidan, Clarkston (1923)Rector: Nicholas TaylorRenfrew (St Margaret) St Margaret, Renfrew (1914)Priest-in-Charge: Reuben PrestonJohnstone (St John) St John, Johnstone (1874)Paisley (Holy Trinity and St Barnabas) Holy Trinity & St Barnabas, Paisley (1817)Rector: Deborah DavisonGlasgow (Good Shepherd) Good Shepherd, Hillington (1938)Bridge of Weir (St Mary) St Mary, Bridge of Weir (1907)Priest-in-Charge: Lisa CurticeKilmacolm (St Fillan) St Fillan, Kilmacolm (1905)Port Glasgow (St Mary the Virgin) St Mary the Virgin, Port Glasgow (1855)Greenock (St John the Evangelist) St John the Evangelist, Greenock (1824)Rector: Wilhelmina NesbittLargs (St Columba) St Columba, LargsRector: VacantArdrossan (St Andrew) St Andrew, Ardrossan (1852)Priest-in-Charge: VacantDalry (St Peter) St Peter, Dalry (1889)Kilmarnock (Holy Trinity) Holy Trinity, Kilmarnock (1857)Priest-in-Charge: Harriet JohnstonTroon (St Ninian) St Ninian, Troon (1912)Rector: Keith ThomassonPrestwick (St Ninian) St Ninian, Prestwick (1915)Rector: Jane RossAyr (Holy Trinity) Holy Trinity, Ayr (1886)Rector: Martyn TrembathMaybole (St Oswald) St Oswald, Maybole (1847)Priest-in-Charge: Liz CrumlishChalloch (All Saints) All Saints, Challoch (1871)Priest-in-Charge: Dawn MatthewNew Galloway (St Margaret of Scotland) St Margaret of Scotland, New Galloway (1904)Portpatrick (St Ninian) St Ninian, Portpatrick (1916)Priest-in-Charge: Elizabeth BreakeyStranraer (St John the Evangelist) St John the Evangelist, Stranraer (1892)Gatehouse of Fleet (St Mary) St Mary, Gatehouse of Fleet (c1799)Rector: Alison HudsonKirkcudbright (St Francis of Assisi) Greyfriars, Kirkcudbright (1878)Castle Douglas (St Ninian) St Ninian, Castle Douglas (1855)Rector: VacantDalbeattie (Christ Church) Christ Church, Dalbeattie (1875)Dumfries (St John the Evangelist) St John the Evangelist, Dumfries (c1690)Rector: Vacant NSM: James Clark MaxwellEastriggs (St John the Evangelist) St John the Evangelist, Eastriggs (1917)Priest-in-Charge: VacantGretna (All Saints) All Saints, Gretna (1917)Lockerbie (All Saints) All Saints, Lockerbie (1891) Rector: VacantMoffat (St John the Evangelist) St John the Evangelist, Moffat (1879)
Former congregation BeneficeChurchLinkNoteRefsGlasgow (St Silas) Private Chapel St Silas, Glasgow (1864)Left the SEC in 2019.
Defunct churches NameFoundedEndedHistory/notesRefAll Saints, Langholmc. 1995Ascension, Mosspark1987Christ Church, Glasgowc. 1977Holy Cross, Knightswood19262013Holy Trinity, Glasgowc. 1983St Andrew's-by-the-Green17501975Oldest SEC building erected in Scotland since Reformation. Initially Qualified ChapelSt Andrew, Gartcosh18971994St Andrew, Irvine2021St Barnabas, Dennistoun1983St Barnabas, Paisley2004St Columba, Clydebank1896c. 2008Building vacated 1996St Gabriel, Govanc. 1993St George, Maryhillc. 2005St John, Girvan18472014Building 1859, demolished 2012St John the Baptist, Barrowfieldc. 1996St John the Evangelist, Annan18432024St Luke, Glasgow1952St Martin, Glasgowc. 1983St Bartholomew, Gourock2022St Michael, Govanc. 1953St Mungo, Alexandria2021St Paul, Airdrie1893c. 1992St Peter, Glasgowc. 1963Rebuilt 1899Sancta Sophia, Douglasc. 2005
See also Presbytery of Glasgow (Church of Scotland) Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow
References