View source for Òran Mór

{{short description|Theatre, restaurant, entertainment and music venue in Glasgow}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox venue
| name                   = Òran Mór
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| image                  = Oran Mor - geograph.org.uk - 382702.jpg
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| caption                = Òran Mór in 2007
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| coordinates            = {{coord|55.877642|-4.289760|format=dms|type:landmark_region:IS|display=inline,title}}
| osgraw                 = <!--  TEXT -->
| osgridref              = <!-- {{gbmappingsmall| TEXT}} -->
| location               = [[Glasgow]]
| country                = [[Scotland]]
| website                = [https://oran-mor.co.uk Òran Mór Website]
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| architect              = [[J. J. Stevenson]]
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'''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 Hillhead Parish Church, Glasgow#History|Kelvinside Parish Church (Botanic Gardens)]] before becoming redundant and then converted into an entertainment venue in 2004. <ref>[https://www.caingram.info/Scotland/Pic_htm/kelvinside_free_church.htm "Kelvinside Free Church"], ''caingram''. Retrieved on 23 July 2020.</ref>
==History==
[[File:Mural in the Oran Mor Auditorium, 26, july 2016.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Murals by [[Alasdair Gray]], added during the 2004 conversion]]
The building was founded as the Kelvinside Free Church, as a parish church of the [[Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)|Free Church of Scotland]]. The foundation stone was laid on 4 September 1862, and the church was built in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Neo-Gothic]] style, on designs by [[J. J. Stevenson]]. A spire was built in an Italian Gothic Pyramid style.<ref>[https://oran-mor.co.uk/history/ "History"], ''Oran Mor''. Retrieved on 23 July 2020.</ref> After the [[Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)|Free Church of Scotland]] joined the [[United Presbyterian Church (Scotland)|United Presbyterian Church]] in 1900 to form the [[United Free Church of Scotland]], the church was renamed the Kelvinside United Free Church. <ref>[http://www.glasgowsliterarybonds.org/societies/kelvinside-literary-association-kelvinside-united-free-church-later-becomes-the-young-peoples-at-home/ "Kelvinside Literary Association (Kelvinside United Free Church) (later becomes The Young People’s At Home)"], ''Glasgow Literary Bonds'', 28 November 2017. Retrieved on 23 July 2020.</ref>
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 [[Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, Glasgow|Hillhead Parish Church]], and retaining the use of the latter building for worship. Consequently, the former Kelvinside Parish Church became redundant and derelict. <ref>[https://archiseek.com/2014/1862-free-church-kelvinside-glasgow/ "1862 – Free Church, Kelvinside, Glasgow"], ''archiseek''. Retrieved on 23 July 2020.</ref>
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.<ref>[https://oran-mor.co.uk/history/restoration-2/ "Restoration"], ''Oran Mor''. Retrieved on 23 July 2020.</ref> The building appeared in ''The Amazing Race'' in 2022, and was the venue for the memorial service for [[Derek Watson (actor and musicologist)]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hannan |first1=Martin |title=Screen stars set to appear at memorial for actor Derek Watson |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/18007451.screen-stars-set-appear-memorial-actor-derek-watson/ |website=[[The National (Scotland)]] |publisher=Newsquest |accessdate=23 July 2023}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Theatres in Glasgow]]
[[Category:Restaurants in Glasgow]]
[[Category:Music venues in Glasgow]]
[[Category:1862 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:19th-century Church of Scotland church buildings]]
[[Category:Former churches in Scotland]]