Glasgow Photo Library
- Govan Parish Church
Researchers believe that Govan, on the south of the river Clyde, west of the heart of the present city, was the site of one of the earliest Christian settlements in mainland Scotland, dating back to before the 9th century. At that time, the area was part of the Kingdom of Strathclyde, with its capital at Dumbarton Rock, on the north side of the river. The present church was built in the late 19th century but excavations have shown there was a medieval church which was on top of even earlier burials.
There is nothing particularly remarkable about the church building, but inside is an amazing collection of early Christian carved stones. There are 31 monuments from the 9th to the 11th centuries, most with the intricate carving which was a feature of those days. The collection includes a sarcophagus, carved from solid stone, which may have been designed for the Constantine to whom the early church was dedicated. There is, however, scholarly debate about which Constantine was involved - possibly King Constantine I who reigned from 862 to 877 and was the son of King Kenneth mac-Alpin.
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