ONE of Britain’s leading architectural historians has blamed Catholic councillors for allowing a famous Protestant landmark in Glasgow to fall into disrepair.

Professor Gavin Stamp said that the “Catholic-dominated” Glasgow city council was responsible for neglecting the St Vincent Street church — designed by Alexander “Greek” Thomson — for 40 years.

The council has finally approved a £1m rescue package for the 19th-century church, regarded as one of Glasgow’s most iconic and historic buildings. It is the last of the three great Presbyterian churches built by Thomson, whose classical architecture earned him his nickname and international renown.

For four decades the grade A listed building, which is home to a Free Church of Scotland congregation, has been disintegrating.

Stamp, regarded as the foremost authority on Thomson, said the city’s “shameful neglect” showed the reluctance of a “pro-Roman Catholic” council to rehabilitate “a monument to the reformed faith”.

“I know I am opening a can of worms, but the sectarian factor is one of Glasgow’s very well kept secrets,” said the former lecturer at Glasgow’s Mackintosh School of Art and Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge University.

“The fact that it’s been such a struggle to have (the) church looked after suggests to me that it is a factor. On the whole, I also get the impression that Thomson, a Presbyterian, does not fit in to Glasgow and its perception of itself.

“But the historical fact is that the great civilisation that was 19th-century Glasgow was middle class and Presbyterian.”

Stamp’s claims were disputed by the council, the Catholic church and heritage chiefs.

The St Vincent Street church is not the only Scottish building to be saved from decay. The Scottish executive is to provide £30m to help to save some of Scotland’s other historic buildings. The cash, from the City Growth Fund, will also be used to support regeneration projects.

Glasgow and its neighbours have earmarked £4.4m for heritage and environment.

As well as the £1m for St Vincent Street church, another £1m will be go towards the £5m rehabilitation of Orkney Street, in Glasgow’s Govan area, which was the site of a former town hall and police station. It will become a community facility.

The £2m refurbishment of Blairtummock House, in Easterhouse, will benefit from a grant of £500,000.

The city’s Mackintosh School of Art will be given £500,000 to assist with the conservation of the building and the creation of new facilities.

Mansfield Park, a wasteland in the Partick area, will be transformed at a cost of £500,000 to provide a new park, plaza, cafe and community facility.

More than £3m will go on the proposed Glasgow airport rail link, roads such as the M77 junction 4, the exploration of possible rail links from Lanarkshire and the development of the Inverclyde Waterfront.

Another £5m will be spent on the regeneration of Glasgow’s Merchant City in the Briggait and Saltmarket areas.

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