Michael Kelly
St Simon's Church following the blaze. Glasgow’s third oldest Catholic church has been gutted by an overnight fire leaving the local community devastated.
The loss is acutely felt by the Polish community since St Simon’s Church, which was built in 1858, has been a spiritual home for the Poles since large numbers of immigrants arrives following Poland’s accession to the European Union in 2004.
The fire reportedly took hold at 02.40 on Wednesday morning on the church on Partick Bridge Street, which was also known for outreach to those experiencing homelessness.
In a statement, the Archdiocese of Glasgow said the loss of the “much-loved landmark at Partick Cross” is a “heavy blow”.
It added: “The destruction of St Simon’s Church by fire will be a blow to people far beyond the west end of Glasgow. Though small in size, St Simon’s was well-frequented and was the spiritual home of the Polish community in the west of Scotland who had established a shrine there.
“It was also a focal point for the local community, and especially the homeless who benefited from a café on site which had to be suspended during the pandemic.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said the incident was not thought to be sectarian-related or a hate crime offence.
Scotland’s Minister for Health Humza Yousaf took to social media to say: “What a devastating couple of days for Catholics in Scotland. First a cowardly attack on a priest in his place of worship, followed by this.
“I know St Simon’s had a special place in the Polish community’s heart. Solidarity with our Catholic community in Scotland,” he said on twitter.
Police are also investigating the attack on the priest which happened in St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh where a priest was attacked by a man with a glass bottle.