St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art

Over het museum

The St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art stands on the site of the medieval Bishop's Castle next to Glasgow Cathedral. The building was put up around 1989 in a Scottish baronial style, to a design by Ian Begg, and was first meant to be a visitor centre for the cathedral. When the Friends of the cathedral could not raise enough money to finish it, the project passed to Glasgow Museums. They turned it into a museum of world religions, intended to encourage understanding and respect between people of different faiths and of none. It is named after Saint Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow, and opened on 4 April 1993.

The museum has three main galleries: the Gallery of Religious Art, the Gallery of Religious Life and the Scottish Gallery, with a further space for temporary displays. Its objects come from five continents and cover more than 3,000 years, with a focus on the religions most present in Scotland, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Judaism. For many years it displayed Salvador Dali's painting Christ of St John of the Cross while Kelvingrove was being renovated.

Outside is the first Zen garden in Britain, which was designed by a Zen garden expert. The museum was closed from 2020 during the pandemic and reopened in September 2022. It is run by Glasgow Life and has free admission, with regular events, talks and family activities.

Hoogtepunten

• Gallery of Religious Art with objects from five continents
• Gallery of Religious Life on faith in daily life
• Scottish Gallery on religion in Scotland
• The first Zen garden in Britain
• Building on the site of the medieval Bishop's Castle
• Historic Scotland shop with local gifts and light refreshments

Vaste collectie

• Gallery of Religious Art – Religious art and objects from around the world are shown together to explore what different faiths have created.
• Gallery of Religious Life – Displays on the role of religion in people's lives across the world and through time.
• Scottish Gallery – A gallery on religion in Scotland, past and present.

Opgericht

1993

Beheerder

Glasgow Life

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Entry is free and no booking is needed. Donations are welcome at the museum or online.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Lifts give wheelchair and pushchair access to all public areas, and free wheelchairs can be borrowed at reception. The accessible toilet is on the left of the accessible entrance. A hearing assistance system is available, and the website offers a British Sign Language introduction to the museum. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome and a bowl of water can be provided. Free disabled parking is available in the city car parks on Cathedral Street and Collins Street. Access guides are published on AccessAble and Euan's Guide.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte

The museum holds regular family-friendly activities, and the learning team runs workshops and activities for families. Baby changing and baby feeding facilities are available, and pushchairs can use the lifts, though they cannot be left in the cloakroom.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is in the city centre, a short walk from Buchanan Street and Argyle Street, opposite Provand's Lordship and next to Glasgow Cathedral. There is a bike rack behind the museum in the cathedral precinct and a Voi cycle stand about 50 metres away on Cathedral Street.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe
• Wifi

Free wifi is listed among the visitor facilities. A Historic Scotland shop on the ground floor sells local gifts and souvenirs, with hot and cold drinks and snacks to take away. The cloakroom is small and cannot take prams, buggies or large items.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Tot 80 personen.

The Function Suite holds 80 people in theatre or banquet style and can be hired for meetings, wedding ceremonies and filming, during opening hours or in the evening from 17:00. There is no on-site catering.

Je bezoek plannen