![Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen](/img/gd_attr/37789.jpg)
Queen's Cross Church, Aberdeen
Queen’s Cross Church is an example of architectural creativity and religious heritage. A congregation of the Church of Scotland, Queen’s Cross united with Midstocket Church, Holburn West Church, and Rubislaw Church in June 2023 to form Fountainhall Church. Its history dates back to its opening for worship on April 17, 1881, following a successful design competition won by John Bridgeford Pirie of Pirie and Clyne Architects. The church, originally conceived in a French Gothic style using Aberdeen’s iconic granite, is distinguished by its 150-foot steeple and imposing entrance framed by massive pillars.
In 1967, the church was designated as a Category B listed building and was upgraded to Category A in 1984, reflecting its significance in the city’s architectural landscape. The stained glass windows, gifted by congregation members, and the stunning circular rose window by Douglas Strachan, added in 1920, lend a vivid charm to the structure. Queen’s Cross was also the first church in Aberdeen to incorporate instrumental music, acquiring an organ from renowned builder Henry Willis.
The church’s eclectic architectural style is a fusion of High Victorian Gothic, Scots Baronial, and Aesthetic Movement elements. Pirie’s signature motifs, such as the navel-like paterae, are prominently featured, with inspirations from the Aesthetic Movement’s sunflower and influences from architect Alexander Thomson. Inside, the church showcases fine craftsmanship, with surviving pews adorned with wave-like scrolls, intricate doors, and sweeping banisters.
Despite various remodels, the church retains many original details, including its finely carved pews and distinctive balusters. Its design represents a blend of tradition and innovation, making Queen’s Cross Church a striking part of Aberdeen’s religious and cultural history.
In 1967, the church was designated as a Category B listed building and was upgraded to Category A in 1984, reflecting its significance in the city’s architectural landscape. The stained glass windows, gifted by congregation members, and the stunning circular rose window by Douglas Strachan, added in 1920, lend a vivid charm to the structure. Queen’s Cross was also the first church in Aberdeen to incorporate instrumental music, acquiring an organ from renowned builder Henry Willis.
The church’s eclectic architectural style is a fusion of High Victorian Gothic, Scots Baronial, and Aesthetic Movement elements. Pirie’s signature motifs, such as the navel-like paterae, are prominently featured, with inspirations from the Aesthetic Movement’s sunflower and influences from architect Alexander Thomson. Inside, the church showcases fine craftsmanship, with surviving pews adorned with wave-like scrolls, intricate doors, and sweeping banisters.
Despite various remodels, the church retains many original details, including its finely carved pews and distinctive balusters. Its design represents a blend of tradition and innovation, making Queen’s Cross Church a striking part of Aberdeen’s religious and cultural history.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Aberdeen. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Queen's Cross Church on Map
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Sight Name: Queen's Cross Church
Sight Location: Aberdeen, Scotland (See walking tours in Aberdeen)
Sight Type: Religious
Sight Location: Aberdeen, Scotland (See walking tours in Aberdeen)
Sight Type: Religious
Walking Tours in Aberdeen, Scotland
Create Your Own Walk in Aberdeen
Creating your own self-guided walk in Aberdeen is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Aberdeen Introduction Walking Tour
The area where Aberdeen now sits has been inhabited by people for at least 8,000 years. The city that we now know as Aberdeen was first chartered in 1179. It was granted city status in 1891.
The city has been successful over the years due to vast granite deposits used for making sturdy buildings and fortifications. It was also known for its fishing, textile and paper-making industries. However,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
The city has been successful over the years due to vast granite deposits used for making sturdy buildings and fortifications. It was also known for its fishing, textile and paper-making industries. However,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Aberdeen Old Town Tour
Established in 1489 as a separate burgh, Old Aberdeen was an important political, ecclesiastical and cultural center since the late Middle Ages. The locality merged with the rest of Aberdeen only in 1891. Today, the central part of the Old Town is a conservation area, characterized by well-preserved medieval dwellings and many other unique, vernacular structures of the 17th-early 19th centuries,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles