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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Glasgow Cathedral's Ancient Well Revitalised for the City's 850th Anniversary

  • Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
  • Submitting member has a registered interest.

  • Motion type: Standard Motion
  • Motion reference: S6M-19933

That the Parliament congratulates Aproxima Creative Collective, which includes the acclaimed Scottish artist, Joanna Kessel, creative director, Angus Farquhar, lead designer, James Johnson, and structural engineers, David Narro Associates, on its successful restoration of the Well of St Mungo in the Crypt of Glasgow Cathedral and the installation of a shimmering circular mosaic installation that will enhance the well’s enjoyment for future generations of Glaswegians; notes that the installation is formed from over 1,000 handblown coloured glass tiles, made by Orsoni Venezia 1888, each inlaid with gold leaf and built using cutting-edge aerospace technology by TRB Lightweight Solutions, to ensure its durability for centuries to come, and that is the first mosaic of its kind installed within a historic well; commends the Glasgow City Council 850 Fund, the William Grant Foundation, the Mickel Trust, Glasgow City Heritage Trust, the Tom Farmer Foundation, the Robin Leith Trust, the Mercers' Company, the City Charitable Company, Robin Hardie, Andrew Mickel, Mary Ann Sutherland and the William Syson Foundation for their financial support for the project; acknowledges that the artwork was installed as part of the 850th anniversary celebrations of Glasgow being granted burgh status by William the Lion in 1175; notes that the Well is believed to be the same well in which, in the sixth century, the Brittonic Saint Kentigern (also known as St Mungo) established his cell beside the Molendinar Burn that would prove to be the nucleus for the village that would become the great metropolitan City of Glasgow; further notes that this well was a major site of pilgrimage for the Kingdom of Strathclyde and, following its annexation by the Kingdom of Alba, by the inhabitants of what would become medieval Scotland; celebrates the restoration of the well for the first time in centuries, and welcomes its return as a place of mediation, faith and inspiration for generations of future Glaswegians of all faiths and none.


Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Foysol Choudhury, Bob Doris, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Liam McArthur, Kevin Stewart, Mercedes Villalba, Annie Wells