Parkhead Nazarene · Since 1906
Our story: from generation to generation
Since 1906, people at Parkhead have gathered to worship, learn, serve and share the hope of Jesus. Our story includes children and families, teachers and preachers, musicians, neighbours and friends: generations of people whose faith and generosity have shaped the church we are today.
In October 2026, we celebrated our 120th anniversary under the theme Generation to Generation. We give thanks for God’s faithfulness through those years and look ahead to the people and communities we are called to serve.
1906 to 1907
Beginnings in Parkhead
Our congregation began in September 1906, when George Sharpe and a group of worshippers met in the Great Eastern Road Halls. The church was formally organised that October, and a new building on Burgher Street opened in 1907.
At its heart was the Wesleyan-Holiness conviction that God’s grace can transform our lives and shape the way we love and serve others. Worship, biblical teaching, prayer and sharing faith became central to the life of the new congregation.
Timeline
A few milestones
1906
The congregation begins in the Great Eastern Road Halls and is formally organised in October.
1907
The first Burgher Street church building opens.
1908
Parkhead Holiness Bible School begins, training people for preaching and Christian service.
1909
Parkhead hosts the first assembly of the Pentecostal Church of Scotland as the work spreads to other congregations.
1915
The Scottish churches unite with the international Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene.
1944
Hurlet Nazarene College is established, with former Parkhead young person George Frame playing a leading role.
1959
The college moves to Didsbury, Manchester, in the story that leads to today’s Nazarene Theological College.
2026
Parkhead celebrates its 120th anniversary on 3 and 4 October, with the theme Generation to Generation.
Training and mission
A church that trained and sent people
Parkhead’s influence soon reached beyond its own neighbourhood. The Holiness Bible School, established in 1908, equipped men and women to understand Scripture, share their faith and serve in ministry. People connected with the congregation helped new churches take root.
This is why Parkhead has often been called the Mother Church: a pioneering congregation that helped others begin. Its story became part of the wider Church of the Nazarene, joining an international church family in 1915.
The commitment to preparing people for ministry continued through later generations, including the development of Hurlet Nazarene College and its move to Manchester. Parkhead’s links with Nazarene Theological College remain a significant part of that heritage.
A church family
The people who carried the story
The story belongs to a whole church family. It includes those who taught children, led young people, sang in choirs, opened their homes, visited neighbours and quietly gave their time and resources.
Children’s ministry was part of Parkhead’s life from the beginning. The early Sunday school brought together hundreds of children and a committed team of teachers. Across the years, learning, friendship, music and practical care have helped people find their place in the church.
That life of faith also reached further afield. People connected with Parkhead served in ministry and mission overseas, including the Hynd family’s work in healthcare and education in what is now Eswatini. Local service and a concern for the wider world have both shaped our story.
Today
Our story continues
Today, Glasgow East Nazarene brings together Parkhead Nazarene, The Charter and Recovery Church. Each has its own character and welcome, sharing a commitment to faith and community life in Glasgow’s East End.
Our buildings and programmes have changed across the years. The invitation continues: to follow Jesus, grow together and serve the people around us.
The loft-room project
Help create space for the next generation
Children have been part of Parkhead’s story since its earliest days. We want to keep investing in the generations who will carry that story forward.
We are raising £10,000 to convert our current loft space into a Sunday school and meeting room. The project will provide space for children to learn and grow in faith, as well as a room for meetings.
If you would like to help, you can give through Tithely. Choose the loft room option so your gift goes towards this project.
Target £10,000
Give to the loft-room project (opens Tithely in a new tab)
You’ll continue to Tithely to make your gift. Our registered charity name is Sharpe Memorial Church of the Nazarene. Please check that loft room is selected before completing your gift.
About this history. This account draws on the church’s own historical records and on Michael Kane’s research into Parkhead’s early years, The Formation of the ‘Mother Church’ (MA dissertation, 2011).
Parkhead Nazarene
12-14 Burgher Street, Parkhead, Glasgow G31 4TB · Send us a message
Parkhead Nazarene is part of Glasgow East Nazarene. Sharpe Memorial Church of the Nazarene, registered charity SC010058.
