Alexander Thomson (April 9, 1817 - March 22, 1875) was one of the great Glaswegian architects, even though he was born in the small village of Balfron some 15 miles to the North. He is believed by some to be the equal of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. He produced his own distinctive neoclassical architecture which gave him the nickname "Greek". Despite this, his influences were not confined just to Greece, and Egyptian and Syrian motifs are evident in his work. Some of his more famous buildings include Holmwood House in the South Side of Glasgow, The St Vincent Street Church and Egyptian Halls in the centre of Glasgow, and the terrace of what are now flats and University buildings in Oakfield Avenue in the West End. His work has had a great and enduring impact on the city's appearance. Thomson was a committed Christian and designed three notable churches for the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The interior decor was influenced by Biblical themes, such as the descriptions in II Chronicles 3:5-16 of King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. Only one church is still in use - St Vincent Street, Glasgow (built 1859). His Caledonia Road Church in the Gorbals has been slowly decaying since an arson attack in 1965, but is still a visible landmark on the South Side.
