The St Mungo Festival
St Mungo : 604 / 612
St Mungo: legend and oral tradition tell us that his mother, St Enoch or Thenew, gave him birth at Culross in Fife in the latter part of the 6th century. He grew up at the monastery there, became a monk, then a wandering evangelist often based on the Molendinar Burn above the river Clyde and near Ninian’s cemetary in what became Glasgow. His zeal for the Gospel and sporadic royal opposition led him to move at times to other parts of Strathclyde (notably Hoddom near Ecclefechan), to the north of England and to St Asaph’s in northern Wales. St Columba came to meet him and they exchanged staffs. He died in Glasgow either in 604 or 612. Mungo or Kentigern is still much revered in Glasgow and is known as far away as Cologne and Moscow. His mother is also revered and her memory is evoked by at least one church dedicated in her name and by the St Enoch Shopping Centre.
roundel graphic (c) Netta Ewing
The city Poet Laureate, Jim Carruth, has composed wonderful poems inspired by them both.
St Mungo is patron saint of Glasgow. ‘Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the word and the praising of his name.’ His feast falls on 13th January. The annual St Mungo festival regularly includes a Mass, Vespers, ecumenical service, children’s event (Mungo’s Bairns), radio programs, city and national walks, lectures and talks. The Festival is supported by Glasgow Churches Together and by Medieval Glasgow.
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La Vita Kentigerni – Saturday 10th January 12.15 The Mitchell Library
Please join us to at our St Mungo event on Saturday 10 January 2026, 12:00-12:45. It will be held in the Mitchell Library foyer at Granville Street. This is part of two week-long festival celebrating the life of Glasgow’s patron saint. This celebration of St Mungo will be in words and song, including a reading (in Latin and English) from a 12th century Life of St Mungo. This reading replicates the experience which took place every year in the Chapter House of the Cathedral on St Mungo’s Feast Day, 13 January.
The music includes a Violin welcome and will end with the St Mungo’s singers and Let Glasgow Flourish – a very fitting legacy of St Mungo.
‘Let Glasgow Flourish’ has been one of the theme tunes of The St Mungo Festival. It was written marking the demise of Strathclyde Regional Council in 1996 and the renewal of Glasgow City Council. The text is based on the traditional city motto and the prayer aspect is strengthened by verses from psalm 121 – may the house of the Lord be at peace, and ‘I rejoiced when I heard them say. . .
I rejoiced when I heard them say
‘Let us go to the house of God’’
Now our feet are standing within your gates, within your gates.
Now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem.
For the peace of Jerusalem pray ‘Peace be to your
homes; peace within your city walls’
For love of brethren and of friends
pray ‘peace be to your homes, may peace reign in your walls.’
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Sunday 11th January at 4pm Glasgow Cathedral,
An Ecumenical Service marking the feast of St Mungo organised by Glasgow Churches Together. The service is attended by leaders and representatives of the Churches in Glasgow and is supported by The St Mungo Singers, the Glasgow Ukrainian Choir, the Salvation Army . . . . One of the features is the carrying in with honour of a copy of the 12th century Life of St Mungo
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Monday 12th January : 7.00 p.m in St Andrew’s Cathedral. A contemporary Vespers of St Mungo with the St Mungo anthem and the opportunity to join in the psalms and Canticle of Evening Prayer. It is an occasion – like the Mass the following Day – for thanking God for the city and the people of Glasgow and praying for us all. Archbishop William Nolan will preside and the service is supported by The St Mungo Singers. All are welcome
Tuesday 13th January: the Feast of St Mungo – Mass in the Cathedral at 1.00 and in many parishes at 10.00
