We changed our name to Cathures at the beginning of 2006 from the Glasgow Renaissance Singers and have also extended our repertoire to include works outside of the Renaissance period through Baroque a later works.
" ...as far as Cathures... "
Cathures was a place on the banks of the river Clyde. It is part of the long history of the city we now know as Glasgow.
Stone Age canoes have been excavated along the river's banks. There are various possibilities as to what Cathures was and when it came into being: an iron-age fort; a pilgrimage site for Celtic druids; a Roman trading post; a Christian monastery; a village; a city...
Glasgow's early origins are not well-documented but St Ninian, the 4th century Christian missionary, is said to have passed through Cathures and dedicated a burial ground.
In the 6th century, St Mungo (Glasgow's patron saint, also known as St Kentigern) is said to have journeyed there and buried the corpse of a holy man, Fergus. This event is recorded by Jocelin of Furness in his twelfth century 'Life of St Kentigern': " ...came by a straight road ... as far as Cathures, which is now called Glasgu ... "
It is likely that Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis and the site of the Rottenrow maternity hospital stand on the area once known as Cathures.
Cathures is a link between the past and the present of Glasgow and a fitting name for our choir who rehearse in the city and perform music of various styles and periods.