Sectarianism in Glasgow
“Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God.” ― John Knox
Key words
- Sectarianism: very strong support for the religious or political group that you are a member of, which can cause problems between different groups
Sectarianism was the main cause of conflict in Ireland.
- Presbyterianism: the beliefs of the Presbyterian Church, a branch of the Christian Protestant Church that is the national Church of Scotland and one of the largest Churches in the US.
Presbyterianism was started in Scotland by John Knox.
- Ulster: one of the four provinces of Ireland, part of which is now in Northern Ireland and part in the Republic of Ireland
John Ferguson was a Protestant from Ulster who moved to Glasgow.
- Instability: the fact of a situation being likely to change, in a way that is worrying
Investors should keep in mind the political and economic instability in many emerging markets.
- Align yourself with sth/sb: to agree with a person or an organization and work with them or support their ideas
There are signs that the prime minister is aligning himself with the liberals.
Read the article to find the answers
- What did Presbyterianism replace?
- What do the Orangemen of Glasgow celebrate each year in Glasgow?
- What was Celtic founded as?
- Who do Celtic supporters align themselves with?
The Scottish Reformation
The long-standing sectarian rivalry between Catholics and Protestants in Glasgow dates back to the Scottish Reformation in 1560, when Scotland officially adopted Presbyterianism as its state religion, replacing the Roman Catholic Church, which had been the dominant religion for over a thousand years.
John Knox was a clergyman who went into exile after the murder of the last senior member of the Catholic Church in Scotland. On his return to Scotland, influenced by the French theologian John Calvin, Knox led the Protestant Reformation in Scotland and founded the Church of Scotland.
The Orangemen of Glasgow march in the city every year to celebrate the victory of the Protestant William of Orange over the Catholic King James Stuart at the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland in 1690, following the Glorious Revolution in London two years earlier.
Football
Sectarianism in Glasgow is most visible in the rivalry between the city's two main football clubs, Celtic and Rangers. Rangers supporters are historically native Scots and Ulster Scots, while Celtic supporters are historically Irish Scots.
Rangers Football Club was founded in 1872, but its fan base grew significantly in 1912 when Belfast shipbuilders set up a new shipyard in Glasgow because of the instability in Ireland. Hundreds of Protestant Ulster Scots also made the move and became Rangers supporters.
Celtic was founded as a charity for poor Irish Catholics who had moved to Glasgow due to economic hardship. As a result, Celtic have a significant number of supporters in Ireland and are the most popular football club in North America due to the large Irish expatriate population there.
Fans
Some groups of Celtic supporters sing or chant Irish folk songs expressing support for Irish republicanism. In 2011, the team was fined £12,700 by UEFA for pro-IRA chanting by some of its supporters.
The most popular song among Rangers supporters is Follow Follow, which is based on the hymn Follow On. It is also the club's official anthem and is played before every home game. It became controversial after some supporters began singing alternative lyrics about the Pope.
Glasgow's traditional sectarian tensions have evolved in recent decades. Some Celtic supporters have aligned themselves with the Palestinian cause, while some Rangers fans support the State of Israel.
Discussion questions
- Do you have any questions about any of the vocabulary or grammar in this article?
- Have you ever been to Scotland?
- Do you know any Presbyterians?
- Do you know any football songs?
- Is sectarianism a problem in your country?
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