Volunteer ghost hunters invited to sleepover at Mackintosh church

The interior of the Mackintosh church(Photo: Dave Souza)

The only church designed by Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh is looking for volunteer ghost hunters brave enough to spend the night there.

The church, at Glasgow's Queen's Cross, was commissioned by the Free Church in 1896 and opened its doors for worship on 10 September 1899.

The building encapsulates Mackintosh's trademark simplicity and floral motifs, and is today the headquarters of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society (CRMS).

However, in addition to being a place of architectural significance, the church has attracted additional interest because of the rumour that the building is haunted by Mackintosh himself.

CRMS director Stuart Robertson believes he captured the ghost of Mackintosh in a recent photograph he took inside the building.

"In the evening, when light spills through the church, it is quite amazing," he told the Scottish Herald.

"Upon close inspection of a photograph I took of this, an image that has an uncanny resemblance to Charles Rennie Mackintosh, even his distinctive moustache, is clearly visible.

"On the right there is also the clear outline of what looks like a fairy.

"This left me very uneasy; I can testify that there has been no manipulation of the photograph."

The overnight stay is on offer as part of a campaign to raise £10,000 to revitalise the building and transform it into a new arts centre in a deprived area of Glasgow.

The CRMS is offering two people the chance to stay overnight in the church at a cost of £2,000 each "to try and confirm once and for all whether the ghost of Mackintosh still haunts the only church in the world designed by the famous architect".

Mackintosh is renowned the world over for his unique contribution to architecture, designing the Willow Tea Rooms and Glasgow School of Art.

Funds raised by the campaign will be used to install a stage and grand piano at the church that can be used by local musicians and music students.

Hear more about CRMS's plans in this video: