Ayr Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ayr Cathedral |
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| Cathedral of Saint Margaret, Ayr | |
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| Location | Ayr, South Ayrshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | The Church of Saint Margaret |
| Status | In Use |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | A-Listed Building |
| Designated | 28 July 2007 |
| Previous cathedrals | Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Ayr |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 350 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Galloway |
| Province | St Andrews and Edinburgh |
Ayr Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Margaret, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Ayr, Scotland. It is the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galloway. The cathedral is where the Bishop of Galloway has his special chair, called a cathedra. St Margaret's became a cathedral in 2007 after the previous one, Good Shepherd Cathedral, Ayr, closed.
Contents
The Story of St Margaret's Ayr
St Margaret's Church, which later became a cathedral, has changed a lot in its nearly 200 years. An architect named James Dempster designed the original church.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the church was updated because of changes from Vatican II. These changes made the sanctuary (the area around the altar) different. The goal was for people to feel more involved in Mass. The priest started celebrating Mass facing the congregation instead of the high altar.
In the mid-1990s, the church needed big repairs. There were problems with water leaks, dampness, rusty windows, and old electrical systems. Father Martin McCluskey started talking about a major renovation plan. Sadly, he passed away in 1996 before the work could begin. When Father Patrick Keegans arrived in 1997, he agreed the repairs were urgent and started the process.
The church had a huge makeover and re-dedication in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The sanctuary was completely redone. New furnishings, a central aisle, stained glass windows, a new organ, and a larger sacristy were added. The ceiling and walls were painted white. New lighting and central heating were also put in. These improvements cost a lot, but grants from Heritage Scotland and the National Lottery helped pay the bills quickly.
During these renovations, the church community signed two special books. One was a Book of Dedication, and the other was a Book of Remembrance. Everyone was invited to sign the dedication book and remember loved ones who had passed away. Both books are now placed under the high altar. They are a lasting memory for people who have been, are, and will be part of the church.
The newly renovated church officially reopened on March 31, 2000. Many people from the community and other churches attended the ceremony. Bishop Maurice Taylor led the opening and re-dedication.
On September 14, 2007, St Margaret's Church officially became the cathedral church for the Diocese of Galloway. This happened after the Good Shepherd Cathedral in Ayr closed.
Important Dates for St Margaret's
- 1822: The number of Catholic people in Ayrshire grew. Bishop Cameron sent Rev William Thomson to be the first local priest.
- 1826: The foundation stone for St Margaret's was laid after Rev William Thomson asked for it.
- 1827: The new St Margaret's church officially opened.
- 1895: A permanent school for St Margaret's children opened next to the church.
- 1930: St Margaret's High School opened. The old school building became the church hall.
- 1978: The old chapel house was taken down to make way for road changes. A new chapel house was built north of the church.
- 1986: The old school building was completely removed to build a new church hall.
- 1989: The new Church Hall opened.
- 1999: Work began on the big renovations for St Margaret's.
- 2000: St Margaret's reopened. Four parishioners cut the ribbon.
- 2007: Pope Benedict XVI approved the request to move the cathedral seat to St Margaret's Church, Ayr.
The History of Galloway Cathedrals
When the Roman Catholic Church was re-established in Scotland in 1878, the Diocese of Galloway included South Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, and Wigtownshire. St Andrew's in Dumfries was chosen as the first cathedral.
In 1947, the Pope made some changes. Ten parishes in north Ayrshire were added to the Diocese of Galloway. This meant Dumfries was no longer in the center of the diocese's population. Bishop Joseph McGee decided to move his home to Ayr to be closer to his people.
After St Andrew's Cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1961, Bishop McGee asked Pope John XXIII for permission to make Good Shepherd church his cathedral in Ayr. This was approved in 1962. However, a new cathedral was never built.
Over time, the Good Shepherd building had serious problems, especially with water leaks. Also, fewer and fewer people were attending Mass there. By 2001, Bishop Maurice Taylor decided that Good Shepherd church was no longer suitable. He asked to move the cathedral to St Margaret's, which was the main church in the area.
Since Bishop Taylor was about to retire, the decision was left to his successor. Bishop John Cunningham agreed that the cathedral should move. He asked Pope Benedict XVI to transfer the cathedral from Good Shepherd to St Margaret's. The Pope agreed, and St Margaret's has been the cathedral since 2007.
Church Leaders Over Time
Parish Priests
- (1822–1857) Rev. William Thomson
- (1857–1868) Rev. John Gallagher
- (1868–1871) Rev. William Burke
- (1871–1890) Rev. Patrick McLaughlin
- (1891–1894) Rev. W J. O'Shaughnessy
- (1894–1914) Rev. Daniel Collins
- (1914–1932) Rev. John Woods
- (1932–1965) Rev. Joseph McHardy
- (1965–1977) Rev. Stephen Kennedy
- (1977–1996) Rev. Martin McCluskey
- (1997–2007) Rev. Patrick Keegans
Bishops of Galloway
- (1878–1893) Bishop John McLachlan
- (1893–1914) Bishop William Turner
- (1914–1943) Bishop James William McCarthy
- (1943–1952) Bishop William Henry Mellon
- (1952–1981) Bishop Joseph McGee
- (1981–2004) Bishop Maurice Taylor
- (2007–2015) Bishop John Cunningham
- (2015–February 2022) Bishop William Nolan
- (February 2022 – December 2023) The position was vacant.
- (December 2023 – present) Bishop Frank Dougan
Cathedral Administrators
- (2007 – September 2016) Rev. Patrick Keegans
- (October 2016 – present) Rev. David Borland
The nave is the main part of the church where people sit. The windows in the nave are very special.
The two windows behind the large gallery were a challenge for the designer, Susan Bradbury. The gallery blocks the middle part of the windows. So, the artist used a repeating pattern that your mind can easily complete. The patterns are like Celtic knots, which are ancient designs with no beginning or end. They change from green to blue, showing the connection between heaven and earth and God's endless love. The Celtic theme also reminds us that the church community came from Ireland but is now strongly rooted in Scotland.
For the other windows in the nave, two big Christian ideas were used: "Divine Light" and "Water of Life." These stained glass windows were made in the year 2000. The artist focused on verses from the Book of Revelation that talk about God's glory being the light and the "water of life."
The "Divine Light" window shines with all the colors of the spectrum. It represents ideas like "Let there be Light" and "The Light of the World." It reminds us that light shines even in darkness.
On the south side of the nave, the "Water of Life" window reminds us that Ayr has always depended on water. The River Ayr and the coast were important for trade and fishing. Water has many spiritual meanings. This window makes us think of verses like "He leadeth me beside still waters" and "whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst."
The 'Water of Life' window also remembers those who died in the Pan Am Flight 103 disaster. American families of the victims gave this window to the church. They did this because the previous cathedral administrator, Patrick Canon Keegans, had a close bond with them. He was the parish priest in Lockerbie when the disaster happened.
Both the 'Divine Light' and 'Water of Life' windows sparkle with special lead crystal lenses. In the light window, they create a shimmering effect. In the water window, they look like bubbles as the River Ayr flows into the sea.
The window at the west side of the cathedral, above the gallery and facing John Street, was updated in 2016. Susan Bradbury, the same artist, designed it. It uses modern and symbolic images to show a spiritual theme.
This window has three tall, narrow sections called lancets, with five smaller lights above them. The new design is inspired by the idea of praise, as described in Psalm 148. It is shown by a bright golden light. This window uses different types of glass, including blown glass, etched glass, and flash glass.
The name of this window is "Gloria in Excelsis Deo," which means "Glory to God in the Highest."
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Divine Light Window
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Water of Life Window
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Glory to God Window
The Sanctuary
The windows in the sanctuary look very different from the modern, symbolic windows in the nave. These Victorian windows have strong colors typical of the Gothic Revival style and show pictures.
Behind the high altar are four original stained glass windows from 1827. From left to right, they show:
- The Virgin Mary
- Jesus, The Good Shepherd
- Saint Joseph
- Saint Margaret of Scotland
Altar Furnishings
The items around the altar were first designed in 2000. Some small changes were made in 2007 when the church became a cathedral.
The bishop's special chair is called the cathedra. This is where the bishop sits during important church services. Michael Mancini designed and made it in 2007.
The cross used in the sanctuary came from St Mary's Church in Saltcoats. It was given to the cathedral in the early 2010s. The cross that was used in the sanctuary from the 1970s to the 1990s is now in the confession room.
Sacred Heart Chapel
The new windows in both side chapels have stronger colors. This helps connect the modern designs with the older windows in the sanctuary.
To the left of the sanctuary is the Sacred Heart Chapel. In this chapel, you will find a modern stained glass window. It is ruby red and filled with hearts. This window is a way to think about the theme of Love.
The older, original window above the altar, where the Tabernacle is, shows Christ appearing as the Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary Alacoque.
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Sacred Heart Window
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Sacred Heart Chapel
Our Lady Chapel
The modern window in the Lady Chapel has cooler colors. It helps us think about grief and consolation, inspired by the sadness of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This window has the letter M for Mary, a crown to show Mary as Queen of Heaven, and tears of a sorrowing mother.
The original rose window above the altar shows the Annunciation. This is when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus.
Both modern windows in the side chapels are made of a special glass from France called flashed glass. This glass has a thin layer of color over a clear base. This colored layer can be etched away with acid to show the clear glass underneath or to create different shades. The clear shapes of letters and hearts were made by protecting parts of the glass from the acid.
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Our Lady Window
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Our Lady Chapel
Reconciliation Room
Under the gallery is the new Reconciliation Room. This used to be the old baptistry. In this room, there are two original stained glass windows. One shows the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. The other shows Jesus preaching in the Temple. You will also find the sanctuary cross that was used in St Margaret's between the 1970s and 1999 in this room.
In 2016, a special "Holy Door" for the Year of Mercy was opened between the Reconciliation Room and the church porch.
The Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross tell the story of Jesus's journey to his crucifixion. They use hands as the main symbol. You'll see hands placing a crown of thorns, hands carrying the cross, hands offering comfort, and hands causing pain. The colors in each station also have special meanings.
When Jesus falls, brown is used for the earth. If you look closely at the hands, you'll see that the pain gets worse with each fall.
A softer, warmer brown is used for the wood of the cross and to show the strength of Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry the cross.
Blue shows sadness in the most sorrowful moments. This includes when Jesus reaches out to his Mother, when he meets the mourning women, and when he is taken down from the cross.
Red shows violence when Christ's clothes are taken off and at the moment of his death. The strongest red shows the most violent act, when the nails pierce his skin. At the moment Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn in half. This station shows the emptiness of death after Jesus is gone.
Green is used for the kindness of Veronica, who wiped Jesus's face. It's also used for the living branches of thorns and, in the final image, as a symbol of hope beyond death.
Each Station is made of two sheets of glass in the same frame. One sheet is flashed glass, carefully etched to create subtle color changes. The other sheet has the image printed onto it with a special pigment and then heated in a kiln. The space between the two sheets and the clear glass create reflections that make the image look soft and dreamlike.
Images for kids
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External view (with Cathedral Hall)
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Galloway Diocese in relation to Scotland
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Santa Margarita (Ayr) para niños
