Motherwell Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Motherwell Cathedral |
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| Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Good Aid | |
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 Motherwell Cathedral
Location in North Lanarkshire
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| 55°47′29″N 3°59′13″W / 55.79128°N 3.98704°W | |
| Location | Motherwell, Lanarkshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | motherwell-cathedral.org.uk |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1900 (Church) 1948 (Cathedral) |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Pugin & Pugin |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1899-1900 |
| Groundbreaking | 1899 |
| Completed | 1900 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1000 Seated |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Glasgow |
| Diocese | Diocese of Motherwell (since 1948) |
| Province | Ecclesiastical Province of Glasgow |
The Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Good Aid, also known as Motherwell Cathedral, is a special Roman Catholic church. It is located in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. This cathedral is the main church for the Diocese of Motherwell. It is also where the Bishop of Motherwell has his official seat.
Contents
History of Motherwell Cathedral
The Church of Our Lady of Good Aid in Motherwell first opened its doors on Monday, December 9, 1900. Many years later, in 1948, something important happened. The church was given the special title of "cathedral." This happened after a new church area, called the Motherwell Diocese, was created. It became a "suffragan see," which means it's a diocese that is part of a larger church province.
The Scottish Catholic Directory from 1901 mentions the church's opening. It describes the size of the church and its main design features.
Music at the Cathedral
Motherwell Cathedral has a very large organ. It was updated in 2008 with new electronic parts. This organ is the biggest one in any Roman Catholic church in the west of Scotland.
The cathedral's organist is John Pitcathley. He has even played the organ during visits by the Pope to Scotland. The Motherwell Diocesan Choir often sings at important services in the cathedral. They also sing at the Saturday evening Mass. This choir is led by John Pitcathley.
Cathedral Design and Style
The cathedral was built in a style called Gothic revival. This means it looks like older Gothic churches. It was designed by famous architects named Pugin and Pugin. They designed many Catholic churches in Scotland, England, and Ireland.
The church originally had a main altar and two smaller altars. However, in 1984, the inside of the church was changed. This was done to follow new ideas from the Second Vatican Council. Because of these changes, some of the old altars and fancy decorations were removed.
Service Times
You can attend services at the cathedral at these times:
- Saturday evening: 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM, 6:30 PM
- Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM
- Thursday also: 7:00 PM
Important People at the Cathedral
Here are some of the important leaders who have served the church:
Parish Priests of Our Lady of Good Aid
These people were the main priests before it became a cathedral:
- Rev. James Gilmour, 1875–1877
- Rev. James Glancey D.D, 1877–1888
- Very Rev. John Canon Taylor, 1888–1917
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. Thomas Canon Currie, 1917–1935
- Rev. Bartholomew Atkinson, 1935–1946
- Very Rev. Denis Canon Flynn, 1947–1956
Deans of Motherwell Cathedral
These people have been the main leaders of the cathedral since 1947:
- Very Rev. Denis Canon Flynn, 1947–1956
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. Gerard M. Rogers, 1956–1960
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. John Conroy, 1960–1981
- Very Rev. Noel Canon Carey, 1981–2011
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. Thomas Canon Millar V.G, 2011–2017
- Rev. Gerard Chromy V.G, 2017–2022
- Rev. Brian Lamb, 2022–present
Since 2016, the dean of the cathedral also serves as the parish priest for St Luke's Church in Motherwell. This happened when the two church areas joined together.
More to Explore
In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora del Buen Socorro (Motherwell) para niños
