Saint Mary's, Calton facts for kids
Saint Mary's is a Catholic church located in Calton, a part of Glasgow, Scotland. It is a very old church, actually the second oldest in the Glasgow area for the Catholic Church. For a short time, from August 2009 to April 2011, it even served as the main church (called a Pro-Cathedral) while the usual main church, St Andrew's Cathedral, was being fixed up. The church building itself, finished in 1842, is considered a special historical building.
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Building a New Church
Saint Mary's Church was built between 1839 and 1842. This happened when the Catholic Church in Scotland was growing. Bishop Andrew Scott was in charge of the area at that time.
The church officially opened and was dedicated on August 15, 1842. Father Peter Forbes became the first priest of the church on the same day. He had spent three years traveling around Ireland to raise money for the new building.
How the Church Was Funded
Father Peter Forbes did an amazing job raising money. He collected £3,000, which would be like £5.4 million today! Because of his hard work, the church was opened without any debt. This was a big achievement for the community.
A Special Connection to Football
Saint Mary's Church is also famous for another reason. It is the place where the well-known football club, Celtic F.C., was founded. This makes the church an important spot in Scottish sports history too.
Keeping the Church Beautiful
In 2004, Saint Mary's Church started a big project to fix up and improve the building. This work was guided by architects from Glasgow.
Phases of Renovation
The first part of the renovation focused on the back of the church. This included the smaller chapels and the sacristy area. Workers fixed the roofs, repaired any rot, and mended the outside stone. The colorful stained glass windows in the side chapels were also cleaned and restored. This first stage was finished in August 2003.
The next big step happened in 2006. This time, the entire roof of the church was replaced. This important work was completed in December 2006. The church continues to be a special place for its community.
A Place for Important Events
The church has also been the location for significant events. For example, the funeral of the famous footballer Tommy Burns took place there in 2008.
Church Leaders Over Time
Many priests have served at Saint Mary's Church since it opened. Here are some of the people who led the church community:
- Fr. Peter Forbes (1842–1872)
- Fr. Donald Canon Carmichael (1872–1896)
- Fr. John J. Canon Dyer (1896–1922)
- Fr. Edward Fitzgerald (1922–1942)
- Fr Peter Canon Bonnyman (1942–1948)
- Mgr Michael Canon Ward (1948–1973)
- Fr Thomas Murphy (1973–1975)
- Fr John J. O'Brien (1975–1978)
- Fr Peter Smith
- Fr. Thomas P. Canon White
