St Brigid's Church, Kilbirnie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Brigid's Church |
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|---|---|
| 55°45′09″N 4°41′11″W / 55.75250°N 4.68639°W | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | St Brigid's |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Brigid |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kilbirnie |
| Diocese | Diocese of Galloway |
| Province | St Andrews and Edinburgh |
St Brigid's Church is a Roman Catholic church located in Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It serves the local parish and is part of the Diocese of Galloway.
Contents
History of St Brigid's
Early Beginnings (1858-1864)
A group of Christians started meeting for worship in Kilbirnie in 1858. Just a few years later, in 1862, the church building and a nearby house for the priest (called a presbytery) were built. They were designed in a simple Gothic style. Later, in 1894, a school was also opened for the community.
A young Irish priest named Father Thomas P. Lee played a big part in the church's early days. He came from Limerick, Ireland, and was sent to Kilbirnie in 1859. At first, he traveled weekly by horse from Johnstone, a town in a nearby county. Father Lee worked hard to raise money and find land to build the church. He chose Saint Brigid as the patron saint, who is known for caring for the poor.
The church opened in 1862. It was a simple rectangular building with a gallery (a long room), a porch at the entrance, a vestry (where priests prepare), a confessional (for confessions), and the presbytery next door. Sadly, Father Lee passed away just two years later when he was only 33 years old.
Changes and Growth (1947-1957)
For a long time, Kilbirnie parish was part of the Archdiocese of Glasgow. However, in 1947, there was a big change. Parishes in the northern part of Ayrshire, including Kilbirnie, became part of the Diocese of Galloway.
After World War II, many more people moved to the area. Because of this, the church needed to be made bigger and better. It was decided to add an extension to the back of the church. A new porch and a baptistery (a place for baptisms) were also added to the front. The newly renovated and expanded church officially opened in 1957.
Around the same time, the house next door, which belonged to the schoolmaster, was bought. This became the new presbytery, which was much closer to the church than the old one. The completed church also included a new sanctuary (the main area for worship) and a sacristy (a room for sacred items and clergy). There was even special space for the altar servers.
St Brigid's Today
Today, St Brigid's is one of three churches that make up the local parish. The other two churches are Our Lady's in Beith and St Palladius in Dalry.
