St John's Cathedral, Oban facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Cathedral |
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| The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine | |
Cathedral church of St John the Divine
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| Location | Oban |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Scottish Episcopal Church |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St John the Divine |
| Consecrated | 22 September 1864 |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 1846 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Argyll and The Isles |
St John's Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of St John the Divine, is a special church in Oban, Scotland. It is a cathedral for the Scottish Episcopal Church. In Scottish Gaelic, its name is Ard-eaglais Eòin an Diadhair.
This cathedral is one of two main churches for the Diocese of Argyll and The Isles. It is also one of the important places where the Bishop of Argyll and The Isles has their main seat.
Contents
Building St John's Cathedral
The idea to build an Episcopal church in Oban started in 1846. Important families, the MacDougalls of Dunollie and the Campbells of Dunstaffnage, helped get the project going.
The first part of the church was finished in 1864. Charles Wilson was chosen as the architect, but he passed away. David Thomson then took over the work.
The First Church Building
The church was officially opened on September 22, 1864. It was described as being quite small back then. It had a main hall (nave) and a special area for the altar (chancel). The total length inside was about 18.6 meters (61 feet).
The beautiful stained-glass window at the east end was given by Sir Donald Campbell. It was a gift to remember his brother, Sir Angus. Another stained-glass window, a round "rose window," was given by David Hutcheson.
Many people helped build the church. John McCorquodale did the stone work, and Andrew Fairgrieve handled the plumbing. The first part of the building cost about £1,400, which was a lot of money back then!
How the Cathedral Grew
In 1882, a side section was added to the south of the church. More additions were planned in 1910 by architect James Chalmers. However, they ran out of money before everything was finished.
This is why St John's Cathedral looks so unique today. You can clearly see the different parts that were built over time. The steel beams inside are still there, showing the original big plans for the building. The church became a cathedral in 1920.
In 1958, a special screen was added inside the church. It was designed by Ian Gordon Lindsay.
Leaders of the Cathedral
The cathedral has had many rectors and provosts (leaders) over the years. Here are some of them:
- 1859-1880: Robert Jackson MacGeorge
- 1881-1896: Arthur Ingelby
- 1896-1930: Charles Pressley Smith
- 1930-1942: George Preston Tonge
- 1959–1979: Charles Copland
- 1980-1986: Nigel Abbott
- 1986-2000: Alan Maclean of Dochgarroch
- 2000–2012: Norman MacCallum
- 2012–2017: Nicki McNelly
- 2018–present: Margi Campbell
Other Cathedrals Nearby
- Cathedral of The Isles – This is another co-cathedral for the same diocese, located in Millport.
- St Columba's Cathedral – This is Oban's Roman Catholic cathedral.
