St Mary's, Inverness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's, Inverness |
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| St Mary's Roman Catholic Church | |
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| 57°28′41″N 4°13′48″W / 57.478010°N 4.230003°W | |
| Location | Inverness, Inverness-Shire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | William Robertson of Elgin |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Completed | 1837 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | St. Joseph's |
| Diocese | Aberdeen |
St. Mary's, Inverness is a Roman Catholic church located in the city of Inverness, Scotland. It belongs to the Diocese of Aberdeen. This church is well-known for its beautiful altar and stunning stained glass windows. People can attend daily Mass here. It also serves as the Polish-language Chaplaincy for Inverness.
Contents
History of St. Mary's Church
The church first opened its doors on April 2, 1837. Before this, local Catholic members worshipped on Margaret Street. The mission became separate from Eskdale in 1827. In 1846, about 400 Catholics lived in Inverness.
Building the Presbytery and Remodeling
In 1888, a house for the priest, called a presbytery, was built. Miss Jessie McDonell kindly paid for it, costing £1,200. On August 22, 1894, the church had a special re-opening. The area around the altar, called the sanctuary, was changed. This allowed 250 more people to attend services. A new altar, designed by Peter Paul Pugin, was also built. New Stations of the Cross were added too. The sanctuary was updated again in 2014. This included a new altar and tiles. These changes helped the church follow new rules for services from the Second Vatican Council.
School for the Community
A school was built for the church in 1845. At first, Franciscan nuns taught there. The original school building was replaced in 1943.
Scotland's First Married Catholic Priest
In 2005, Father James Bell became the first married Catholic priest to be ordained in Scotland. The Pope gave him special permission for this. This meant he did not have to take the usual vows of celibacy (not marrying). Father Bell said he really enjoyed his time at St. Mary's. He found it a wonderful parish with welcoming people. He retired from his role in 2023. Currently, Father Laurence Gambella is the Acting Parish Priest. He is on loan from the Salford Diocese.
Inside the Church
