St Mary's, Fochabers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's, Fochabers |
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| St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Fochabers | |
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| 57°36′46″N 3°05′43″W / 57.6127°N 3.0952°W | |
| Location | Fochabers, Moray |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | Bishop James Kyle and J Gillespie Graham |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1825 |
| Completed | 1826 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | St. Peter's |
| Diocese | Aberdeen |
St Mary's, Fochabers is a beautiful Roman Catholic church located in the village of Fochabers, Moray, in Scotland. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen. This church is well-known for its amazing altar and colorful stained glass windows. It is still an active church today, holding regular Sunday services for its community.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
Fochabers has a long and interesting history with the Catholic faith. For many years, the Gordon family, who lived at Gordon Castle nearby, remained Catholic even when it was not common. Before the current church was built, there was an older chapel in Fochabers. This old chapel was even saved from being burned by soldiers after the Jacobite rebellion in 1745, a big event in Scottish history.
Building the Church
The current St Mary's Church was finished in 1826. The main architect was James Gillespie Graham. The first stone was laid in 1825 by Father George Mathieson, who was born in Fochabers. Father Mathieson hoped the new building would be "an ornament to the town" and bring respect to religion.
Special Art and Windows
Over the years, the church has added many beautiful features. In 1885, a special screen behind the altar, called a reredos, was installed. This was designed by Peter Paul Pugin, a famous architect. Later, two stunning stained glass windows were added to remember the Clapperton family. These windows were designed by the well-known company Franz Mayer & Co.. One window shows a theme related to Easter, and the other features a theme about Mary, an important figure in the Catholic faith.
Images for kids
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Chancel featuring the Pugin altar
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Pugin altar
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Franz Mayer & Co. window.
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Franz Mayer & Co. window.
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