St Mary's Cathedral, Aberdeen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary's Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Mary of the Assumption, Aberdeen
Cathedral from junction of Huntly and Union Streets
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Location	Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Country	Scotland
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	stmaryscathedralaberdeen.org
Architecture
Architect(s)	Alexander Ellis
Years built	1860
Administration
Diocese	Aberdeen (since 1878)
Province	St Andrews and Edinburgh

St Mary's Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of St Mary of the Assumption, is a beautiful Catholic church in Aberdeen, Scotland. It's a very important church because it's where the Bishop of Aberdeen works. The Bishop is like the main leader for all the Catholic churches in the Aberdeen area. You can find this cathedral at 20 Huntly Street in Aberdeen.

Building the Cathedral

The cathedral was designed by an architect named Alexander Ellis. It first opened its doors in 1860. Later, in 1876 and 1877, a tall spire and bells were added. This work was done by another architect, Robert Gordon Wilson. These additions were made to celebrate the church becoming a cathedral.

Inside the Cathedral

The large organ inside the cathedral was built in 1887. It was made by a company called James Conacher from Huddersfield. In 1960, the cathedral was rededicated. This happened after some changes were made to the inside. These changes were part of bigger updates for the Catholic Church, following the Second Vatican Council.

Special Windows and Memorials

The cathedral has some beautiful stained glass windows. One window, made in 1978, is dedicated to St John Ogilvie. This special window was created by an artist named David Gulland.

Important People Remembered

Inside the church, you can find memorials for four important Scottish bishops. These include George Hay, James Kyle, John MacDonald, and Colin Grant. Bishop MacDonald and Bishop Grant are also buried right there in the cathedral. Another person buried there is William Monsignor Stopani.

Services and Community

St Mary's Cathedral holds daily church services. Besides these, there is a special Polish mass every week. A Spanish mass is also held once a month. This shows how the cathedral serves different parts of the community in Aberdeen.

Other Interesting Cathedrals

• List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom
• Roman Catholicism in Scotland
• St Machar's Cathedral — This was Aberdeen's first cathedral. It is now a Church of Scotland church.
• St Andrew's Cathedral — This is another cathedral in Aberdeen. It belongs to the Scottish Episcopal Church.

More Information

• Cathedral website

See also

In Spanish: Catedral de Santa María (Aberdeen) para niños