St Mirin's Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mirin's Cathedral |
|
|---|---|
| The Cathedral Church of Saint Mirin in Paisley | |
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Paisley, Renfrewshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Style | neo-Romanesque |
| Years built | 1931 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Paisley (since 1948) |
| Province | Glasgow |
St Mirin's Cathedral is a very important church in Paisley, Scotland. It is named after Saint Mirin, who is the patron saint of Paisley. This cathedral is the main church for the Catholic Diocese of Paisley. It is also where the Bishop of Paisley has his official seat.
Contents
History of St Mirin's Cathedral
The building we see today was finished in 1931. It stands on Incle Street in Paisley. This spot is near where an older church, also called St Mirin's, stood since 1808. The first St Mirin's was the very first stone Catholic church built in Scotland after the Scottish Reformation.
The current cathedral officially opened with a special church service in 1932. Many important church leaders attended, along with local officials and thousands of people. In 1947, the Diocese of Paisley was created. Because of this, the church was made a cathedral in 1948.
Inside and Outside the Cathedral
The cathedral is built in a style called neo-Romanesque. This means it looks like old Roman buildings. It has a simple sandstone outside. Inside, it feels open and airy with many arches. Thomas Baird was the architect who designed it.
The main altar area, called the chancel, is mostly made of Italian marble. The cathedral is about 109 feet (33 meters) long. It is also about 48.5 feet (14.8 meters) wide. The chancel itself is about 29.5 feet (9 meters) wide and 23.25 feet (7.1 meters) deep. It has a unique semi-octagonal shape.
One interesting part is the pulpit, where sermons are given. It was made by Gillespie, Kidd and Coia. It has a sculpture showing the Sermon on the Mount carved from light-colored sandstone. There are also Latin words carved on it. These words mean: "Receive humbly the word that has been placed within you which can save your souls" and "Be doers of the word and not hearers only."
You can also see special Art Deco Stations of the Cross. These are pictures showing Jesus's journey to the cross. They were designed by Kenneth King from Dublin and are painted on ceramic tiles.
In the curved part at the end of the church, called the apse, there are four colorful stained glass windows. They show twelve angels, each holding a symbol from the Bible. Below them, a Latin message talks about the Eucharist.
Near the entrance, there is a stained-glass window showing Jesus with children. This was made by Charles Baillie. On the other side, there is a special place for Saint John Ogilvie, created by Norman Galbraith.
This church is the largest in the Diocese of Paisley. It can hold about 1300 people for services.
Outside the cathedral, there is a bronze statue of St Mirin. Norman Galbraith also created this statue in 2007. The main entrance of the cathedral was updated in 2010.
Who Leads the Cathedral?
A cathedral is the main church for a bishop. So, the bishop is usually seen as the main parish priest. However, to help run the cathedral and its parish, there is an administrator. Currently, this role is held by Monsignor Joseph Burke.
Diamond Jubilee Celebration
On September 15, 2008, the Diocese of Paisley celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. This marked 60 years since the diocese was created. A special mass was held at the cathedral to celebrate. Many important church leaders and local officials attended this big event.
Services at St Mirin's Cathedral
Here are the regular services held at St Mirin's Cathedral:
- Sunday: 4pm (Saturday vigil), 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2.30pm (Polish)
- Monday - Friday: 10:00am, 1:00pm (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri), 6pm (Wednesday)
- Saturday - 10:00am
- Holy Days of Obligation: Vigil 7:00pm, 8:00am, 10:00am, 1:00pm, 7:00pm
Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation:
- Saturday: 10:30am–11:00am
- Wednesday: 5pm-5.45pm
Morning Prayer Of The Church:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:45am
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:
- Monday - Saturday 10:30am–12:50pm
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Mirin (Paisley) para niños
- List of listed buildings in Paisley, Renfrewshire
