St Mirin's Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mirin's Cathedral |
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| The Cathedral Church of Saint Mirin in Paisley | |
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| Location | Paisley, Renfrewshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Style | neo-Romanesque |
| Years built | 1931 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Paisley (since 1948) |
| Province | Glasgow |
The Cathedral Church of Saint Mirin in Paisley is a very important church. It is named after Saint Mirin, who is the special saint of Paisley. This church is the main church for the Catholic Diocese of Paisley. It is also where the Bishop of Paisley has his official base.
Contents
History of St Mirin's Cathedral
This cathedral used to be a regular church called St Mirin's. It is located on Incle Street in Paisley. The church was finished in 1931. It was built near where the first St Mirin's church stood, which was built in 1808.
The First Church Building
The original St Mirin's church was special. It was the first stone-built Roman Catholic church in Scotland after the Scottish Reformation. The Reformation was a time when many churches in Scotland changed from Catholic to Protestant.
Opening of the New Cathedral
The current building officially opened in 1932 with a special church service called a solemn mass. Important church leaders from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Galloway attended. Many local priests and church members were there too. Local town leaders and thousands of people watched from outside the new church. An Irish politician named Joe Devlin also attended.
Becoming a Cathedral
In 1948, this church became a cathedral. This happened after the area around Paisley was made into its own church district, called a diocese, in 1947. A cathedral is the main church of a diocese.
What Does St Mirin's Cathedral Look Like?
The cathedral is built in a style called neo-Romanesque. This style uses round arches and strong, simple shapes. The outside of the building is made of plain sandstone. Inside, it feels open and has many arches. The architect who designed it was Thomas Baird.
Inside the Cathedral
The main altar area, called the chancel, is mostly made of Italian marble. The cathedral, not counting the chancel, is about 33 meters long and 14.8 meters wide. The chancel itself is about 9 meters wide and 7 meters deep. It has a semi-octagonal shape, meaning it's like half of an eight-sided shape.
Special Features Inside
One interesting part is the pulpit. This is where the priest gives sermons. It was made by a company called Gillespie, Kidd and Coia. It has a carving of the Sermon on the Mount made from light-colored sandstone. This carving shows Jesus teaching his followers.
The pulpit also has two Latin phrases from the Letter of Saint James. They 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."
Another cool feature is the Art Deco Stations of the Cross. These are a series of pictures showing events from the last day of Jesus' life. They were designed by Kenneth King from Dublin and are painted on ceramic tiles.
Stained Glass Windows
In the curved part at the back of the church, called the apse, there are four colorful stained glass windows. Each window has three parts, and together they show twelve angels. Each angel holds a symbol from the Bible.
Below these windows, there is a Latin phrase about the Eucharist, which is a special church service. It means: "The bread of angels becomes the bread of men; the heavenly bread puts an end to symbols."
In a former baptistry (where baptisms used to happen), there is another stained-glass window. It shows Jesus with children and was made by Charles Baillie. On the other side, there is a special place, called a shrine, dedicated to Saint John Ogilvie. This shrine was made by Norman Galbraith.
Capacity and Statue
The cathedral is the largest church in the diocese. It can hold about 1300 people for services.
Across the street from the cathedral, there is a bronze statue of St Mirin. This statue was also made by Norman Galbraith and was put in place in 2007. Around that time, the main entrance of the cathedral was also updated.
Who Leads the Cathedral?
Usually, the bishop is the main priest of his cathedral. However, to help manage the cathedral and its local church area, there is an administrator. Currently, this person is Monsignor Joseph Burke.
Diamond Jubilee Celebration
On September 15, 2008, the Diocese of Paisley celebrated its 60th birthday. This is called a Diamond Jubilee. It was also the special day of its patron saint, St Mirin.
To celebrate, a special church service called a mass was held in the cathedral. Many important church leaders attended, including the Pope's representative, cardinals, and several bishops. Many priests from the diocese were also there.
Many local government officials and leaders from other churches in Paisley also came. Even representatives of Queen Elizabeth II were present.
Services at St Mirin's Cathedral
Holy Mass Times
- Sunday: 4:00 PM (Saturday evening), 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM (Polish language)
- Monday - Friday: 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday), 6:00 PM (Wednesday)
- Saturday: 10:00 AM
- Holy Days of Obligation: 7:00 PM (evening before), 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 7:00 PM
Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (Confession)
- Saturday: 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
Morning Prayer
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:45 AM
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
- Monday - Saturday: 10:30 AM – 12:50 PM
Images for kids
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St Mirin's Cathedral
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Interior of St Mirin's Cathedral
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Mirin (Paisley) para niños
- List of listed buildings in Paisley, Renfrewshire
