St Peter's Church, Aberdeen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter's Church |
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Church entrance
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| OS grid reference | NJ945064 |
| Location | Aberdeen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | St Peter's Parish, Aberdeen |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founder(s) | Fr Charles Gordon |
| Dedication | Saint Peter |
| Dedicated | 19 August 1804 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Category B listed |
| Designated | 12 January 1967 |
| Architect(s) | James Massie Harry Leith |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 15 April 1803 |
| Completed | 1817 |
| Construction cost | £1,049 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Aberdeen |
| Province | St Andrews and Edinburgh |
St Peter's Church is a special Roman Catholic church in Aberdeen, Scotland. It's a "parish church," which means it serves a local community. This church was built a long time ago, starting in 1803 and opening in 1804. You can find it on Justice Street, right in the middle of the city, next to St Andrew's Cathedral. It's important because it was the very first permanent Catholic church built in Aberdeen after a big change called the Reformation. Today, it is a "category B" listed building, which means it's a historic place protected by law.
Contents
History
How it Started
Before the main church, a small chapel was built in 1774. It was on the ground floor of a house. The priest who lived there was James Grant. He was a leader for the Catholic Church in the Lowland District of Scotland. In July 1795, a new priest named Father Charles Gordon came to Aberdeen.
Building the Church
By early 1803, Father Gordon started gathering money and materials. The old chapel was too small for the growing number of Catholic people in the city. A bigger church was needed. Digging for the new church began on February 24, 1803. Father Gordon laid the first stone on April 15, 1803. He thought the church would cost about £1,049 to build.
The church was designed by an architect named James Massie. He used a style called Gothic Revival, which looks like old medieval churches. The first church service, called a Mass, happened in the next building on November 13, 1803. The building work continued until August 1804. On August 19, 1804, the church was officially opened. This was done by Alexander Cameron, another important Catholic leader.
In 1815, a balcony area, called a gallery, was added inside the church. Two years later, in 1817, the front of the church, called the facade, was finished. This part was designed by Harry Leith. Much later, between 1895 and 1899, the main altar, called the High altar, was put into the church. It was made in Belgium.
Closing and Reopening
In 1860, St Peter's Church closed for a while. This happened because a new, larger church, St Mary's Cathedral, had opened. For the next two years, St Peter's was used as a chapel for a nearby boys' school. In 1862, the house where the priests lived, called the presbytery, became a "home for the aged and infirm." This home was run by a group of religious sisters from Hammersmith.
In 1872, the church closed again. But it didn't stay closed forever! In 1880, St Peter's Church finally opened its doors once more.
What Happens There Now
St Peter's Church is part of the Aberdeen Diocese. It is still an active church today. The Catholic Chaplaincy for the University of Aberdeen is also part of this parish. Students can attend Sunday Mass at 6:30pm in the university's King's College Chapel.
At St Peter's Church itself, there are two Sunday Masses. One is on Saturday evening at 6:00pm, and the other is on Sunday morning at 11:30am.
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen
