Saint Mary's is a Catholic church in
Calton,
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
,
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
. It is the second oldest church in the
Archdiocese of Glasgow
The Archdiocese of Glasgow was one of the thirteen (after 1633 fourteen) dioceses of the Scottish church. It was the second largest diocese in the Kingdom of Scotland, including Clydesdale, Teviotdale, parts of Tweeddale, Liddesdale, Annanda ...
and acted as the
Pro-Cathedral
A pro-cathedral or procathedral is a parish church that temporarily serves as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese, or a church that has the same function in a Catholic missionary jurisdiction (such as an apostolic prefecture or apostolic ...
of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow
The Archdiocese of Glasgow ( la, Archidioecesis Glasguensis) is the metropolitan see of the Province of Glasgow in the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. The episcopal seat of the developing diocese was established by Saint Kentigern in the 6th ...
from 14 August 2009 to April 2011, during the restoration of
St Andrew's Cathedral. The church building on Abercromby Street, completed in 1842, is protected as a
category A listed building
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...
.
Foundation
A number of parishes pre-date St Mary's (St Mary's,
Greenock
Greenock (; sco, Greenock; gd, Grianaig, ) is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council areas of Scotland, council area in Scotland, United Kingdom and a former burgh of barony, burgh within the Counties of Scotland, historic ...
, and
St Mirin
Saint Mirin was born in 565, is also known as Mirren of Benchor (now called Bangor), Merinus, Merryn and Meadhrán. The patron saint of the town and Roman Catholic diocese of Paisley, Scotland, he was the founder of a religious community which ...
,
Paisley; both 1808, St Patrick,
Dumbarton
Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. In 2006, it had an estimated population of 19,990.
Dumbarton was the ca ...
, 1830, St Margaret,
Airdrie, 1836; St. John, Barrhead, St Mary, Duntocher, and St Fillan,
Houston
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; all 1841), but of all of these only Saint Margaret's, Airdrie, still has the original church (opened 1836). Airdrie is now in the
Diocese of Motherwell
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Motherwell ( la, Dioecesis Matrisfontis, links=no) is an ecclesiastical diocese of the Catholic Church in Scotland.
The diocese, which was erected on 25 May 1947 by Pope Pius XII from the Archdiocese of Glasgow, a ...
, hence St Mary's Calton's claim to be second oldest in the Archdiocese of Glasgow.
The church was built between 1839 and 1842 during the time of the Western District under the direction of Bishop
Andrew Scott. The parish was founded, the church opened and dedicated all on 15 August 1842. Father Peter Forbes who, for the previous three years had toured
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
fundraising for the new church building, was appointed the first parish priest from the same date. Bishop Scott was joined on the day of the dedication by Bishop
John Murdoch, his co-adjutor and the titular of the church was designated as Saint Mary of the
Assumption
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Places
* Assumption, Alberta, Canada
* Assumption, Illinois, United States
** Assumption Town ...
, commonly known as Saint Mary's, Calton. Father Forbes had raised £3,000 for the building (£5.4 million at 2005 prices) and so it was opened fully paid for and free of debt.
It is also where the football club
Celtic F.C.
The Celtic Football Club, commonly known as Celtic (), is a Scottish professional football club based in Glasgow, which plays in the Scottish Premiership. The club was founded in 1887 with the purpose of alleviating poverty in the immigran ...
was founded.
2004 and following renovations
In 2004 the building began a major renovation programme under the guidance of the Glasgow architects Page and Park. The first phase involved the back area of the church including the side-chapels and the sacristy area. The roofs were renewed, rot works carried out and repairs made to the external stonework. The stained glass in the side-chapels was restored and renewed. This phase was completed in August 2003. In 2006 the next phase took place—that of the complete renewal of the roof. This phase finished in December 2006. . The funeral of
Tommy Burns took place there in 2008.
Clergy
* Rev. Peter Forbes (1842-1872)
* Very Rev. Donald Canon Carmichael (1872-1896)
* Very Rev. John J. Canon Dyer (1896-1922)
* Rev. Edward Fitzgerald (1922-1942)
* Very Rev. Peter Canon Bonnyman (1942-1948)
* Rt Rev. Mgr. Michael Canon Ward (1948-1973)
* Rev. Thomas Murphy (1973-1975)
* Rev. John J. O'Brien (1975-1978)
* Rt. Rev. Mgr. Peter Smith
* Very Rev. Thomas P. Canon White
References
External links
Saint Mary's website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calton, Saint Mary
Roman Catholic churches completed in 1842
Roman Catholic churches in Glasgow
Category A listed buildings in Glasgow
Listed churches in Glasgow
Listed Roman Catholic churches in Scotland
19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United Kingdom
Bridgeton–Calton–Dalmarnock