Our Lady of Loretto & St. Michael, Musselburgh

Introduction

When a Catholic community became established in the town, both its church and school were dedicated to Our Lady of Loretto.

History

The church was rebuilt in 1903 by A E Purdie of Canterbury and Archibald MacPherson. Lady Mary Oswald's Chapel (1843) was converted to the RC church. In 1533, Captain Thomas Duthy brought a statue of Our Lady from Loreto to Musselburgh.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is a curvilinear gothic cruciform church with an eastern frontal gable. The church has a lean-to narthex with low ogee arched doorways on end elevations. The church has a central semi-octagonal baptistry with a hexagonal centre window. The church has a pair of 2-light traceried windows with a canopied niche between and a rose window above.

The nave has 3 2-light traceried windows before the crossing. The south transept or chapel has a larger 2-light traceried window facing east. There is a splayed porch with low ogee arched doorway in the re-entrant angle. The church has slate ridge roofs and snecked rubble.

The nave has an open scissor roof on wall brackets. The sanctuary is square with a timber wagon roof bracketed out on a canted frieze.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The Church requires a minimum of six months' notice for marriage preparation. In danger of death, the priest will come out immediately and administer the 'Last Rites'. A short eulogy may be given by a family member at the start of the funeral.