Saint Mary

Introduction

On 8th January 1963 the Christmas crib caught fire and caused considerable damage to the west end of the church. In 2007, St Mary's underwent a major renovation and extension project.

Architecture and furnishings

After the primary school left the church in 1928, Canon Hogan had a wide doorway made in the east gable, built up the south door, put a baptistery in its place, and constructed a choir balcony with a pipe organ at the east end. The church building was 100 feet long and 34 feet across, with two side entrances, three oblong windows in the east gable, and a sanctuary at the west end partitioned by a curtain. A statuette of Our Lady was placed in a niche in the facade of the church. New Stations of the Cross were placed around the walls, and a new electric organ was installed in the new choir loft.

The tabernacle and two new carved wooden statues of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady were donated by the children of the parish. The high altar was moved forward so the priest could say Mass facing the people, and a new Blessed Sacrament altar of Creetown granite was constructed on the south side of the church. A new pulpit was placed at the north side of the church and the baptismal font was put in front of it. For many years the parish organist was a sister named Mary Labre.

Parish life

Confraternities of Christian Doctrine, Rosary Society, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society developed. The Ecumenical Group was started as an offshoot of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission in 1968. In December 1971 the Sisters of La Misericorde opened a convent in a council house at 53 Livingstone Terrace and played an active part in the life of the parish. From 3rd October 1971 Redburn School was used as a Mass centre on Sundays, and from 24th October Castlepark school was found to be more convenient. The Sisters of the Cross and Passion, devoted to teaching and social work, moved in 1982 from Williamfield to Girdle Toll.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The Parish Council invited the Irvine Town Council, which attended Saint Mary's in 1970 and subsequently, on a Sunday following the traditional kirking in the Old Parish Church.