Saint Mary’s Monastery

Introduction

The church was solemnly blessed and opened on 22 March 1870. The church was consecrated on 29 November 1913 by Bishop Robert Fraser of Dunkeld.

History

On 21 May 1866 a visit was made to the Earl of Kinnoull, and in October of the same year land was purchased on the slopes of Kinnoull Hill. On 16 June 1868 the foundation stone was blessed by Archbishop John Menzies Strain. On 19 March 1869 the house was blessed and the community took up residence, making it the first Catholic monastery built since the Reformation. In September 1895 foundations of extensions were begun, and on 24 December 1896 the new oratory was blessed by Rector Father Aloysius Palliola.

In 1971 the Noviciate was moved to Plymouth, with a brief return in the mid 1970s. The monastery was used extensively by Scottish bishops for clergy retreats, a practice still part of Kinnoull life. The first Mass was celebrated in the oratory in November 1868.

Architecture and furnishings

The monastery was designed by Andrew Heiton in 1868-70 as a U-plan courtyard group open on the east side. The church has a crypt below the north transept with a brick groined ceiling, and a mortuary chapel below the church. A circular turret at the intersection of the South transept and chancel rises to 68 feet with a roof 21 feet high. The nave shafts are polished Hunting Tower stone with moulded Dunmore bases and caps, and the arches are of Fife Freestone.

The altar is of Caen stone with a canopy rising 25 feet high, decorated with shafts of various coloured marbles and carved angels, two of alabaster designed by Mr. Goldie of London. On the day after the church opened, a copy of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was placed in its niche over the High Altar. The new oratory was adorned with three stained-glass windows of Saint Alphonsus, Saint Gerard Majella and Saint Clement Hofbauer. The church is cruciform with north and south aisles, the chancel is the full width of the nave, and the south transept is used as a sacristy.

The clerestory windows are circular with quatrefoil cusping. The corbels and capitals at the entrance to the sanctuary were carved on the spot by one of Mr. Earp's most skilful carvers.

The monastic buildings are Gothic, 3-storey with attic and basement in the fall of ground, rubble-built L-plan with ashlar dressings. The west range has a square tower with high roof in the re-entrant angle near the south end of the west front, with a central double stair.

Parish life

St Mary's Retreat House has received a Good to Go accreditation from Visit Scotland. The monastery is an international, multi-cultural, ecumenical place offering visitors the opportunity for relaxation, renewal and rest.

Regular events

The monastery offers a full programme of courses and retreats. The monastery welcomes visitors for parish outings and pilgrimages. The monastery offers days of retreat for visitors.

Visiting

The monastery welcomes visitors for private stays with a minimum stay of two nights. The monastery has small oratories for prayer and other prayer spaces, as well as lounge and communal areas. The monastery's gardens and woods offer space for walking and reflecting.

The monastery has several dedicated prayer spaces in the Monastery and the grounds. The Tribune is available for private prayer.

The monastery has 28 single rooms with en suite bathrooms, 2 twin rooms with special needs facilities and 4 rooms with shared bathrooms. All rooms are accessible by lift or stairs and have coffee/teamaking facilities and complimentary toiletries on arrival, with free Wi-Fi available.

The monastery's refectory serves good food prepared by professional chefs. The monastery has 2 public rooms and a Conference Room available for various functions, and can cater for a maximum of 30 people.