Saint Patrick's, Church, Kilsyth

Introduction

Saint Patrick's Church in Kilsyth, within the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, was designed by Gillespie Kidd & Coia and opened on 17 March 1965.

History

The first recorded Mass in Kilsyth since the Reformation was on Christmas Day 1847, marking Kilsyth as a mission station of Campsie. The 1847 Mass was said by Father Gillon in a house in Charles Street; later Arnott's Hall served as a temporary church. The previous war memorial had been lost with the demolition of the old building in 1964. St Andrew's Convent in the parish was established in May 1972 by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.

On 19 January 1862 the Catholics of Kilsyth held a meeting and appointed a committee to request a resident priest from Bishop Gillies. Bishop James Gillies died on 24 February 1864, and Bishop John Strain was appointed as his successor. The founding priest, aged 27, organised the parish, obtained land, and built the first church within 15 months of his arrival. Kilsyth became the mother church of Holy Cross Croy, St Luke's Banknock, and St John of the Cross Twechar.

The foundation of St Patrick's School pre-dates the parish, with classes in 'good working order' by 1865. Catholics of Kilsyth sought access to the Sacraments from the Mission Station of Campsie as early as 1831. After 1847, a priest from Campsie said Mass in Kilsyth once a month. In 1827, Pope Leo XII approved changes that split Kilsyth and Campsie away from Glasgow and associated them with Edinburgh.

In 1217, Eva, daughter of the 2nd Earl of Lennox, was given the lands around Kilsyth and patronage of the church at Monyabroch as a wedding gift. Patrick, Eva's son, forfeited the lands for favouring John Baliol, but they were returned to his daughter who married Sir William Livingston. Lady Livingston was excommunicated for refusing to comply with the Reformed Church, and the Minister of Kilsyth was deposed.

Architecture and furnishings

The first church was designed by architect Duncan McFarlane of Greenock and built by contractor Mr Gow within 14 months of the priest's arrival. In 1999 a major fabric restoration of the church was undertaken. The restoration was a £1.2m Heritage Lottery funded package, during which the church was closed for about a year. The new Parish Hall stands on a site where a Presbyterian church was erected in 1767.

The first church was a modest sandstone building in the traditional modern gothic style. A crucifix titled 'Christ Triumphant over Death' was donated by the Kearny New Jersey Celtic Supporters Club during a 1965 visit to Scotland. The chalice used for the 150th anniversary Mass was gifted by the Macnamara family following the 1938 death of Monsignor Patrick Macnamara.

Parish life

As a result of the 1918 Education Act, responsibility for school buildings and staffing transferred from the Parish to the Stirlingshire Education Committee. St Maurice's High School is the designated secondary school for all Catholic pupils in St Patrick's parish, opening in August 1976.

The David Smith School of Irish Dancing provided a display of Irish dancing and the Columban Singers provided entertainment at the 150th anniversary reception. A Deputy Provost presented a Crystal dish to St Patrick's with congratulations from North Lanarkshire Council for the 150th anniversary. An Apostolic Blessing from the Holy Father for the 150th anniversary is on display in the mortuary chapel, alongside an older blessing from Saint John Paul II.

In April 1984, Pauline Dempsey and Brenda Murphy made their final professions and joined the order as Sister Margaret and Sister Carmella. The parish marked the 150th anniversary of its re-founding on the feast of its patron saint, 17 March 2015. The parish has a Bereavement Group.

Visiting

The old hall, used until 2006, included a lesser hall, a large hall, a kitchen, a meeting room, a stage, a snooker hall with 3 tables, and a refectory and coffee shop. During demolition of the old hall in 2012, the bricked-up windows of the old 1767 church became visible.