Saint Stephen

Introduction

Saint Stephen's Church in Blairgowrie, in the Diocese of Dunkeld, was opened by Bishop Gillies of Edinburgh, having previously operated from a house in Bank Street since 1835.

History

The Rev. John Carmont was appointed resident priest in October 1849 and, with financial help from Mr and Mrs Trotter of Woodhill, purchased the ground on which Saint Stephen's Church was built. Mass was celebrated in the church before the end of 1855, with the solemn opening on 13th January 1856.

In 1863 the wing now used as a hall was built to provide a day school. In 1906 the church celebrated its Golden Jubilee under Canon John Malcolm, with painting, redecoration, and an organ purchased partly funded by Andrew Carnegie. Around the centenary, extensive renovation instigated by the parish priest replaced the pews with Japanese oak pews. During the centenary renovations, access to the hall was changed, tarmac laid at the entrance, and the organ modernised to be powered by electricity.

The inaugural meeting of Saint Stephen's Conference of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society was held on 14th October 1951, presided over by the parish priest. From late 2013, the parish priest initiated a massive restoration to make the church wind and watertight, improve safety, and stop further disrepair. The restoration was funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland, the Diocese of Dunkeld and several Trusts, with contracts awarded and work begun. The parish priest retired in September 2005, with a concelebrated Mass followed by a reception in the Town Hall.

Architecture and furnishings

The interior has a tall narrow nave with gallery, fixed timber pews, small arcaded aisles and chapel to the northwest, and a hammerbeam-type roof. The church has a raised chancel area and a stone altar table with carved quatrefoils. The church has a gallery supported by braced square columns with a carved front and an arcaded screen to the pipe organ. A later twentieth century northeast window depicts Jesus the Good Shepherd with abstract flanking lights; a small traceried window depicts Saints Mary and Joseph, and single lights show Saint Stephen and a female saint.

Behind the stone altar is a large triple stained-glass window made in the 1960s by the monks at Pluscarden Abbey depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The hall originally housed Saint Stephen's School, which moved to the former Parish School at the top of John Street in 1879. Edward Welby Pugin designed the church in 1856 as a Gothic-detailed, rectangular-plan building with a 5-bay nave and steeply-pitched roof, adjoining a 5-bay hall.

At the beginning of the twentieth century a fine organ, partly funded by Andrew Carnegie, was installed in the upper gallery. The organ gallery was re-decorated during the restoration.

Parish life

The Over 60’s club, later the Tuesday Club, held sales of work and raffles to raise funds for church refurbishment, but has since been disbanded. A Parish Council was formed, and small groups brought people together to renew their faith commitment, with lay people encouraged to read at Mass and assist as Eucharistic Ministers. The parish supports the Missions and SCIAF through fundraising, and previously collected monthly contributions from Irish workers in bothies. The parish celebrates an annual Diversity Day during the summer.