St. Margaret's Memorial Church, Dufermline

Introduction

Rowand Anderson was selected as architect on Lord Bute's recommendation, having rebuilt the Marquess' family home, Mount Stuart.

History

Construction began on the site in 1894 to provide permanent accommodation for Dunfermline's Roman Catholic worshippers. Initial funding was provided by the 3rd Marquess of Bute, Scotland's leading Catholic benefactor. The original scheme included a round tower in the manner of the eleventh century tower at Brechin.

Father Mullen served as Parish Priest between 1889 and 1903 and oversaw the construction of the church. On 10 June 1899, the very first pilgrimage took place in honour of Saint Margaret.

The chancel and west sacristy/vestry were added in 1934-36 by M Watson of Edinburgh, probably under Reginald Fairlie. The church was originally designed with transepts and two towers, one at the crossing and the other at the south end.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is rectangular in plan, orientated north-south, with an aisled nave, apsidal north end and large gabled porch to the south. The four-bay nave is of Transitional design based on Peterborough Cathedral, part of a larger uncompleted scheme. The church has slender flanking towers with pyramidal roofs to the south gable. The interior has a semicircular timber barrel-vaulted roof.

The stone reredos, thought to be by Reginald Fairlie, 1939-40, is carved in Romanesque style and incorporates stylised figures of saints. The apse has a pair of stained glass windows, one of Saint David and one of Saint Andrew, probably post-war. The church is built of coursed snecked rock-faced red sandstone with droved ashlar towers, buttresses and dressings to nave and porch, and a yellow sandstone chancel. The south elevation has a large porch with a round-arched entrance and a 2-leaf boarded timber door with ornate strap hinges and fanlight.

The nave has round-arched arcading with cushion capitals to moulded aisle piers and circular shafts supporting clerestory and ceiling. The choir gallery over the arcade has a Palladian arrangement with a tall stilted central arch and lower-height flanking arches.

Parish life

The Ladies of the Parish group held a Christmas dinner in 2024. The parish has a Society of Saint Vincent de Paul group. The parish has a Rite of Christian Initiation group. The parish has an Outreach & Evangelisation group.

The Saint Margaret's Steering Group, a sub-group of the Parish Pastoral Council, discusses topics unique to Saint Margaret's Church. The Finance Committee, formed in 2019, ensures financial resources are utilised prudently.

The One World Group hosted a craft fayre in 2024. The parish has Holy Name Primary School.

The parish has a shrine of Saint Margaret of Scotland. The parish has a mission to care for the vulnerable, including praying for the sick and elderly and helping meet material needs. The parish holds a Reconciliation Service during Lent and Advent with individual confessions.

Visiting

The church is open for services from Tuesday to Sunday. Accessible entry is provided by an electric power lift beside a side door to the left of the main entrance, and the car park has six blue badge bays.

The crypt seats around 60 people for social events and holds a licence for up to 75 people. Outside parties may book the crypt for a nominal fee.