St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh

Introduction

St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh is the Cathedral Church of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh. The church was designed by James Gillespie Graham and opened in 1814.

History

Bishop Hay chose the site of St Mary's in 1801. In 1841 Bishop Gillis enlarged the sanctuary and had a new pulpit placed in the Cathedral. In 1866 Bishop Strain had a cloister chapel built where the Lady Aisle now is. The Cathedral was solemnly dedicated on 18 April 1978.

The Cathedral celebrated its bicentenary in 2014. In 1932 Reid & Forbes raised the roof of the Cathedral to the present height. The shallow sanctuary was extended backwards by three bays of arches, and the opening of the new sanctuary took place in 1896.

Architecture and furnishings

The Lady Aisle paneling became the setting for the Stations of the Cross, made by Mayer of Munich, as a memorial to the men of the parish who died in the First World War. The painting of the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven surmounting the Sanctuary Arch is the work of the Belgian artist Louis Beyart. The floor was altered to its present concrete and terrazzo form. The nave roof has angels with outstretched wings in vivid colours, carved by Scott Morton, spanning the spaces between the clerestory and others, lower down, support the various trusses.

A marble fore-altar was acquired from the former Catholic Apostolic Church at Bellevue, the High Altar was dismantled and some of the marble was used to make a podium for the tabernacle directly under the baldacchino. Before the Papal Visit of 1982 the Sacred Heart Chapel was changed to that of St Andrew and part of the altar was excavated to provide repositories for two of the relics of St Andrew.

The Cathedral organ was built by Matthew Copley Organ Design of Kingston-upon-Thames and was completed in 2007, with 3,324 pipes, three manuals, five divisions, 63 speaking stops and two consoles. Pipes from an 1882 Wilkinson organ from Preston Town Hall form the basis of this specially-designed instrument. Arthur Oldham was the Cathedral's renowned choirmaster from 1956-71.

Parish life

The RCIA group meets throughout the year to help those interested in becoming members of the Church. The RCIA group is organised by a team of volunteers under the guidance of the Cathedral's priests.

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul provides help to many in need from the Cathedral parish and those passing through the city, visiting people at home, in hospital, hospice or prison. The Catenians are an international body of Catholic laymen who meet once a month and offer friendship and support to Catholic men and their families. The Legion of Mary is an international lay association which seeks to help its members grow in holiness through devotion to Our Lady and by carrying out works of mercy, with a particularly strong young adult membership at the Cathedral.

The Pastoral Council meets monthly to advise the Administrator in fostering pastoral activity, identifying pastoral needs and evaluating pastoral programmes. The Cathedral has two church cleaning groups, one meeting on Saturday morning and the other during the week.

The parish hosts an annual fundraising barbecue every September with burgers, sausages, a bric-a-brac stall, second hand books, and children's activities. Sir James MacMillan, renowned Scottish composer, has agreed to become the Cathedral's patron of music.

The Cathedral is the setting for the annual Mass to mark the Edinburgh International Festival. The Cathedral is the setting for the annual 'Red Mass', the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated to implore God's blessing on the deliberations of the legal profession in Scotland. The Cathedral Archives contain baptism and marriage records dating from 1774, along with some funeral records and other items relating to the history of the Cathedral.

Regular events

Teas, coffees and cakes are served in the parish rooms after Mass every Sunday. Each year the parish invites nominations and votes to choose a charity to support with financial resources and prayers.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a programme for children aged 3 to 12 focused on Jesus and the sacraments, holds weekly sessions at a CGS atrium run by trained catechists. Sacramental preparation classes for children not in Catholic education are provided at St Andrew's Church in Ravelston. The parish provides sacramental preparation for First Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation for children at St Mary's Primary School.

Notable people and events

Bishop Cameron, the founder of St Mary's, died on 7 February 1828 and was buried in the vaults of the Cathedral. In 1830, St Mary's was the main place of worship for the deposed King Charles X of France and his family. Bishop Gillis was consecrated at St Mary's on 22 July 1838.