The Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Good Aid, popularly known as Motherwell Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is the seat of the Bishop of Motherwell, and mother church of the Diocese of Motherwell.
| Motherwell Cathedral | |
|---|---|
| Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Good Aid | |
 | |
  Motherwell Cathedral Shown within North Lanarkshire | |
| 55°47′29″N 3°59′13″W / 55.79128°N 3.98704°W | |
| Location | Motherwell, Lanarkshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | motherwell-cathedral.org.uk |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1900 (Church) 1948 (Cathedral) |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Pugin & Pugin |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1899-1900 |
| Groundbreaking | 1899 |
| Completed | 1900 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1000 Seated |
| Administration | |
| Province | Ecclesiastical Province of Glasgow |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Glasgow |
| Diocese | Diocese of Motherwell (since 1948) |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Joseph Toal |
| Dean | Rev. Brian Lamb |
| Laity | |
| Organist(s) | John Pitcathley |
History
editThe Church of Our Lady of Good Aid, Motherwell was opened on Monday 9 December 1900. In 1948, the church was elevated to the status of cathedral after the new Motherwell Diocese was erected as a suffragan see by the apostolic constitution Maxime interest. The Scottish Catholic Directory of 1901 includes in the list of events for the year 1899-1900 the "Opening of the Church of Our Lady of Good Aid, Motherwell" on Monday 9 December 1900, the feast of the Immaculate Conception transferred from Sunday. It includes a description of the church's dimensions and principal architectural features.
Music
editMotherwell Cathedral's organ was renovated in 2008, and is noted for its size. It was electronically modified with a new console installed. With four manuals it is the largest organ of any Roman Catholic church in the West of Scotland. The cathedral organist is John Pitcathely, who played the organ at both of the Papal visits to Scotland. The Motherwell Diocesan Choir sings at many of the major services in the cathedral and also sings at the 5.30pm vigil Mass on Saturdays. The Motherwell Diocesan Choir, which is distinct from the Cathedral Choir, is directed by John Pitcathely.
Architecture
editThe cathedral was designed in the Gothic revival style by the celebrated architects Pugin and Pugin and resembles many Catholic churches designed by them in Scotland, England and Ireland. The church originally had a high altar and two side altars. However, these and much of the ornate decoration were lost in the re-ordering of the sanctuary in 1984 in accordance with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
Services
editSaturday vigil 5.30pm
Sunday 10.30am, 6.30pm
Monday - Saturday 10.00am
Thursday also 7.00 pm.
Clergy
editList of parish priests of the Parish Church of Our Lady of Good Aid
- Rev. James Gilmour, 1875–1877
- Rev. James Glancey D.D, 1877–1888
- Very Rev. John Canon Taylor, 1888–1917
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. Thomas Canon Currie, 1917–1935
- Rev. Bartholomew Atkinson, 1935–1946
- Very Rev. Denis Canon Flynn, 1947–1956
List of deans of the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Good Aid (Motherwell Cathedral)
- Very Rev. Denis Canon Flynn, 1947–1956
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. Gerard M. Rogers, 1956–1960
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. John Conroy, 1960–1981
- Very Rev. Noel Canon Carey, 1981–2011
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. Thomas Canon Millar V.G, 2011–2017
- Rev. Gerard Chromy V.G, 2017–2022
- Rev. Brian Lamb, 2022–present
The dean of the cathedral has also served as parish priest of St Luke's Church in Motherwell since the parishes were amalgamated in 2016.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "St Luke's, Motherwell | Diocese of Motherwell". Diocesan Website. Retrieved 29 March 2023.