Good Shepherd Cathedral, Ayr
The Good Shepherd Cathedral in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland was the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galloway.
History
[edit]The Church of the Good Shepherd was opened in 1957, to serve the communities of Whitletts, Dalmilling, Lochside and Braehead areas of Ayr.[1] It was designed by John Frederick Torry and William Cowie. [1] Before the church was constructed the people in these areas worshipped at St. Margaret's Church, Ayr and Sunday Mass was also said in Whitletts Community Centre.[2]
The church was a parish church for four years until it was consecrated the cathedral for Galloway Diocese in 1961, after fire destroyed St. Andrew's Cathedral in Dumfries.[3]
Only three bishops have had the Good Shepherd Cathedral as their seat: Bishop Joseph McGee (b. 1912 - d.1981), Bishop Maurice Taylor 1981 till 2004, and Bishop John Cunningham 2004–2014. Bishop Cunningham was the first Episcopal Ordination to be held in the Cathedral on the 28 May 2004.[3]
The last Mass was said in the Good Shepherd Cathedral on 20 May 2007. This is a result of falling attendance. The Cathedral for Galloway Diocese now is St Margaret's Cathedral, Ayr.[3]
In 2010 work began to convert the cathedral building into 25 affordable housing units by Ayrshire Housing Association.[4] The building has Category C listed status, and the tower and gable were retained as part of the conversion. The building works were finished in 2012 with tenants moving in April of that year.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Parishes Archived 2012-07-30 at the Wayback Machine from Galloway Diocese retrieved 21 May 2013
- ^ Open Buildings retrieved 3 June 2013
- ^ a b c New Cathedral Church for Galloway[permanent dead link] from Galloway Diocese retrieved 21 May 2013
- ^ House of Prayer in Ayr is set to be 25 houses in Ayrshire Post retrieved 10 December 2010
- ^ "A cathedral transformed - Ayrshire Housing". Ayrshirehousing.org.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
External links
[edit]