Motherwell Cathedral

Motherwell Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Our Lady of Good Aid
Motherwell Cathedral Shown within North Lanarkshire
55.79128°N 3.98704°W / 55.79128; -3.98704
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

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.

History

The 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

Motherwell 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

The 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

Saturday vigil 5.30pm

Sunday 10.30am, 6.30pm

Monday - Saturday 10.00am

Thursday also 7.00 pm.

Clergy

List 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.

See also

• List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom

External links

• Official website