Ayr Cathedral

Ayr Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Margaret, Ayr
The Cathedral of Saint Margaret, Ayr
Ayr Cathedral Location in South Ayrshire
Coordinates: 55°27′53″N 4°37′36″W / 55.464722°N 4.626667°W / 55.464722; -4.626667
Location	Ayr, South Ayrshire
Country	Scotland
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	gallowaydiocese.org.uk
History
Former name(s)	The Church of Saint Margaret
Architecture
Status	In Use
Heritage designation	A-Listed Building
Designated	28 July 2007
Previous cathedrals	Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Ayr
Style	Gothic
Specifications
Capacity	500
Administration
Diocese	Galloway
Province	St Andrews and Edinburgh
Clergy
Bishop(s)	William Nolan
Dean	Christopher Brannan
Canon(s)	Patrick Keegans, John McGee &Alexander McGarry,

The Cathedral Church of Saint Margaret, also known as Ayr Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Ayr, Scotland. It is the seat of the Bishop of Galloway, and the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galloway. St Margarets was designated a cathedral in 2007, and is the most recent church to be given status as a Roman Catholic cathedral in the United Kingdom, due to the closure of Good Shepherd Cathedral, Ayr.

St Margarets Church and later Cathedral has changed considerably over its almost 200 years of existence.

During the 1960/70’s the Church was remodelled as a result of Vatican II. These changes significantly altered the layout of the Sanctuary and were carried out to enable the congregation to have a more active role in Mass, with the Priest celebrating mass facing the congregation rather than towards the High Altar.

In the mid-90’s it became apparent that the Church required substantial capital works undertaken. There were issues with water ingress, dampness, corrosion of windows, problems with electricity and general wear and tear. Father Martin McCluskey began to discuss with the Parish the need for a major renovation program to begin. Unfortunately, his untimely death in 1996 resulted in him being unable to undertake or commission any of the works to take place. When Father Patrick Keegans arrived at the Parish in 1997 he agreed that works were required and were required sooner rather than later and initiated the process of preparing for major renovations.

The Church underwent a very thorough makeover and rededication in the late 1990s and early years of this century, with a completely renovated sanctuary and new furnishings, a central aisle, stained glass windows, new organ, new large sacristy and many other improvements, including a brighter colour scheme for the ceiling and walls, new lighting and new central heating. All the improvements were costly, but substantial grants from Heritage Scotland and the National Lottery plus some very successful and imaginative fundraising saw the bills paid off in a remarkably short time.

During these renovations the Parish Community signed two books; a Book of Dedication and a Book of Remembrance. All parishioners were invited to sign the book of dedication and remember those family members and friends who had died. Both these books are placed directly under the High Altar in the Cathedral as a lasting legacy to parishioners past, present and future.