Do you hear the echoes of history mingling with the hymns inside St Mirin’s RC Cathedral? This is no ordinary church. It is the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Paisley and the seat of the Bishop of Paisley.
St Mirin’s RC Cathedral stands on Incle Street. Its story began long before its completion in 1931. The original church, dating back to 1808, held the distinction of being the first stone-built Roman Catholic church in post-Reformation Scotland. Imagine the solemn mass in 1932. Archbishops and bishops gathered with local clergy and parishioners. Provost Gault, magistrates, and councillors also attended. Two thousand onlookers lined the streets outside St Mirin’s RC Cathedral. Joe Devlin MP, an Irish nationalist, was also present.
In 1948, the building rose to cathedral status. This followed the erection of the diocese in 1947. Thomas Baird designed St Mirin’s RC Cathedral in a neo-Romanesque style. Its plain sandstone exterior gives way to an airy arched interior. The chancel is made of Italian marble. The cathedral stretches 109 feet in length and 48.5 feet in breadth. The chancel is 29.5 feet wide and 23.25 feet deep. It has a semi-octagonal form.
The pulpit crafted by Gillespie, Kidd and Coia demands attention. It showcases the Sermon on the Mount in relief. The blond sandstone bears Latin inscriptions. They come from the Letter of Saint James. One inscription urges “Receive humbly the word”. It adds that the word “can save your souls”. Another commands “Be doers of the word”. It finishes with “and not hearers only”.
Kenneth King of Dublin designed the Art Deco Stations of the Cross. These are painted on ceramic tiles. In the apse, look for the stained-glass windows. Four colourful tripartite windows depict twelve angels. Each angel holds a symbol from the Bible. A Latin inscription alludes to the Eucharist. It states “Panis Angelicus Fit Panis Hominum Dat Panis Coelicus Figuris Terminum.”
In the former baptistry, find a stained-glass window by Charles Baillie. It portrays Jesus with children. A shrine to St John Ogilvie by Norman Galbraith sits on the south side. St Mirin’s RC Cathedral is the largest church in the diocese. It accommodates around 1300 worshippers.
Outside St Mirin’s RC Cathedral, a bronze statue of St Mirin stands proudly. Norman Galbraith completed it in 2007. In 2015, modifications enhanced the main entrance, porch, and frontage.
Paisley was once a famed pilgrimage site. The shrine of Our Lady of Paisley held great esteem. Paisley Abbey was enclosed by a mile-long wall. Statues adorned its niches. One of the Virgin Mary faced Glasgow Road. An inscription warned “Go not this way unless you have said Hail Mary”.
St Mirin’s RC Cathedral stands as a testament to faith. It is also a piece of art. It is a historical landmark. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty and significance. Remember the words “Ave Maria”.