Holy Spirit
St Ninian's Stirling

Saint Margaret of Scotland and Holy Spirit

Our Catholic parishes are situated in the geographical heart of Scotland serving a diverse community in our liturgical and pastoral work. The City of Stirling has a flourishing university and is a popular venue for tourists from all over the world. In ministering to our local communities we also welcome many visitors to our Masses during the week and on Sundays.

Loving God, Bless our parish; let it be for us a community of love and sharing, and a source of life and grace; let it be a witness to our neighbours or your life, your presence and your love.

Through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.

 

http://www.saintmargaret.co.uk/  

In the early 1960s a large number of houses were built in the St. Ninian's area of Stirling, at that time part of the parish of St. Mary's in Stirling. This increase in population lead to Sunday Mass being celebrated in the hall of St. Modan's High School. It was recognised that a new church was needed.

Foundation Stone

On Tuesday 10th March 1964 the most Reverend Gordon Joseph Gray, Archbishop of St. Andrew's and Edinburgh, laid the inscribed foundation stone of Holy Spirit Church. Sealed in a hollow in the stone was a silver container with an account of the ceremony itself and a tribute to those who contributed to the building of the church.

Paying tribute to the clergy, craftsmen and supporters of the church who had made possible the construction of this new house of God, the Archbishop said "Such a project could not have been undertaken but for the fervour and generosity of a strong band of Catholics living in the area." Extract and picture from Stirling Observer 17th March 1964

Opening and Solemn Blessing of new Church

On Sunday 20th December 1964, the new church was opened and solemnly blessed by Archbishop Gray. The architect of the new church was J.R. Boyd Barret, Chartered Architect, Cork, and the Quality surveyor Mr A.B. Wilkinson, Principal Contractors were D80 Ogilvie (Builders) Ltd., Stirling. The cost was £40,000.

The building is 92 feet long and 36 feet wide and has capacity for 400 people. Pre-stressed concrete piers rise to form the tall, slender arches of timber panelled ceiling of the church. A beautiful original feature in the church is the large stained glass window that illustrates the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Picture taken from -Stirling Observer, 22nd December, 1964

Canon Rourke

The first Parish Priest was Canon Patrick J. Rourke. Canon Rourke was born on 25th March 1916 and ordained at all Hallows College in Dublin on the 22nd June 1941. He remained as Parish Priest in Holy Spirit from 1964 until his retirement. He celebrated both his Silver Jubilee(1966) and his Golden Jubilee (1991) in the Holy Spirit Parish. He died in Ireland in 2006. Canon Rourke oversaw the alterations to the Sanctuary around 1990, when the altar rails were removed and a new altar created from the altar stones to allow Mass facing the people in line with changes following the second Vatican Council.

Canon Rourke was very proud of his church and sourced the beautiful marble Stations of the Cross that were purchased by families in the parish. The mosaic at the Our Lady altar is also a special feature that he sourced.

Silver Jubilee Year 1989

On the 21st December 1989 , in the Solemn Dedication Silver Jubilee Year Mass was celebrated by Most Rev Keith Patrick O'Brien.

40th Anniversary 2004

Cardinal O'Brien also celebrated the 40th Anniversary Mass for the parish on the 18th March 2004. Picture from Scottish Catholic Observer 26th March 2004.