St. Andrew’s, Rothesay celebrates 150 years

On 30 November 2016, the Solemnity of their Patron, the parish of St Andrew’s ,Rothesay , will celebrate their sesquicentennial: one hundred and fifty years of the present Roman Catholic community being officially recognised as a parish on the Isle of Bute.

Parish Priest Fr. Michael Hutson writes:

“We had existed long before that, of course, from the times of the Celtic saints. But the Scottish Reformation was a rupture in our history that only ended when Irish immigrants began to arrive on Bute looking for work in the early 1800s. Heroic priests (many from the Catholic highlands) and parishioners, both devout and generous, sometimes with the support of munificent landlords (Kames and Bute), re-established churches, schools, convents and the community that exists today as St Andrew’s Parish, Rothesay: faith-filled, generous, ecumenical and forward thinking. We have much to be proud of, much to be grateful for, much to build upon. We also have much to celebrate.

We’ll be celebrating on St Andrew’s Day, Wed 30th November, and you are welcome! There will be a brief historical presentation and choral singing starting at 6:30pm, Mass at 7pm with Bishop Brian McGee and special guest (former Parish Deacon) Bishop Joseph Toal. Refreshments will be served in the hall thereafter. On the following day, a lecture, with display of pictures etc., will take place at 7pm in the Hall.”