Our Lady of the Rosary & St.Columba’s

 

Canon John Angus Macdonald warmly welcomes you to the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary & St.Columba’s, Kingussie.  The parish of Kingussie is a small parish with an estimated catholic population of 120 which has not changed much over the last 40 years, but with the building of new houses in the area will hopefully grow in the foreseeable future.  The parish comes under the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles.  

During the middle ages there was a church called St.Columba’s situated by the mill in Kingussie, the ruins of which can still be seen in the old cemetery, 

At the time of the reformation there was a church in Kingussie run by the Carmelite Monks and as at that time relations between the people were very good, the church was divided in half by a partition and the Catholics used the East side of the church and the Reformed Church used the West Side. 

The first parish of Kingussie was set up in 1863 covering the villages of Kingussie, Newtonmore and Laggan.  The first church in the area was built in Laggan and it was dedicated to St.Michael.  The population over the years moved away from the area and the church was not used and became derelict.  The church was blown up around 1955 because it was in such a bad state of repair and had become dangerous.  The ruins are in the woods behind Strathmashie.  

The existing church was built in 1932 by Rev. Hugh Cameron and the parish house was built later in 1950 by Rev. Ronald Hendry and called “Loreto”.    The money for the house was donated by a Mrs. Beech who resided at the house next to the church called Avondale.  On moving from Avondale Mrs. Beech gave the use of the house to the parish as a presbytery. The Church is dedicated in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary (feast day 7th October) and to St. Columba, the great Irish saint who did so much to spread Christianity throughout Scotland, feast day 9th June). 

The Church of our Lady of the Rosary & St. Columba’s is a very beautiful little church with so much character and also with beautiful stained glass windows.  It is a popular church for visitors to the area who are looking for a quiet place of peace and prayer. 

The main Mass service in the church is the Sunday Mass celebrated at 10.00 a.m., with a Vigil Mass at 6.30 p.m. on Saturdays. The Sacrament of reconciliation can be received on Saturday’s from 6.00 p.m.  For more information on other services in the church, then please contact the Parish Priest on 01540 661322.   

You are most welcome to come and visit.  

PARISH PRIESTS IN THE PARISH OF KINGUSSIE 

Monsignor Hugh Cameron                             October 1928            -           March 1931 

Fr. Bernard McClymont O.S.B.                                 March 1931    -           1935

Fr. Joe Thomson was also in Kingussie 

Fr. Joe Gilles                                                  1935                -           December 1936 

Fr.Thomson in charge of the parish 

Fr. Donald MacMaster                                              1939 

Fr. Willie Gillies                                             1940                -           February 1947 

Fr. William Par                                                           1947                -           1950 

Fr. Ronald Hendry                                         1950                -           1960 

Fr. Ireland                                                     1961                -           1962 

Fr.Alex MacKellaig                                        1963 

Fr. Michael Lea                                                          1963                -           1964

The parish was served from Roybridge from         1964               -           September 1966 

Fr. Thomas Wynne                                         Sept. 1966      -           1968 

Fr. Pat Kennedy                                                         1968 (10 months) 

Fr.Sydney MacEwan                                     1969                -           September 1976 

Fr. Archie MacMaster                                              Sept.1976       -           1983 

Fr. Donald MacKay                                        1984 

Fr. Gerard MacKay                                        1985 

Fr. Donald MacKinnon                                               1986           

Fr. Michael Lea                                                          1987                -           1994 

Fr. Vernon Boutilier                                      1994                -           1997 

Fr. Christy O’Connor M.H.M.                                    July 1997       -           January 1998 

Fr.Ben Lodge C.P.                                           Jan. 1998       -           August 2001

Fr. John Paul MacKinnon                              Sept. 2001      -           2004

The parish was served from Ballachulish                2004               -           2005 

Canon John Angus Macdonald                                 2005 to date