Our Lady, Mother of the Church, Currie

The Story of Our Parish – The One Hundred Year Journey

There has been a Christian community in this area for more than 1,000 years.

The following is taken from the Statistical Account of Scotland 1791-1799, Vol II:

“The parish of Currie lies about 6 miles W of Edinburgh. It includes a tract of country from 5 to 6 miles in every direction, but its greatest extent is from E to W where it advances even to 9 miles in length. It may be considered as classic ground, being situated in the neighbourhood of that little romantic dale that formed the scene of the Gentle Shepherd, the favourite pastoral of the Scotch nation.”

Allan Ramsay’s ‘The Gentle Shepherd’ was a pastoral drama which told the story of Patie, a poor but virtuous shepherd, who falls in love with Peggy, a shepherdess. It was originally published as a play in 1725.

However, our Parish began in the more recent times of June 1862, when Father William Corbett was appointed to serve a parish made up of several villages clustered around Ratho. These included Broxburn, Kirkliston, and Balerno.

In 1881, Fr. William Farquhar was appointed to Ratho parish.

In 1882, the committee at St Joseph’s United Presbyterian Church, Balerno, decided to build a new church. Fr. Farquhar was able to purchase St. Jospeh’s, and adapt it for use as a Catholic Church.

On Saturday, 18th April 1885, St. Joseph’s was solemnly blessed by Fr. Farquhar, and Mass was said the following day by the V.Rev, Norbert McGattigan, CP, from Glasgow (our own Mgr. Smith being unavoidably detained in Rome!)

St. Joseph’s continued to be served from Ratho until 1891, when it was put into the care of St. Cuthbert’s Church, Slateford, under Mgr. Forsyth.

In 1903, St. Joseph’s was finally made an independent parish under Fr. Eardley.

Towards the end of 1961, when Fr. Brie Gordon was Parish Priest, St. Joseph’s Presbytery was sold for the sun of £5,310, and “Curleyee” at 222 Lanark Road West, Currie, purchased for the sum of £4,719.

At a meeting of parishioners held on 30th April 1963, Mgr Monaghan read a letter from the Archbishop saying that, after much discussion and prayer, it had been decided to build a new church at Currie, at an approximate cost of £18,000.

Our Lady, Mother of the Church, was opened by Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray (then Archbishop) on the 31st March 1966.

In 2006, the Catholic congregation at St Jospeh’s moved to join Our Lady’s, as St Joseph’s was no longer sustainable. St. Jospeh’s has since passed into the hands of the Church of Scotland.

Our Parish has been blessed with many a good Father as our spiritual guide:

• 1967 Rev Eric Gordon
• 1969 – 1980 Rev James Rae
• 1980 – 1981 Rev Michael Fallon
• 1982 – 1986 Rev Leo Glancy
• 1987 – 1989 Rev Seamus Adhearn
• 1990 – 1995 Revs Mark Minihame/Joseph FarrellRobert Marsh/Kevin Lowrey
• 1996 – 2004 Rev Stephen Gilhooley
• 2004 – 2006 Rev Michael John Galbraith
• 2005 – 2007 Rev Michael Regan
• 2008 – 2021 Rev Tony Duffy
• 2021 to date Rev Francis Ututo, SMMM

Our Lady’s, as she is affectionately known, has therefore being serving the local Catholic community for nearly 60 years. We are a friendly parish, and all are welcome to join us as we grow in faith, understanding, and love of God.