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Paisley - St Mirin's Cathedral

5 September 2026 (11:00 - 15:00)

Renfrewshire

In Person

St Mirin’s Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paisley. The original parish church was the first stone-built Roman Catholic church in post-Reformation Scotland in 1808. In 1948, the present building was raised to cathedral status, following the erection of the Diocese of Paisley in 1947.

"The building is neo-Romanesque in style with a plain sandstone exterior and an airy arched interior. The chancel is principally of Italian marble. The cathedral, which is the largest church in the diocese, can accommodate around 1300 worshippers.

Of particular interest is the pulpit by Gillespie, Kidd and Coia, with a representation of the Sermon on the Mount sculpted in relief from blonde sandstone bearing the following inscriptions in Latin from the Letter of Saint James: In mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum quod potest salvare animas vestras (‘Receive humbly the word that has been placed within you which can save your souls’) and Estote autem factores verbi et non auditores (‘Be doers of the word and not hearers only’). Also of note are the Art Deco Stations of the Cross designed by Kenneth King of Dublin which are painted on ceramic tiles.

In the apse, four colourful tripartite stained glass windows depict twelve angels, each of whom bears a symbol drawn from the Bible. Below them is a Latin inscription alluding to the Eucharist: Panis Angelicus Fit Panis Hominum Dat Panis Coelicus Figuris Terminum.

Opposite the cathedral, at the junction of Incle Street with Gauze Street and Glasgow Road, stands a bronze statue of St Mirin by Norman Galbraith, which was completed and unveiled in 2007.

In 2015 modifications to the main entrance, porch and frontage of the cathedral were completed."

During Doors Open Days, volunteers will be on hand to welcome visitors, provide guided tours, distribute information leaflets, and answer any questions.

Families and children will have the opportunity to participate in a small treasure hunt with worksheets.