Fort William, Belford Road, Roman Catholic Church Of St Mary And The Immaculate Conception

Church of St. Mary and the Immaculate Conception (RC), Reginald Fairlie, 1933-4. This is Fairlie at his most powerful. The impenetrable bulk of his massive rockfaced tower rises sheer over the sanctuary, a rocket-like stair turret clasped to one corner. Very subtly, its rugged grey surface is softened by a random scattering of pink granite stones, while a rhythm of gentle curves runs through the Romanesque openings, loggia-style narthex and apsed baptistry. Cool simplicity within - a single-span barrel-vaulted nave with exposed concrete ribs running right down to the floor. Thomas Bogie's baldacchino stands out like a jewel against the chancel's plain ashlar walls, in marked contrast to the restrained carving of capitals with stylised Celtic motifs.

[Reginald Fairlie (1883-1952) was responsible for a clutch of new Catholic churches in the West Highlands in the earlier part of last century, memorable for their uncluttered and functional simplicity. Fairlie trained with Lorimer and was influenced by Robert Rowand Anderson and John Kinross. In church design he tended to adhere more to the East Coast 'traditionalist' approach 'using forms based broadly on Scots Renaissance as opposed to more cosmopolitan Continental modernity'. His churches show a meticulous understanding of and attention to liturgical requirements.]

Taken from "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Mary Miers, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk

NN17SW 29 10685 74110

St Mary's Church [NAT]

OS (GIS) MasterMap, September 2009.

Architect: Reginald Fairlie 1934.

(Undated) information in NMRS.