St Margaret's Gorebridge Midlothian

St Margaret's in Gorebridge, Midlothian is a Christian congregation serving the Gorebridge community and seeking, engaging, and encouraging others through a life-changing Christian journey.

We seek to be a loving, friendly community that worships God, and serves others. We place a high priority on teaching from the Bible and following the example of Jesus.

Our vision is to impact and renew Gorebridge and beyond with the transforming message of Jesus Christ through words and actions.

Come as you are - we'd love to get to know you.

 

Download St Margaret's vCard with Mass Times

Click here to contact the church  

Download Parish Priest The Reverend Allan F. Ocdenaria vCard

Click here to contact The Reverend Allan F. Ocdenaria  

The Catholic Church in Scotland  

http://www.rbgcatholics.co.uk/  

 

 

Know how to get there? Share the knowledge with others!  

Please share parking information and/or parking experience!  

 

 

 

Most of the land on which the Church of St. Margaret's now stands, was donated to the diocese in 1894 by James Cumming Dewar of Vogrie, a captain in the British Army (11th Hussars). It was donated so that a church, presbytery, school and any other buildings connected with the Church, could be built. The remainder of the land - that nearest the entrance - was bought by the diocese in 1923. In 1893, Archbishop Angus MacDonald wrote out in his own hand a 'List of Catholics in Gorebridge and Neighbourhood', there being a total of 146 adults and 70 children at school.

Though the land was donated in 1894, it was not until 1904 that the Church was built. On 26 March 1900, Dewar of Vogrie complained to the Archbishop that so little progress had been made towards building the Church, and said that if he (Dewar) had also provided money for the church, it would certainly have been built by now. Dewar also points out that he has had 'numerous applications' to sell the land adjoining that set aside for the Church, but so far he has resisted the temptation because "I did not wish any buildings erected that might inconvenience or destroy the symmetry of the Church".

That part of the land nearest the present entrance to the driveway, running alongside Lady Brae, was in fact sold by Cumming of Dewar to another party. There appear to be plans for building a house beside the entrance. It seems also that another Army officer, Lord Ralph Kerr of Woodburn, son of the Marquess of Lothian, was also pressing for the building of a church at Gorebridge. However, the continuing delay might have something to do with the fact that the Archbishop, Angus MacDonald, died on 29th April 1900. There was also evident confusion about the size of the building required.

The Parish Priest of St. Margaret's, Loanhead, Frederick Hoban, had been charged with organising a contract for the building of the Church in 1896. It was put out to competition, and on 6th May 1898, Hoban wrote to the Archbisop indicating that, on receipt of instructions from the diocesan finance committee, Messrs Buchanan and Bennett had been awarded the contract. This firm had already carried out work on St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh. But, on 12 May 1898, Hoban wrote again to the Archbishop:

My Lord Archbishop, In looking over my letters relating to Gorebridge proposed Church I find that there is a material discrepancy between the seating accommodation specified in the competition as necessary to be provided and that stated by your Grace in your letter of 6th May. In my letter to the architects in November 1896, of which I enclose a copy, and which was dictated to me by Monsignor Grady, I state "that the committee desire me to ask you along with the other architects to submit competitive plans for a part of a church (say the nave) that would accommodate two hundred persons".

It is true that in Monsignor Grady's first letter of instruction to me of date 3rd October 1896, he stipulated that the building should afford accommodation for three hundred persons, but on the day after, I had another note from the Vicar General to say that "the seating room to be provided in the new portion of chapel at Gorebridge is to be 150. Accordingly in the first rough draft of my letter to the architects I inserted the number 150, but on presenting said draft to Monsignor Grady for revision he told me that in view of the census of population which he had received, he thought I should insert the number 200, which I accordingly did. If the number now to be provided is 300, your grace will see that the conditions of competition are very materially alerted, and the extended accommodation cannot reasonably be expected for the same sum of £700.

It is to be suspected that the need for more money for a larger church also contributed to the delay. It was not until 14 February 1904 that the Church was formally opened by Archbishop Smith. Mass was celebrated by Father Head, S.J., of Dalkeith, and after Mass a discourse was delivered by Father Robert Power, S.J., of Edinburgh. The choir of St. Mary's, Pathead, under the conductorship of Fr Jerrard, S.J., sang Barrett's Mass. At 4pm, there was Benediction in the Church. It had been planned to have a service outside; but the weather proved to be inclement. The Archbishop and the Priests were entertained to dinner by Captain Dewar of Vogrie. In 1923, the Archdiocese purchased the remainder of the land adjoining the driveway from Mrs Lillias Jessie Shirra-Gibb.