The Catholic Church In Stevenston Before the 16th Century

Up to the time of its suppression in the 16th century, the Benedictine Abbey Of Kilwinning held jurisdiction over a wide area of parishes, amongst which was Stevenston.

The Patron and Titular Saint of the church in Stevenston was St. Monach, a saint whose life history has been lost through changing times. However, in the volumes of the "Acta Sanctorum" in the library of St. Andrews University, he is clearly referred to as the "Patron Saint of the church in Stevenston" and goes on to quote a legal document of pre-Reformation days of a certain Archibald, dated 7th October, 1547, which says "I bequeath my soul to God Almighty and my body to be interred in the Church of St. Monach of Stevenston." It is also known that St. Monach's day is 30th October; for until 1860, there was a fair held in the town on that day each year. By then, even the saint's name had become distorted, and the fair was popularly called "San Maneukes Day."

One or two items of interest to us, dating from the 16th century, have been found in the records of the High Kirk of Stevenston. These are quoted in the Official Guide Brochure of Stevenston. First mentioned is the name of "Richard Pethede, a vicar of Stevenston under the patronage of the Lord Abbot of Kilwinning." The next mentioned is "Stephen Wilkynsoune, Popish curate of Steynstoune in 1547." Then, finally, James Walcar, last Parish Priest of Stevenston at the Reformation, who eventually "conformed" and became Stevenston's first Protestant minister in 1562, and who died in 1569. The old historical Kirk, however, has been replaced by the present one, built in 1832.

The Old Church Of St. John

The chapel school in Stevenston that had served the parish from its opening on 2nd July, 1905, until the opening of the present church on 4th July 1963 was meant to be a temporary arrangement until a proper church building could be erected. At that time the parish was much smaller and the chief industry seemed to be coal mining, although Nobel's Dynamite Factory also provided work.

St. Mary's, Saltcoats, was the only Parish Church for the towns in the area, and to attend Mass, all had to walk there from around the district. We can imagine the great satisfaction it gave to Stevenston Catholics when in 1905 they saw the school and church (built at the approximate cost of  4,000 pounds) established in their own town. World War I brought prosperity to Nobel's Factory which soon developed into the large ICI factory that now employs thousands of workers. This brought many workers and their families from Ireland, and the parish began to grow. Plans for a new church began to be considered, but, owing to economic depression, nothing was done until the 1930s, when Father Bradley started a building fund. This had reached the sum of 5,000 pounds when World War II came along.

After the war, new housing plans began to scatter the parishioners over a wide area within the town and often quite distant from the church. It was felt that the time was approaching when a more central situation should be found, plus the fact that increasing numbers of school children were ready to use that part of the school building that the church would vacate. In 1956 the parish began an enthusiastic effort to raise funds for there new church. The fruits of their labours are now apparent.

Taken from the souvenir brochure for the Solemn Opening of The New Church by Bishop McGee, Thursday 4th July 1963.

Footnotes:

The old primary school remained at the location of the old chapel in Moorpark Road West until a new school was opened at Morrison Avenue in 1973. In the 1980s the old chapel building and school were demolished.

Originally, a metal Celtic cross was on top of the steeple until the elements took their toll and it had to be removed. It was replaced by the simple metal cross which is currently in position.

Priests In St. Johns Since 1905.