A 30-YEAR campaign for a Roman Catholic church at Culloden finally reached its climax on Saturday when the new building was dedicated for religious use. Until now, more than 100 worshippers in the area have attended Sunday mass at Duncan Forbes Primary School.
But now the weekly services will be conducted at the new Church of St Columba in Tower Road.
Plans for the purpose-built premises were initially discussed in the 1970s, when Canon Duncan Stone bought the site to meet the needs of the burgeoning community of Culloden, near Inverness.
Following planning applications and fundraising efforts, Canon Stone, now 92, was among the worshippers at the church on Saturday for the official dedication service.
He said: “I am thankful to see the church here after 30 years of waiting.”
The Right Rev Peter Moran, Bishop of Aberdeen, carried out the special service, which lasted more than a hour.
It involved using prayers and holy water to “christen” the church and the altar.
Other leaders of the Catholic Church in the Highlands said they were delighted that the building was finally finished.
Parish priest Father James Bell said: “It is a real sign of the Catholic renewal and the way in which the church is continuing to grow in these parts.” Archbishop of Glasgow, the Most Rev Mario Conti, who supported the project when he was bishop of the diocese, added: “When I was bishop, one of my greatest ambitions was to see a church built here.”
In September, it emerged that a cheeky bricklayer had buried a Rangers jersey in the foundations of the church and hid another in the wall. But he was suspended when his employers found out about the prank.
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(Source: TPJ)