A fascinating journey through 1,500 years of Perthshire’s Catholic history was presented at St Stephen’s Catholic Church, Blairgowrie, on Friday evening as Medievalist Dr Kylie Murray delivered a special lecture marking two significant local anniversaries – the 175th anniversary of St Stephen’s Church and the 125th anniversary of St Luan’s Church, Alyth.
Entitled Rejoicing Through the Ages: The Story of Catholicism in Alyth, Blairgowrie and Perthshire, the illustrated talk drew together themes of faith, perseverance, scholarship and community that have shaped Catholic life across the region from the early medieval period to the present day.
Beginning with the hidden survival of Catholic worship after the Reformation, Dr Murray highlighted the importance of estates such as Stobhall and Murthly, where Mass continued to be celebrated despite periods of persecution. She described how Murthly became the base of Fr James Mackay, whose missionary efforts across Perthshire laid the foundations for what would eventually become St Stephen’s Parish.
The audience was then transported back to the sixth century through the story of St Columba and his contemporary St Moluag, known locally as St Luan. One of the evening’s most memorable moments came with Dr Murray’s retelling of the famous account from the Aberdeen Breviary of how St Luan, after being left behind by fellow missionaries, was miraculously carried across the Irish Sea to Lismore on a stone.
‘A thing happened which is seldom heard of: when he had prayed, the stone upon which Luan had set his feet, quite firmly fixed by nature, divinely carried him across the great breadth of the ocean, faster in motion than the ship, and he arrived before the rest of his companions at the port of the church of Lismore which he had desire. And there, that stone, which is unlike the rest of the rocks on that island, ceased from motion.’
(English translation from the Aberdeen Breviary, 1510).
Exploring the saint’s enduring legacy, Dr Murray examined evidence linking St Luan to Alyth, including the historic Alyth Arches, believed to stand on the site of an early church associated with the saint.
The lecture also shed light on the influential role of Coupar Angus Abbey, founded in the twelfth century as part of the international Cistercian network. Rare manuscripts once owned by the abbey and now preserved in the Vatican Library revealed Perthshire’s place within wider European intellectual and religious traditions. Among the treasures discussed was a unique version of the Scotichronicon, which includes an extraordinary vision of William Wallace receiving a sword from St Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint.
Moving into the nineteenth century, Dr Murray paid tribute to pioneering priests including Fr James Mackay and Fr Carmont, whose determination and pastoral commitment helped establish a permanent Catholic presence in Blairgowrie. Fr Mackay’s extensive travels on horseback across northern Perthshire and his concern for the poor illustrated the resilience of the Catholic mission during a challenging period in Scottish history.
The story culminated with the construction of St Stephen’s Church, designed by renowned Gothic Revival architect Edward Welby Pugin and opened in 1856, and the later establishment of St Luan’s Church in Alyth in 1900. Dr Murray highlighted the remarkable fundraising efforts of local Catholics, particularly Sergeant Murray, who played a leading role in securing the construction of St Luan’s.
Concluding the lecture, Dr Murray reflected on how the stained-glass windows of St Luan’s unite figures such as St Luan, St Margaret of Scotland, St Andrew and Blessed Duns Scotus, symbolising the rich spiritual and cultural heritage that continues to inspire local Catholics today.
Describing the anniversaries as “Janus-like”, looking both backwards and forwards, she encouraged those present to celebrate the achievements of previous generations while looking to the future with confidence, hope and joy.
The lecture formed part of a wider programme commemorating the anniversaries of both churches and was warmly received by parishioners and visitors alike. It served as a reminder that the story of Catholicism in Perthshire is not merely a chapter of the past, but a living tradition that continues to shape communities across the region.