In this week's "Know Your News" we discover an old article which relates to the long Catholic history of Largs which dates back centuries and how the religious movement expanded throughout the North Coast area.

A rare publication called The North Ayrshire and Cumbrae Courier, which was published in the early 1930s, gave some historic information about Catholicism in Largs, Millport, Wemyss Bay and Inverkip.

In April 1931, Father James Doherty and the little ivy covered R.C Church in School Street in Largs was featured.

Father Doherty of Largs celebrated his silver jubilee of ordination during that year and served in the army during the First World War, having had spells at St Margaret's in Johnstone, St Luke's in Glasgow and Croy.

The Archbishop then decreed that Father Doherty take charge of St Mary's in Largs, a parish of upwards of 40 miles, the administration of which involved the celebration of Mass also at Wemyss Bay and Millport.

The Courier reported: "Energy is a feature of the character of Father Doherty, who, with his congregation, is now toiling hard to build a fund for the erection of a new church. Already he has bought a splendid site in a prominent position, with two frontages at the corner of Boyd Street and School Streets." The article went on to reveal the distant Catholic history in the local area dating back to the 16th century.

Largs church and lands belonged to the monks attached to Paisley's ancient abbey up to 1587, and it had a church dedicated to St Columba in ancient times.

Its annual Fair Day was known in other years as St Columba's Fair, and was always held on the first Tuesday after 12 June.

About halfway between Skelmorlie and Largs used to be St. Fillan's Well, near to which in Scotland's Catholic days there existed the chapel dedicated to St. Fillan but the Courier lamented that no trace existed of this anymore.

The article went on to state: "In a sketch of the history of Largs Mission written several years ago, it is related that in the first half of the 19th century, Catholics first began to appear in the town and district. Up until 1849, mass was celebrated in Largs by one of the priests of St Mary's, Greenock. Between 1849 and 1862 Largs appears to have been attended from Rothesay as mass was celebrated once a month." In 1862 an arrangement was made whereby the Rev. Joseph Small took charge of Largs and Dunoon. He resided at Greenock and attended the two places on alternate Sundays. His successors in this double charge were from 1864 to 1867 the Rev. Maurice O'Sullivan, and from 1867 till 1869 the Rev William Geelson and Rev Francis A Stenson.

The first resident Priest was Rev Father McCullow. Largs was made a separate mission and the following year Father McCullow had the Catholic Church erected in Largs in School Street, and he established a station in Inverkip, and there said Mass every second Sunday.

The first Catholic church built in Largs since the Reformation opened in 1869. Before that date, Mass was celebrated at irregular intervals in the homes of the few Catholics in the town by a priest travelling from Saltcoats or Greenock by pony and trap. One Mass venue was the Noddle Bridge tollhouse, home of toll-keeper Con Gallagher whose descendants are still members of St Mary's.

The new church, seating 150, was dedicated to St Mary, Star of the Sea, but quickly became known as St Mary's or "the wee church". For many years, the whole congregation in the winter months could be accommodated on one side of the church. In the summer, however, the church overflowed with holiday visitors and, after the First World War, as many as five Masses were needed on Sundays. A more spacious church was necessary to meet the demand of the local area.

In 1873 Rev Herman Van Baer took over the reins, and he established centres for catechetical instruction at Inverkip, Skelmorlie and Millport, which bore good fruit.

The 1931 article concluded: "Father Doherty and his congregation is longing to see the commencement of the erection of a new church.

"The early history of Largs is associated with St.Columba, who hailed from County Donegal, famed for its Dohertys, and the congregation hope that the current Parish Priest will have the silver jubilee crowned by soon being able to adorn Largs with a new and substantial Catholic Church worthy of St Columba, and of Scotland's ancient faith, the Faith of Queen Margaret, of Wallace, and of Bruce."In this week's "Know Your News" we discover an old article which relates to the long Catholic history of Largs which dates back centuries and how the religious movement expanded throughout the North Coast area.

A rare publication called The North Ayrshire and Cumbrae Courier, which was published in the early 1930s, gave some historic information about Catholicism in Largs, Millport, Wemyss Bay and Inverkip.

In April 1931, Father James Doherty and the little ivy covered R.C Church in School Street in Largs was featured.

Father Doherty of Largs celebrated his silver jubilee of ordination during that year and served in the army during the First World War, having had spells at St Margaret's in Johnstone, St Luke's in Glasgow and Croy.

The Archbishop then decreed that Father Doherty take charge of St Mary's in Largs, a parish of upwards of 40 miles, the administration of which involved the celebration of Mass also at Wemyss Bay and Millport.

The Courier reported: "Energy is a feature of the character of Father Doherty, who, with his congregation, is now toiling hard to build a fund for the erection of a new church. Already he has bought a splendid site in a prominent position, with two frontages at the corner of Boyd Street and School Streets." The article went on to reveal the distant Catholic history in the local area dating back to the 16th century.

Largs church and lands belonged to the monks attached to Paisley's ancient abbey up to 1587, and it had a church dedicated to St Columba in ancient times.

Its annual Fair Day was known in other years as St Columba's Fair, and was always held on the first Tuesday after 12 June.

About halfway between Skelmorlie and Largs used to be St. Fillan's Well, near to which in Scotland's Catholic days there existed the chapel dedicated to St. Fillan but the Courier lamented that no trace existed of this anymore.

The article went on to state: "In a sketch of the history of Largs Mission written several years ago, it is related that in the first half of the 19th century, Catholics first began to appear in the town and district. Up until 1849, mass was celebrated in Largs by one of the priests of St Mary's, Greenock. Between 1849 and 1862 Largs appears to have been attended from Rothesay as mass was celebrated once a month." In 1862 an arrangement was made whereby the Rev. Joseph Small took charge of Largs and Dunoon. He resided at Greenock and attended the two places on alternate Sundays. His successors in this double charge were from 1864 to 1867 the Rev. Maurice O'Sullivan, and from 1867 till 1869 the Rev William Geelson and Rev Francis A Stenson.

The first resident Priest was Rev Father McCullow. Largs was made a separate mission and the following year Father McCullow had the Catholic Church erected in Largs in School Street, and he established a station in Inverkip, and there said Mass every second Sunday.

The first Catholic church built in Largs since the Reformation opened in 1869. Before that date, Mass was celebrated at irregular intervals in the homes of the few Catholics in the town by a priest travelling from Saltcoats or Greenock by pony and trap. One Mass venue was the Noddle Bridge tollhouse, home of toll-keeper Con Gallagher whose descendants are still members of St Mary's.

The new church, seating 150, was dedicated to St Mary, Star of the Sea, but quickly became known as St Mary's or "the wee church". For many years, the whole congregation in the winter months could be accommodated on one side of the church. In the summer, however, the church overflowed with holiday visitors and, after the First World War, as many as five Masses were needed on Sundays. A more spacious church was necessary to meet the demand of the local area.

In 1873 Rev Herman Van Baer took over the reins, and he established centres for catechetical instruction at Inverkip, Skelmorlie and Millport, which bore good fruit.

The 1931 article concluded: "Father Doherty and his congregation is longing to see the commencement of the erection of a new church.

"The early history of Largs is associated with St.Columba, who hailed from County Donegal, famed for its Dohertys, and the congregation hope that the current Parish Priest will have the silver jubilee crowned by soon being able to adorn Largs with a new and substantial Catholic Church worthy of St Columba, and of Scotland's ancient faith, the Faith of Queen Margaret, of Wallace, and of Bruce." During the Second World War, Father Patrick Clark and then Father Clement McGowan had to provide for the spiritual needs of Naval and Army personnel and also for the people who came to Largs after the Greenock blitz. Barrfields Pavilion and the Moorings Ballroom at the pier provided space for Mass for the greatly increased numbers..

In 1960, Mass was again said at the Moorings Ballroom when fire seriously damaged the church. Young Catholic residents and holiday-makers would attend a crowded dance on Saturday evening and return for a crowded Mass in the same place on Sunday morning.

The new church of St Mary, Star of the Sea opened on 24 June 1962 with Pontifical High Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Galloway, the Right Reverend Joseph McGhee. The building, which seats 590, cost about £80,000 and most of the furnishings were donated by members of the congregation. It is unlikely that such a building could be built and furnished today for under a million pounds but provides a lasting testament to the long history of Catholicism which has existed in Largs and surrounding areas for centuries.