Building record MAB11110 - ST THOMAS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, KEITH

Roman Catholic Church, and presbytery.

Roman Catholic Church, and presbytery. It was built in 1830-1 by William Robertson for Father Walter Lovi, and opened on the 1st of August 1831. A dome was added, and there was an enlarged sanctuary and internal decoration done by C J Menart, Glasgow, in 1916. It is a neo-classical, Baroque Roman Catholic Church, incorporating a two-storey presbytery at the rear (West). The church is cruciform, with a three-bay polished ashlar East front and rubble flanks, with ashlar margins and dressings. There is a three-bay pilastered entrance, with a central bay that is slightly advanced that has two stages, each one delineated by paired pilasters. The upper stage is pedimented, and is flanked at each side by decorative scrolled consoles. The centre entrance is flanked by corniced panels, with inset round-headed niches that are each housing a statue. There is an inscription on the frontage that reads 'Columna et Firmametum Veritatis'. A substantial octagonal, facetted, copper covered, concrete dome spans the crossing, with a shaped lunette in each face and an apex cross finial. There are two round-headed windows in the North and South transepts. The rear two bays incorporate the presbytery, with two windows at each floor, including a dormerless attic in the West gable. There is a projecting two-storey canted window at the South-West, with two-pane glazing, a ridge stack and slate roofs. There is a 1916 Corinthian pilastered interior. A pilastered and pedimented panel incorporates Francois Dubois's painting 'The Incredulity of St Thomas' as an altarpiece. The painting was gifted to Father Lovi by Charles X of France. There is a deep main cornice, and simple plaster details to the dome interior. The church and presbytery are enclosed by a coped rubble wall. There is a gallery at the East end with a plain front, and pine pews. The church/hall was used during World War II as billets, and for ENSA concerts.

Period Notes
Built in 1830-1, and opened on 1st August 1831. The dome was added in 1916 when the sanctuary was enlarged and there was internal decoration done. It was used as billets and hosted ENSA concerts during WWII. Listed designation given on 22/02/1972, and its status changed from a B listing to an A listing on 24/03/1988.

HOWAT, AJ, 1901, CHURCHES IN MORAY, 32 (Bibliographic reference). SAB729.

HAY, G., 1957, THE ARCHITECTURE OF SCOTTISH POST-REF CHURCHES, 157,251 (Bibliographic reference). SAB720.

MCKEAN, C, 1987, MORAY: AN ILLUSTRATED ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE, p143 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1142.

Author unknown, n.d., NSA, 391 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1269.

Record last edited

Jun 13 2023 12:07PM