During our last visit, the Church of Saint Mary and St Finnan has undergone extensive repair. We will return as soon as possible, however for the time being, this page is unchanged from before the restoration began, and is thus out of date.
The Catholic Church of Saint Mary and St Finnan is situated on a spectacular high platform in Glenfinnan, with breathtaking views down Loch Shiel and across to the mountains that flank the loch’s south-eastern side. It’s impossible to imagine a more stunningly situated church anyplace in Scotland.
The church is located directly south-west of the A830 “Road to the Isles” as it ascends from the Glenfinnan Monument at the head of Lake Shiel to Glenfinnan Station. There is a large parking lot next to the church, and it is only a short walk to the church itself.
You pass the church bell, which is housed in a roofed structure in front of the church. Reports dispute as to whether it was placed here because the money for erecting the church ran out before the belfry was erected, or, more likely, because the elevated location of the site made it unnecessary to install the bell on top of the church. Whatever the reason, the placement indicates that the bell was made at the Eagle Foundry in Dublin.
Following the Reformation in 1560, Catholicism maintained its strongest stronghold in Scotland’s most isolated locations, particularly the Western Highlands. This was one of the reasons why Prince Charles Edward Stuart, “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” chose to hoist his flag at the head of Loch Shiel on Monday, August 19, 1745. The story of the 1745 Jacobite uprising, which came so close to restoring the Stuarts to the thrones of Scotland, England, and Ireland, can be found on our Glenfinnan Monument page; suffice it to say that the strength of Catholicism in the area was one of the reasons the uprising started in Glenfinnan.
The Church of Our Lady and St Finnan, as it is often known, was founded in the late 1860s when the Parish Priest, Father Donald MacDonald, determined that his parish required a place of worship that could equal the beauty of its surroundings.
Colonel John A. MacDonald of Glenaladale, the last Laird of Glenfinnan, who sponsored the project and made the site accessible, was Father MacDonald’s uncle. This might be why Father MacDonald picked Edward Welby Pugin as his architect. Edward Welby Pugin was the son of Augustus Welby Pugin, widely considered as the originator of the Gothic Revival style in British architecture. He designed approximately 100 Catholic churches and cathedrals, primarily in England and Ireland, but also in Western Europe and beyond. Pugin designed four churches in Scotland, including the Church of Our Lady and St Finnan.
The church at Glenfinnan, erected between 1870 and 1872, is large and Gothic in design. Because of the surrounding foliage and the steep slope down to the loch, your only clear exterior views of it are from the north and northeast, yet they are enough to appreciate how the church seems to blend perfectly into its environment.
The Church of Our Lady and St Finnan was restored in 1985, and much effort has gone into cleaning and drying out the fabric of the Grade B listed church in recent years. Despite this, anybody who goes will notice that much more work needs to be done, with wet and flaking paint apparent on several of the interior walls. This lovely structure is definitely worth saving, so if you go, remember that a donation will help secure its survival for future generations to enjoy.
Apart from its influence in the Harry Potter films, Glenfinnan is an extraordinarily lovely spot with views over Lake Shiel and the surrounding dark highlands. There are other short treks in the region to investigate, but the primary one is to go to the viaduct. There is a parking lot, but it is extremely little, so I recommend arriving early. I do believe they are extending it (or at least construction on it began last year), so parking should no longer be an issue. Once parked and ready to walk, simply follow the relatively level trail all the way up to the viaduct. If you’re not in a hurry to view the train, it’s a great easy walk.
Unlike me, who usually leaves it until the last minute and then finds myself sprinting faster than I thought I could in order to reach the summit on time!
I strongly advise arriving at least half an hour early to watch the train and find a good area to rest. Even though the train just takes a few minutes, it’s worth the extra wait. There are a few places where you may observe the train. Either on the ground near the viaduct spans, looking up, or continuing up to the hill, where the majority of tourists congregate to obtain the finest view. You can supposedly view the train from the opposite side, but I haven’t done it yet – maybe next time! Oh, and don’t forget to admire how well-built the viaduct is on your way up. What a lovely lady! Did you know that? The viaduct is 380m long, making it Scotland’s largest concrete railway bridge!
If you chose to watch the train from the hilltop, once the train has gone, you may continue over the hill down a footpath for some different breath-taking views of the lake and the viaduct before crossing through a little woods (which is gorgeous in fall!) to Glenfinnan railway station.
I then take the pavement back towards Glenfinnan, passing by the lovely St Mary and Saint Finnan Catholic Church. One of the most lovely cathedrals I’ve ever seen! If there ever was a category for “church with the finest view,” this is it.
If you have time after exploring the church, you may take the walk back to the parking before continuing on to your next destination. But before crossing the road to see the Glenfinnan Monument, we always stop at the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre for a hot drink and a bite to eat. It’s definitely worth paying a visit and taking the time to appreciate how gorgeous it is. The monument honors all those who fought and perished in the Jacobite rebellion hundreds of years ago.
If you have time after exploring the church, you may take the walk back to the parking before continuing on to your next destination. But before crossing the road to see the Glenfinnan Monument, we always stop at the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre for a hot drink and a bite to eat. It’s definitely worth paying a visit and taking the time to appreciate how gorgeous it is. The monument honors all those who fought and perished in the Jacobite rebellion hundreds of years ago.
