Description

Dated 1788, probably Father John Reid; chancel, altar and

some internal alterations Peter Paul Pugin, 1896.

Rectangular church orientated E-W with wide 5-bay Baroque

W front incorporating flanking stair compartments. Harled,

tooled and polished ashlar margins and dressings. Centre wide round-headed entrance with similar flanking entrances in

slightly set back outer square stair bay; 4 substantial

round-headed windows, slightly smaller similar centre window

raised into shape pedimented gable; all windows and doors

with keystones and blocked imposts. Shaped pedimented gable

crowns centre 3 bays, deep eaves band, eaves cornice and

blocking course 3 sides of stair blocks; urn and ball

finials, apex cross. Datestone above centre door, multi-pane

glazing.

Wide 3-bay S elevation with blocked round-headed centre door

and window above; flanking linear traceried windows (tracery

1896).

Demi-octagonal chancel with similar traceried N and S windows

linked to narrow round-headed lancets by continuous

hood-mould/string course. Slate roof.

INTERIOR: lofty interior; brilliantly coloured stencilled

chancel, nave dado and cornice. Ornate canopied, carved and

painted reredos with picture of St Gregory fronted by carved

varied coloured marble altar. Carved coloured marble

communion rails and flanking marble pedestals supporting

statues. Brass memorial plaques right and left in chancel;

coloured tiled floor.

1896 raised rear organ platform enclosed by curtained

railings; plain pews; Stations of the Cross; ribbed flat 1896

ceiling.

Entrance lobby with centre ceiling rose of 1788.

Statement of Interest

Ecclesiastical building in use as such.

St Gregory's church the first Roman Catholic place of worship

erected in Scotland after the Reformation which did not

attempt to disguise the fact that it was a church (Tynet RC

church, 1755 constructed so as to resemble a cottage).

Preshome church replaced a barn used as a chapel before 1788;

this barn was called the Craigs barn and the chapel was first

called Craigs chapel. Gordon of Letterfourie is said to have

contributed considerably to the erection of the church. The

area was staunchly Catholic.

Picture of St Gregory by Caracci gifted by Lord Findlater and incorporated in reredos.

Brass plaques erected each side of chancel mark burial sites

of Bishop James Kyle, 1788-1869 and his nephew, Rev. John

Kyle, 1828-1917.

Plaque above centre entrance in W front inscribed 'DEO 1788'.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• St Gregory's Church, Preshome at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q7593289

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)