The need for a new mission was clear as the village expanded to accommodate the new steelworkers and the host of new workers for the pits, dyeworks and railways. Inevitably, among the new workers flourished the Irish, who did not find the cramped conditions around Busheyhill and Kirkhill worse than what they had left behind. They were a close-knit community who had great attachment to the Church. 

An example of this affection came with the tragic, early death at twenty-nine of the first curate, Fr Patrick Farrell in 1899. The body of this young Irishman was taken to the Broomielaw by a host of grateful parishioners. His family was so overcome at this public display of grief that his father remarked that if he had known how his son had reached the heart of his congregation he would have had him buried in Scotland. 

Before 1878, the Catholics of the area walked to Mass every Sunday to St Columbkille’s or St Mary’s, Abercrombie St in Glasgow. The passage through Eastfield was said to be hazardous, many a Sunday they had to dodge a barrage of stones from the residents as they passed by on their way to Mass. 

In 1893, the number of baptisms in St Bride’s had grown to one hundred and sixty-nine and another Catholic community was emerging in Newton, Westburn, Hallside and Flemington. Fr James F Morrison, parish priest, recognised the need for another mission. A school for the children in the Newton area was opened in 1893 and on 2^nd September, 1894, a new mission was established called St Charles’. In 1895, the number of Baptisms in St Bride’s fell to eighty. By 1905, however, the number had risen to one hundred and fifty-six and grew to one hundred and eighty-four in 1913. On two other occasions St Bride’s was to create other parishes – St Cadoc’s (1949) and St Anthony’s (1965). The depopulation of the Newton area brought Newton under the administration again of St Bride’s in 1975, and eventually because of very small numbers the church and the parish was closed in 1998. Back  Next