St Mary's Church, Belford Road, Fort William

Heritage listing

Category A Date Added 05/10/1971 Local Authority Highland Planning Authority Highland Burgh Fort William NGR NN 10685 74110 Coordinates 210685, 774110 — Reginald Fairlie, 1936-38. Rectangular church orientated east/west, with east gable terminating as massive low square tower with octagonal angle stair turret with facetted conical roof. Piended single storey lean-to narthex runs almost full length of west gable. All pinned squared grey granite, with some random pink granite in tower masonry; tooled granite dressings. All window openings round-headed; 3 long slit windows light north face of tower and 3 similar, but shorter slits high in south tower face. 8-bay north and south elevations, lit by small windows, with bowed Baptistry with semi-circular conical roof projecting at penultimate west bay of north front. Round-headed entrances in north and south of narthex, the long (west) elevation being lit by 3 windows set in 3 arched blind arcade. Various wings project from south (rear) elevation, including flat roofed chapel abutting gabled vestry projecting from tower. Cross finial at west gable apex; 3 triangular louvred roof vents each side; slate roofs. Interior; simple barrel vaulted nave with oak pews, tall round-headed chancel arch supported by engaged columns with capital carved with Celtic motifs opening to tall chancel. Tooled ashlar chancel walls and wooden ceiling with beams supported by stone corbels, both beams and joists moulded. 3 shallow round-headed recesses in east wall, the outer very narrow, each with stone bracket supporting carved and painted angels. String course links window and recess imposts. Altar under sumptuous cast- and wrought-iron partially gilded baldacchino with facetted and pierced finial encircled by decorative annulets with crowing cross.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.