Our Lady of The Angels
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Mingarry Lodges are situated in the former grounds of Our Lady of The Angels Catholic Church, being separated off when The Church sold off The Old Chapel House and grounds in the late 1980s. The Church and Chapel House both date from the 1860s, having been commissioned by James Robert Hope Scott and built by the architect Goldie. The church was built in an eminent position using a handsome grey granite found locally and used to be a remarkable feature in the landscape for miles around.
The local woodland has clearly encroached over recent years as the church is now hidden amongst the birks and dreaded rhododendrons. At least it was, until the recent work of the church volunteers which has revealed the splendour of Our Lady of The Angels and brought light once again to a little corner of Mingarry. The church volunteers have been busy removing the rhododendrons in the church grounds as part of a larger initiative by Loch Shiel Estates and The Forestry Commission to clear rhododendrons throughout the local area in order to enhance woodland biodiversity.
Sunday services are currently held at 12:00 noon with Father Tony Wood from Arisaig and the sound of hymns and organ music wafting gently across Mingarry is testament to the healthy local congregation. The church welcomes guest to the services and you are welcome to join the congregation afterwards for coffee and a chat. The Church is well worth a visit in its own right as a notable architectural attraction with its 'enormous' roof, stained glass windows and beautiful statues.
The first priest of the church was Rev Charles MacDonald, a resident of the Old Chapel House and author of the notable book, Moidart or among the Clanranalds. Copies of the book are available in each Lodge and provide an enlightening insight into local life in the 19th Century and to the colourful history of Moidart.
