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Stories, interviews, history, and more from the Catholic Diocese of Paisley, Scotland. New episodes published monthly.
I'm here in the main street in Neilston where Saint Thomas' is an imposing structure in the small village square. It's a lovely late summer's morning. The sky is bright blue, and a statue of Our Lady holding the baby Jesus is looking radiant in the sunlight above the church house door. Saint Thomas' is an 18/61 gothic style church with a very interesting history. So I'm here to meet father Jonathan Whitworth, the current administrator, to find out more.
Yvonne O'Hara:Let's go and have a look inside. Hello, father Jonathan. Thank you for agreeing to speak to me today. Saint Thomas's Church from the street looks quite unassuming, but inside wall, It's a hidden gem. Now I understand that there is quite a fascinating history surrounding the origins of the church. Can you tell me more?
Father Jonathan Whitworth:Of course. I've once stumbled across the the parish archives, which are quite extensive, and it contains a whole history of the life of the Christian people and the Catholic faith the life of the Christian people and the Catholic faith in particular in Newston that is deep and expansive to say the least. So we we think that we can trace a Christian presence in Newston from around 11th to 12th century, and then it starts to get a bit more concrete from about 12:30 on. So the Benedictine monks of Paisley Abbey, they sent monks up to Newston, and this became the center of ecclesiastical life, really.
Father Jonathan Whitworth:It has given rise to so much and so many interesting figures, you know, because we we think the likes of Saint Mirin and Saint Conval would have roamed around in these parts. So all the faith really can trace itself right back to the collapse of the Roman Empire, like it's quite expansive to say the least.
Father Jonathan Whitworth:So we know that down towards where the the Church of Scotland is at present, it was originally the church that was gifted to the people here by the Stuarts. That's where the monks served. And they served right down towards Rutherglen all the way down towards Inverclyde and all things in between. So Nealsdell was actually the mother church of the area, and it provided the sacramental life of the people for centuries. Thereafter, reformation happens about 15/60 or so, and you have the complete change in religious practice and observance.
Father Jonathan Whitworth:Saint Thomas Neilston takes up the charge later around 1861. So that's when the parish is formed as it stands today on its present, grounds just on the north side of Main Street.
Yvonne O'Hara:The church itself has links with Germany. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Father Jonathan Whitworth:There are so one of the administrators of Saint Thomas' was father Aloysius Riefenrath, who was a German priest who, through a long and distinguished history, found himself within the territory of the Archdiocese of Glasgow, which is what Saint Thomas and Newston came under. And he sort of brought with him a German aristocratic flair. So all the statues that we see here from the beautiful wonder, the sacred tartan of Our Lady Saint Patrick's and Therese and the 5 incredible stained glass windows are still so vibrant. He brought them with him. It's almost Bavarian architecture, was his was his interest, and he restyled the interior of the church, much of which we can still see today.
Yvonne O'Hara:One of the most striking original features is the stained glass windows. There are 5 in the church and all still so vibrant. The colors, the the shades of blues and reds and green and gold. Here, we have one honoring all the soldiers from the village who fell in the Great War. And and at the side of the altar, we have a window that is particularly special.
Yvonne O'Hara:Can you tell me a bit about that?
Father Jonathan Whitworth:Absolutely. So Latin Latin inscription underneath, you are a priest forever according to the priesthood of Melchizedek of old. Now that in and of itself wouldn't be too extraordinary, a stingless wind of the Sacred Heart, but it's the fact that it shows a monstrance just underneath our lord. And then at the top, there is the pious pelican pecking her breast to feed her young chicks who are without food. If you take all three of those things together, it is a really beautiful stained glass window depicting Eucharistic theology.
Father Jonathan Whitworth:So you have the angels at the bottom incensing the monstrance. You have our lord presiding at the liturgy above. Now given that that shines its own light onto the altar that's here and the tabernacle behind us, really does give evidence to what it's trying to catechize you. It's trying to inform you that that is actually what's taking place here and now. Similarly, with the other stained glass window we have on the right hand side of the church, which commemorates the fallen from the First World War.
Father Jonathan Whitworth:Father Aloysius kept the extensive palace logbooks, and much of his correspondence was between himself and the primary school that he petitioned for and raised funds to have created. And he kept meticulous notes about the lives of the pupils and what they went on to do and the families. He knew them he knew them well. He knew them as a good as a good father and as a good pastor. So the names that we have commemorated there were names that he had placed there.
Father Jonathan Whitworth:He knew the sons that had gone in the great war from Neilston and he wanted them to be memorialized there until mass is offered for them. So it really does show a father's heart. And those logbooks are are really moving as as a as a present administrator because you do realize that the history of this parish, yes, it goes right back to 11th century, but there are big hitters the whole way through. The faith has been preserved by men and women, flesh and blood just like us. And It really does give much pause for thought, and our own efforts.
Yvonne O'Hara:And, lastly, hopefully, people will come and see these windows and see the church, and they can expect a good welcome.
Father Jonathan Whitworth:I think the important thing to remember when you think of what is a village parish is never underestimate what a village parish can accomplish. It's not a peripheral part of the diocese. Quite the opposite. It has a rich history that's contributed so much.
Yvonne O'Hara:Father Jonathan, it's been a real pleasure speaking to you today. Thank you. Thank you.