Reginald Fairlie's compact white church combines bowed gables, a squat tower and a distinctive Germanic bellcote above Mallaig's harbour townscape.
Quick facts
- Date
- 1935
- Architect / designer
- Reginald Fairlie
- Type
- White-harled Roman Catholic church with tower and ogee-roofed bellcote
- Designation
- Listed building, Category C (LB7230)
- OS grid reference
- NM 67508 96905
Architecture, archaeology and continuing use
A simple rectangular nave is joined by a bowed end, projecting porch, side chapel and square tower. White harl, round-headed windows, a ribbed timber chancel ceiling and an octagonal bellcote with an ogee lead roof create a carefully controlled composition.
Its story
Reginald Fairlie designed St Patrick's in 1935 for Mallaig's Roman Catholic community. The designation records continuing ecclesiastical use, and the diocesan parish directory confirms that worship continues.
Why it is included
Category C listing protects a characteristic twentieth-century Highland church by a significant Scottish ecclesiastical architect.
What to notice
- The bowed end wall and matching bowed porch.
- The squat square tower and ogee-roofed bellcote.
- The statuette sheltered beneath a hood on the chapel gable.
Reading the surroundings
Attend only at advertised services or when the church is expressly open. Respect worship, funerals and private parish activity, and avoid blocking the entrance.
Timeline
- 1935 Reginald Fairlie designed the present church for Mallaig.
- 1971 St Patrick's entered the statutory list.
- 2026 check The diocesan directory continued to identify an active Mallaig parish.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
The building was not inspected internally, and service or opening arrangements can change.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Roman Catholic Church of St Patrick, Mallaig, LB7230 — Designation status, mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Diocese of Argyll and the Isles: Mallaig parish — Current parish identity, contact details and evidence of continuing worship.
Location
OS grid reference NM 67508 96905 · Location confidence: High: the national designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference; an additional source confirms the Place relationship, history or current identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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