Menzieshill as a community was only 2 years old when the parish of St Ninian was established but it was another 6 years before our beautiful church was built.
St Ninian’s Catholic Church is one of 35 parishes in the Diocese of Dunkeld . It is situated in Menzieshill, the highest part of the city of Dundee geographically, and the most westerly. From almost every vantage point you can look out over the whole town – to the East as far as the Tay estuary, to the North towards the Sidlaw Hills and to the West as far as the hills of Perthshire. Our most beautiful views are to the South, where looking out across the river Tay we see the hills and fields of Fife, almost as far as the ancient town of St. Andrews. However, in the early 60’s, Menzieshill was little more than a building site. The first street, completed in 1961 was Forth Crescent, two years before the first priest Fr Ross, was appointed. One of our parishioners fondly remembers moving into her new home there …
Four years after the appointment of Fr Ross, Menzieshill’s Catholic population grew significantly and as a result, St Ninian’s Primary school was built on the grounds adjacent to the site planned for our church. There has always been a very close relationship between the school and the parish.
On the 8th February 1969 St Ninian’s church with its panoramic view of the silvery Tay opened its doors for the very first time. Since the opening of the Church the area has seen the building of many houses, shops, a library, schools and a Community Centre. One of the most important developments in our area however has been the NHS Hospital one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country and one which is universally renowned for its world class research work. The hospital was for many years served by the priests of St. Ninian’s parish who visited the sick, celebrated Sunday Mass in the hospital chapel and often provided Requiem Masses for the many who sadly died in hospital and whose families had lost touch with their own parishes.
Design and Architecture of the Church
The church was designed by Peter Whiston K.S.G. A.R.S.A., of Edinburgh and built by Walker Bros., of Kirkcaldy. Together they produced a church eminently suitable for the worship of God, according to the reformed liturgy of Vatican II.
It’s striking exterior is matched by its interior layout, which guarantees the proximity of every member of the congregation to the altar of Blaxter stone. The altar is the focal point of the building standing on a raised sanctuary, well above the level of the nave.
The statue of St Ninian and the triptych of the Baptism of Christ beside the copper topped baptismal font is the work of Alistair Smith. Since it was built, the interior has been altered but in ways which have not detracted from the simplicity and beauty of the church.
Over the years, the parish has had 10 parish priests and 8 assistant priests. Father Johney Raphael CST, who was appointed in September 2019, is now our parish priest and St Clement’s, hence we call ourselves ‘Churches Together’. Fr Johney was born in Kerela in India, where he entered the religious life as a member of the Congregation of St Therese of the Child Jesus. He was ordained in 1996.
Parishioners from St Clements and St Ninians attended a Mass which was celebrated with Bishop Stephen Robson in St Ninian’s Church, on Tuesday 15th June 2021 to mark Fr Johney’s 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the priesthood. A recording of this beautiful Mass is available on the Diocesan website
St Ninian’s is not only a beautiful church and place of worship, it is a community. From the 1960’s, it has been an active parish in a wide variety of ways. We continue to have a dedicated group of volunteers who are involved in a wide range of activities from church cleaning, flower arranging, altar servers, children’s liturgy, music, Faith group, fund raising, to providing teas and coffees after Sunday Mass and a weekly lunch which is held in our refurbished church hall, now named CC’s. We’ve an enthusiastic Garden Gang who have worked on a makeover to the garden, creating a beautiful Mary Garden, as well as creating a mini orchard and vegetable and flower growing area.
To read about the previous 50 years, download the attached booklet. There may be some people you recognise from years gone by!