St Mary's Church, Belford Road, Fort William

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. Chapel in south aisle

divided from nave by pair squat ashlar columns with carved

capitals entwined with cable moulding and with either oak or

floral based design in low relief. Similar treatment to both

flanking engaged columns.

Church surrounded by coped rubble wall, low to north (street

front) with simple cast-iron railings. Pair squared gate

piers with square caps and pair cast-iron gates.