St John the Baptist Church

St John the Baptist Church stands on Melville Street in Perth, a short walk north of the city centre. Built in 1832, it is a Roman Catholic congregation with a simple grey stone front and a tall bell tower. The church is now protected as a Category C listed building. Its interior holds a high altar added in 1848, followed by a new sacristy the same year. Eight years later the nave was extended by 37 feet, and a traceried window was placed in the new wall. The church belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunkeld, which covers east central Scotland. Its apse and raised roof over the older part were finished in 1892 under the direction of Andrew Heiton. The parish also includes St Mary Magdalene’s on Glenearn Road, serving central and northern Perth plus the rural districts to the north and east. Since 2018 the parish priest has been the Very Rev. Steven Canon Mulholland. Inside, visitors find a spacious nave with clear lines and tall windows that let in steady light. The high altar and traceried window from the 19th century stand at the east end. The raised roof over the older section gives the space extra height and a sense of openness. The apse at the back is finished in matching stone, completing the view from the nave. Outside, Melville Street is quiet, with the church’s tower rising above nearby buildings.