St Mary's Monastery

St Mary’s Monastery stands on the edge of Kinnoull Hill, east of Perth, overlooking the city. Built in 1868 by the Redemptorists, it was Scotland’s first Roman Catholic monastery since the Reformation. The land was bought from the Earl of Kinnoull in 1866, and the foundation stone was laid by the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh. Local architect Andrew Heiton designed the building, later joined by his nephew Andrew Granger Heiton. The monastery once trained Redemptorist novices and served nearby parishes. A church dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help was added in 1870 and consecrated in 1913. Funding came from the family of Redemptorist priest Edward Douglas. In 1896, a clock tower and new oratory were added by Andrew Granger Heiton. Inside the church is a Father Willis organ, a mortuary chapel and a crypt. After the 1970s it stopped training novices and became a retreat centre. In 1978 it began hosting women’s retreats, and in 1981 it was designated a mission and renewal centre. A full renovation in the 2000s reopened the site in 2017. Visitors find a quiet hilltop setting with views over Perth. The church’s interior includes the organ, chapel and crypt. The monastery’s grounds sit beside Kinnoull Hill’s wooded slopes. Retreats and spiritual events continue to be held there. The building remains a place of peace and reflection.