A brief history of our parish

Before the church building ever was, the hut was! In September 1955, the area designated as 32 Croftfoot Drive was a little green painted hut. This was the beginning of what came to be a vibrant parish community under the patronage of St. Bartholomew.


Fr. Daniel Toy was appointed as the first Parish Priest and many a story is told about him to this day! His first home was to be found at 25 Arnprior Road. It was a very basic home, but enough for a simple man who had a deep care for the poor.


It was on 23rd May 1957 that the foundation stone of the church was laid by Archbishop Donald Campbell. The church opened in April 1958 and the 'green hut' ever since has served as the parish hall!
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Priests who have served at St. Bartholomew's


Fr. Daniel Toy
Fr. Brady
Fr. Byrne
Fr. McCafferty
Fr. Tobin
Fr. Cairns
Fr. Kane
Fr. Beckett
Fr. Brown
Fr. Monaghan,
Fr. Dunne
Fr. Kennedy
Fr. McGinley
Fr. Cosker
Canon Mallon
Fr. Paul Murray
Fr. Francis Balmer
Fr. David Wallace (present Parish Priest)

The first school football team (1956)

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Under the leadership of Mr. Murphy:
Back row: O'Neil; McGowan; Bernard Brennan; J Devlin; G Kerr; C Jack; McTaggart; Conway; Cook.
Front Row: J Kelly; G Savage; E Gray; J Hester; C Savage; Smith; H Docherty; J Gilchrist; Hinds; W Fox; J McCreadie.