About Us
RC Largs and Millport is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Galloway, serving the communities of Largs, Fairlie, Skelmorlie and the Isle of Cumbrae. We are one parish with two churches: St Mary, Star of the Sea in Largs, and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Millport.
We are a welcoming Catholic community, united by faith, worship and service. At the heart of our parish life is the celebration of the Eucharist, together with prayer, the sacraments and the call to share Christ's love with everyone around us.
Whether you are a lifelong parishioner, new to the area, visiting on holiday, or simply curious about the Catholic faith, you are warmly welcome here. Our hope is to be a visible Catholic presence on both sides of the water: a place where people can encounter Christ, receive the sacraments, grow in faith, and find support and belonging.
More about the parish
The parish offers regular Masses, preparation for the sacraments, faith formation and many ways for parishioners to support one another. Our Masses are livestreamed, so those who are housebound, unwell or away from home can stay connected with the parish family.
Adults who are exploring the Catholic faith, or who feel called to enter the Church, are welcome to join our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) programme. It offers a gentle, structured introduction to Catholic belief and life, with time to ask questions and discern the next step.
St Mary, Star of the Sea, Largs
St Mary's is the heart of parish life on the mainland. The church seats around 150 people and is dedicated to St Mary, Star of the Sea (Stella Maris), an ancient title honouring Mary as guide and protector of all who earn their living from the sea or travel across it — a fitting patron for a coastal town.
Known affectionately as "the wee church", St Mary's is the setting for Sunday and weekday Mass, the sacraments, devotions, parish gatherings and the ongoing faith formation of the community.
It is also home to many of our parish groups and ministries, from Children's Liturgy and the Music Ministry to the SVDP, the Legion of Mary and the Prayer Line.
Address: 28 Greenock Road, Largs, KA30 8NE
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Millport
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour serves the Catholic community on the Isle of Cumbrae. It is named after one of the best-loved images of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a title that recalls her constant care and intercession for all who turn to her in need. For an island community so closely bound to the sea, it is a fitting dedication.
Set in the centre of Millport, opposite the historic Garrison House, Our Lady's has been part of the town's story since 1958.
It is more than a place of Sunday worship: it is a visible sign of the Catholic community's continuity on Cumbrae, welcoming island residents and visitors alike, and linking the island's past as a busy port and resort with its life today.
Address: College Street, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, KA28 0BG
Our History
The story of our parish is one of faith sustained across mainland and island. For generations, Catholics in Largs and on Cumbrae have gathered to worship, often as small communities, and the two churches have grown alongside the towns they serve.
In Largs, St Mary's began as a modest church for a small congregation. Parishioners still remember the days when, in the winter months, everyone at Mass could be seated on one side of the church. As Largs grew and the Catholic community expanded, St Mary's became the principal church for Catholics in Largs, Fairlie and Skelmorlie. Its warmth and size have earned it the affectionate name "the wee church".
Across the Firth of Clyde, Millport grew from two earlier settlements, Kames and Kirkton, on the southern coast of Great Cumbrae. As the town developed into a port and later a much-loved Clyde seaside resort, it drew residents, workers and holidaymakers from across Scotland. To give the island's growing Catholic community a permanent place of worship, the church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour was built in College Street in 1958, at the heart of the town.
Today the two churches are united as the Parish of RC Largs and Millport. Each brings its own character and tradition, and together they share one parish life of worship, service and faith. The ferry crossing still links island and mainland: Catholic children on Cumbrae attend the island's primary school, while secondary pupils travel to Largs, continuing a long-standing connection between the two communities.
