Only a few of its 1500 inhabitants professed the Catholic faith.

In 1855, however, The Glasgow Corporation Waterworks Act saw the commissioning of the water supply system from Loch Katrine to Glasgow and this necessitated the building of the Mugdock Reservoir and later, the Craigmaddie Reservoir.

In 1856, a Catholic Mission was established in Milngavie to cater for the religious needs of the Irish workers drafted in to work on the “Paddy Dam”. So began our parish here in Milngavie.

In 1857, the Church purchased two cottages, one of which was used as the church and school, the other serving as living quarters for Father Kelly, the first resident priest. By 1872, however, the parish had completed its first purpose-built church in Woodlands Street and this was dedicated to St Joseph. A small catholic day school was opened the following year in the same street.