The roots of St Vincent’s Church in Tain trace back to a time when Catholic presence in the area was minimal. In 1945, there were reportedly only two Catholics living in Tain, and Mass was not celebrated locally. Parishioners had to travel to Invergordon or Dingwall to attend services. By the 1970s, efforts to establish a more permanent Catholic presence led to Masses being held in community spaces such as the Duthac Centre (Town Hall) and St Andrew’s Episcopal Church. A significant milestone came in 1985 when Canon Malaney secured a plot of land near the A9, and construction of a dedicated church building began. The foundation stone was laid by Bishop Mario Conti, and on 23rd September 1986, the church was officially opened and dedicated to St Vincent de Paul . 

The church’s development was deeply rooted in community effort and international friendship. A bell for the church tower was gifted by St Peter’s Parish in Wildeshausen, Germany, thanks to connections with a local parishioner, Paul Lippok. The bell was transported from Bremen to Invergordon aboard an RAF vessel arranged by another parishioner, Alain Holgate. Paul Lippok, who had once cycled miles to attend Mass, later became a Permanent Deacon and served the parish faithfully under several priests — and even during times when there was no resident priest at all. St Vincent’s Church stands today not only as a place of worship but as a testament to the perseverance and faith of a small but dedicated Catholic community in the Highlands