A number of parishes pre-date St Mary's (St Mary's, Greenock, and St Mirin, Paisley; both 1808, St Patrick, Dumbarton, 1830, St Margaret, Airdrie, 1836; St. John, Barrhead, St Mary, Duntocher, and St Fillan, Houston; all 1841), but of all of these only Saint Margaret's, Airdrie, still has the original church (opened 1836). Airdrie is now in the Diocese of Motherwell, hence St Mary's Calton's claim to be second oldest in the Archdiocese of Glasgow.
The church was built between 1839 and 1842 during the time of the Western District under the direction of Bishop Andrew Scott. The parish was founded, the church opened and dedicated all on 15 August 1842. Father Peter Forbes who, for the previous three years had toured Ireland fundraising for the new church building, was appointed the first parish priest from the same date. Bishop Scott was joined on the day of the dedication by Bishop John Murdoch, his co-adjutor and the titular of the church was designated as Saint Mary of the Assumption, commonly known as Saint Mary's, Calton. Father Forbes had raised £3,000 for the building (£5.4 million at 2005 prices) and so it was opened fully paid for and free of debt. [citation needed]
It is also where the football club Celtic F.C. was founded.[2]