Church

The National Monuments Service's description

In Coachford, in N half of graveyard (CO072-006002-). Ruins of C of I parish church of Magourney; on site of earlier church (CO072-006001-) which was in ruins in 1615 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 249). Church consists of rectangular nave (int.: 14.5m E-W; 5.55m N-S) with unusually elaborate tower at W end and semicircular apse (int. : 4.3m N-S; 3m E-W) at E end. Church entered through door in W wall of tower. Nave lit by four tall round-headed windows in S wall. Wide segmental chancel arch gives access to shallow chancel in apse, with segmental-headed window embrasure at E end; chancel now railed off for burial plot of antiquarian Herbert Webb Gillman; chest tomb and other 19th-century burial memorials in nave. Tower consists of central 3-storey tower flanked by lower side chambers (overall: 3.3m E-W; 9.45m N-S), creating an imposing facade with clasped buttresses on all corners, battlements, blind niches, and other neo-Gothic embellishments. Nave and tower probably that described as 'a new parish church' in 1750 (Smith 1750, vol. 1, 177); chancel probably added when church repaired in 1818 (Brady ibid., 251). New C of I parish church, named 'Christ Church' built immediately across road in mid-19th century: gabled nave and chancel with bellcote on W gable; still in repair and now in private use.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009