Church

The National Monuments Service's description

At the base of a gentle E-facing slope in undulating terrain. The Little Arrigle River flows northward c. 138m to the W where it joins the River Nore c. 310m to the N. Jerpoint Cistercian Abbey (KK028-062005-) lies c. 150m to the SSE. The church is within a small triangular-shaped field with the N wall of the church forming part of the field boundary with the adjoining field to the N, the boundary continues as a post and wire fence to the E and W of the church.

The church is mentioned by Stalley (1987, 247) as being, ‘perhaps the remains of a ‘capella ante portas’’ for Jerpoint Abbey, which is a chapel at or near the gate of the religious house which served visitors as well as those in the abbey’s employ. 

A rectangular building (surviving ext. L c. 8.6m; ext. Wth 13.69m) of which only the E gable and part of the N wall (H c. 1.8m; L c. 11.4m of which c. 8.6m is upstanding from the NE angle and then continues as rubble). It is constructed of sandstone rubble, roughly coursed, with quoins consisting of large crudely cut blocks of stone. The E gable wall (H c. 4.3m; T 1.05m) has a base-batter (H 0.75m; Wth 0.15m) and a central window. The E window (H above ground 2.65m; ext. Wth 0.85m) is broken out, only the voussoirs survive, these are small stones set on edge with splayed ingoings (int. Wth 1.85m). The window embrasure is too wide for a single window, it is likely to have accommodated a two-light window. Internally there is a rebate (D c. 0.2m) above the E window.

Unfortunately no architectural features appear to survive, however, the form and shape of the voussoirs would suggest a possible 13th-century date for this church.

 

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

References

Stalley, R. 1987 The Cistercian monasteries of Ireland. London and New Haven. Yale University Press.