Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Thirty four fragments of dressed medieval masonry of thirteenth century character have been recovered from the great mound and its vicinity (O’Keefe 2012), many of which came from its summit. The detailed carving of some pieces suggests that it is the work of a skilled mason. The presence of a fillet moulded half column indicates a church, while the features in general intimate a thirteenth century date. At least five windows are represented, including one with a pointed light and another with a round-headed twin-light. The location of such a structure is not known, but it is clear that a medieval building of high status was in the vicinity of the mound, and there are post-medieval documentary references to a church at Knowth. Ussher, who was the Protestant bishop of Meath, in a visitation of 1622 describes a church at Knongh in the deanery of Slane as somewhat ruinous (Erlington 1847-64, 1, xciv), and according to a later visitation by bishop Dopping in 1682-5 St Brendan’s church at Knowth was a ruin and was not enclosed (Ellison 1973, 6).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien, Michael Moore

O’Keefe, T. 2012 7. 5. 3. 1. Medieval architectural pieces. In Eogan 2012, 619-26.

Date of upload: 15 December 2014
Amended: 18 September 2020

See the attached illustration:
_1 Some of the medieval dressed stone, from Knowth 5, Fig. 7.5.7

References

Erlington, C. R. (ed.) 1847-64 The whole works of the most Reverend James Ussher. 17 vols. Hodges and Smith, Dublin

Eogan, G. 2012 Excavations at Knowth 5: the archaeology of Knowth in the first and second millennia AD. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.

Ellison, Rev. C. C. 1971-5 Bishop Dopping's Visitation Book 1682-5, Ríocht na Mídhe, 5, 1, 28-39; 5, 2, 3-13; 5, 3, 3-11; 5, 4, 98-103; 6, 1, 3-13.