Church

The National Monuments Service's description

On a shelf at the bottom of the E-facing slope of a drumlin, and of early ecclesiastical origin. Rectangular structure (int. dims. c. 16.3m E-W; 5m N-S) defined by the foundations of the N wall (Wth 1.3m; H 0.1-0.3m) and the S wall (Wth 1m; H 1m), but its W end is truncated by the NE-SW drystone wall and townland boundary with Lyonstown where nothing of the church survives.
The church is overlain by a N-S drystone wall towards its E end, and a childrens burial ground (RO003-020003-) (dims. 12.5m E-W; 12.5m N-S), strewn with grave markers, occupies the trianglular area between these this wall, the townland boundary and the S church wall. The church is at the N end of a rectangular grass-covered area (dims. 20m E-W; 15m N-S) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 2.8m; H 0.4-0.9m) at W and a scarp (H 2m) at E, and it is also within an ecclesiastical enclosure (RO003-020002-) (diam. 60m E-W) defined by an earthen bank (Wth 4.5m; H 0.1-0.2m) SW-W and a scarp (H 0.3-0.6m) NNE-SE, but the rectangular enclosure and circular enclosure have been truncated at S by a quarry (H c. 10m), and the N quadrant of the enclosure has been reclaimed in Lyonstown townland.
A mass-rock (RO003-020004-) consisting of a slab of Old Red Sandsone (dims. 0.8m x 0.75-1.35m; T 0.1m) supported on a drystone-built pier (H 0.7m) is against the W face of the drystone wall overlying the church, and Mass is celebrated here annually in September since 2004. Two fragments from a doorway with a champfer (RO003-020006-) are at the site, and a small slab (RO003-020007-) (dims. 0.4m x 0.17m; T 0.08m) with a crude cross which may be natural is on the mass-rock. A bullaun stone (RO003-020005-) (dims. 0.8m x 0.75m; H 0.4m) of Old Red Sandstone with a single basin (diam. 0.35m; D 0.22m) is inside the perimeter of the ecclesiastial enclosure at NE. Tobar Bride holy well (RO003-019----) is c. 200m to the NNW.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 24 August 2010