Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated in pasture. Depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map as a rectangular-shaped structure in centre of Rathconnell graveyard (WM019-041001-) (CUCAP BGH103/104). Castle site (WM019-040001-) lies c. 75m to NW with motte & bailey (WM019-040002-) c. 85m to NW. The 1622 Visitation of the Diocese of Meath recorded that Lord Viscount of Drogheda was the patron of Rathconnell rectory which at the time had the incumbent Mr James Byram who is described as a 'preaching minister' (Elrington 1847-64, 445). In this year the place of worship was described as 'The church and Chauncell repayred' with 'a small castle at the east end of the Chauncell' (ibid.)
Rathconnell Church described by Cogan (1862-70, 489) as following; 'The old church of Rathconnell is situated on a lofty hill, commanding an extensive view. The bell-tower, which is of great height, stands on the north side of the sanctuary. The church measures about seventy feet [21.3m] by twenty-two [6.7m]. The baptismal font (WM019-041003-) is here; it has an aperture, and the bowl measures one foot six inches [0.45m] in diameter.’
Ivy-covered Rathconnell fortified church described in 1974 as the remains of a poorly preserved rectangular shaped fortified structure with two storey high tower house (dims. 9.7m x 7.7m) at E end of church. The ivy-covered church walls are poorly preserved of which the S wall (L 13.9m; T 0.9m) and W gable are best preserved with traces of the E gable. A single light round-headed window with bar holes is visible at first floor level in centre of W gable. The NW corner and S wall of a residential tower are visible at E end of church. The NW angle tower contains a mural staircase with a plain window in its N wall which gives access to the first floor of the residential tower over the E end of the church. A mural stairs and passage continue across the W wall of the tower probably to give access to a second storey. At the W end of the church the base of a medieval font (WM019-041003-) is visible.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien

Date of upload: 03 April 2019

References

CUCAP - Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photographs. Unit for Landscape Modelling, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge. See:https://www.cambridgeairphotos.com

Erlington, C.R. 1847-64 The whole works of the Rev. James Ussher, D.D., Lord Archbishop of Armagh, and primate of all Ireland, 16 vols. Dublin. Hodges and Smith.

Cogan, Rev. A. 1862-70 Ecclesiastical history of the diocese of Meath: ancient and modern. (3 vols) Dublin: John Fowler, Joseph Dollard