Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on level ground within Fethard with a N-S valley (Wth of top c. 70m; D c. 5-10m) c. 30m to the E. The parish church of Fethard is within a subrectangular graveyard (dims c. 75m NE-SW; c. 35-45m NW-SE) defined by masonry walls that has been extended SW to reach a public road (dim c. 60m NE-SW). References to the church of Fethard date from c. 1200 but the church may pre-date the Anglo-Norman arrival since Ferns diocese had claims apparently pre-dating the earliest grants (Hore 1900-11, vol. 4, 307-14). Some of the clergy can be identified (ibid. vol. 4, 320-6), and according to the Visitation of Thomas Ram, Protestant bishop of Ferns, in 1615 Richard Allen was the vicar, and the church and chancel were repaired (ibid. vol. 6, 269). Richard Leigh writing in 1684 (Hore 1858-9, 460) says the church is dedicated to St Idanas, by which he means Edan or Mogue, and was then unroofed. The present Church of Ireland church of St Mogue, which was built in the late 1830s (Lewis 1837, vol. 1, 627-8), may incorporate original fabric since the nave walls have a slight batter.
Some architectural fragments including the base of a finial-cross and a medieval graveslab are in the graveyard. The cross-base is a cube of conglomerate (dims 0.29m x 0.27m; H 0.3m) with a mortice on top and a cusped ogee-headed carving in relief on each face. Originally, it would have been placed on top of a gable. The graveslab (dims 1.49m x 0.32-0.52m) has an incised cross with fleur-de-lys terminals and there is an inscription carved in lombardic lettering and written in French which commemorates Thomas de Ancayne (Bishop Thomas Denne (?), D 1400) on its chamfered edge (Hore 1900-11, vol. 4, 317-8). A decorated rectangular font (ext. dims 0.7m x 0.69m; H 0.4m; int. dims 0.52m x 0.51m; D 0.24m) of Caen or Dundry stone, thought to have come from Dunbrody Abbey (ibid. 338), is within the church. It is complete (H 0.82m) with a circular stem tapering down to a rectangular base (dims 0.64m x 0.63m; H 0.22m). One side of the reservoir is decorated in banded decoration that betrays Anglo-Saxon influence and is similar to the font from Bannow church (WX045-045009-) (Corlett 2012). The motte (WX050-011003-) is c. 40m to the N and the castle (WX050-011002-) is c. 45m to the NW.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload/revision: 11 February 2014

References

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

Hore, H. F. 1858-9 A chorographic account of the southern part of the county of Wexford, written Anno 1684: by Robert Leigh, Esq., of Rosegarland, in that county. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, vol. 5, 17-21, 451-67.