Old Church ruins

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The ruins of the old church measures 20 metres by 6 externally and the plan is correctly orientated with the long axis running west to east and the entrance door in the west wall and the altar in the east. The east and west walls retain the form of the gabled ends and are built in random rubble basalt with the odd rogue stone occurring. The south wall is reduced to approximately 1500mm high while the north wall is roughly the height of the former wall-plate level. They are similarly built to the end walls. The west wall contains a rough stone arched opening which is assumed to be the west door, while there is a tall narrow pointed opening in the east wall trimmed with much eroded red sandstone. This window has deep recessed and splayed reveals trimmed with sandstone and is pointed. It would have been an impressive window. Above internally there is a stone relieving arch. At the east gable is a grave reputed to be St Aidan’s with a hand hole in one side.

In the south towards the west end is a partially built up opening and the stone arch over appears to be segmental. Almost opposite on the north there is an opening in the wall without arch or head. Between it and the east gable there is a blocked up narrow opening in concrete block and this may have been a doorway. The stonework internally shows evidence of former plasterwork. On the south wall, internally, at a height of 1500 and towards the west end is an incised sketch depicting a mitred bishop on horseback done on a weathered piece of red sandstone built into the wall.

The ruins are impressive sited on top of a knoll overlooking the plain of Magilligan. They conceal the location of the present church of St Aidan’s and the whole nestles under the woods on the slopes of Binevenagh.

Historical information

According to Leslie a church near this site “ was said to be founded by St Patrick in Tamlaght, which adjoins Duncrun on the S.W.” “Cadan’s reputed tomb, nearly covered by surrounding graves, lies close under the east gable of the old church”. There would appear to be some confusion between Cadan and Aidan. St Cadan according to Hallin (1976) and Petrie (OSM) was a disciple of Patrick who they hold to have founded the church. St Aidan was first bishop of Lindisfarne whose bones were taken from there to Iona when the Columban Federation left that monastery. Legend relates that his bones were taken to this church claimed to have been part of the Columban Federation after the monks left Iona (OSM). St Gedeni is also quoted as the Patron of the church in the ‘McL May Archive’ in the Historic Building Records. Whether these ruins are on the site of an early Christian edifice or a later mediaeval building is a matter for conjecture. However the existence of the grave and the well nearby argues that this site may well be of very early date.

On the plantation in 1622 the church was “re-edified” by Will Gage, the bishop’s tenant. In 1693 the church was in good repair but it is likely that it did not escape damage in 1641 and possibly later in the century. Again in 1768 the church is recorded in ‘pretty good repair’.

However in 1784 a new parish church (HB02/09/024) was built in Druncrun near the ancient monastic site. The Earl of Bristol, bishop, gave the abandoned church building to the Catholics for a chapel and this was later abandoned by them when they built a new church adjoining in 1826.

References:
Parishes and clergy of Derry and Raphoe by Leslie
Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. 11. P.103.
Topographical Dictionary Vol. 11 by Lewis
Historic Monuments Branch Records Ref No. LDY5:5
Hamlin 1976 p.590-592.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Medieval church with later additions important for its historical relevance to the area, and for featuring in stories of the Columban Federation. Also for its picturesque location and association with present Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Churches.