Loughinisland churches

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Ruins of three small rectangular, rubble-constructed, gabled churches, built at various dates between the 13th and 17th centuries, now in state care (SM Dow 37:4). The ruins are picturesquely set on a small island, (to the E side of Loughinisland Lake), approached by a (relatively recent) causeway. The buildings are surrounded by a graveyard.

The largest church (c.20m x 8.5) is to the N and dates from c.1450. That to the S of this, the ‘Middle church’ is considerably smaller (c.11.5 x 6.5), and dates from the 1200s, whilst that to the S of this is smaller again (c.7.5 x5.5) and dates from c.1636.

Much of the N and S walls and the gables of the N church are still standing. To the W gable there is a doorway opening, with a smaller doorway to the S. There are small window openings to N and S and a larger window opening to the E gable and a small lancet opening above the doorway to the W gable.

The ‘middle church’ has lost much of its E and W gables. It has a doorway to the S, with small window openings to N and S, with what may have been a larger opening to the E.

The S church has a semicircular arched doorway with moulded jambs and spandrel panels. In the panel to the left are the initials P.M.C., (Phelim MacCartan- the local Lord responsible for the building of the church). To right panel has the date 1636 thereon, but this is now difficult to discern. To the E gable is small window with double pointed arch lights (which have lost their mullion), with smaller (single light) windows to N and S.

The churches are surrounded by a graveyard, of which the earliest discernible head stone the writers could find dating from 1758.

Historical information

A church is recorded on this site in the 1306 papal taxation returns, where it is referred to as ‘Lerkes’. This is believed to be the ‘middle church’, built in the 1200s. In c.1450 the much large church to the north was erected probably to replace the older structure. In 1636 local Lord Phelim MacCartan built the smaller church to the south.

The north church remained in use by all denominations into the early 1700s, when every Sunday Mass was celebrated first, followed by the Protestant (i.e. C of I) service. Apparently one particularly wet Sunday in c.1720, the Catholic congregation remained in the church after Mass in order to shelter from the rain, thus keeping their Protestant counterparts outside. This so annoyed the members of the Forde family in particular, that they had the old church largely dismantled, using the roof timbers for the new Protestant church at Seaforde!

The ruins are now in state care. SMR no Dow 37:4

References- Secondary sources
1 Walter Harris ‘The ancient and present state of the County of Down’ (Dublin 1744, reprint 1980s), p.74
2 Rev O’Laverty ‘An historical account of the Diocese of Down and Connor’ vol.I (Dublin 1878)
3 ‘Archaeological survey of Co Down’ (Belfast HMSO 1966), pp.305-6
4 ‘Historic buildings, groups of buildings….East Down’ (Belfast UAHS 1973), p.30
5 R.S.J. Clarke ‘Gravestone inscriptions vol.9’ (Belfast UHS ?1973), pp.46-54
6 ‘Historic monuments of Northern Ireland…’ (Belfast HMSO 1983), pp.104-5

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Ruins of three small rectangular, rubble-constructed, gabled churches, built at various dates between the 13th and 17th centuries, now in state care (SM Dow 37:4). The ruins are picturesquely set on a small island, (to the E side of Loughinisland Lake), approached by a relatively recent causeway.