Derry Churches

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Ruins of two small churches set parallel to each other on top of a small rise, one and a half miles to the north east of the town of Portaferry.

The ruins of each building are set roughly 7m apart with that to the north much larger (c.12m x 5.5m) than that to south (c.6.5m x 4m) but more remains of the smaller building including a large portion of the east gable and side walls.

The smaller church was constructed in neat flat rubble whilst that to north is made up of much more irregular large boulders, with both structures bonded originally in clay with traces of lime to window opening in south building, but both now recently re-bonded with mortar. There is a small opening roughly 1m above ground level in the remaining gable of the south church, with evidence of similar opening in remnants of east gable in north church, with further evidence of an entrance in the south elevation of the church to the north, whilst its neighbour has the remains of a doorway in its west gable.

Entire complex surrounded by low rubble wall. Several small ‘beam’ holes (c.30cm square) in walls of southern church. South church has remnants of projecting ‘antae’ at both gables.

Historical information

It has not yet been possible to date these structures accurately. Historical evidence suggests that they may have been built in the 9th century, though this is by no means certain. Traditionally, the south church was associated with the celebration of the feast St. Cumain (29 May).

Excavations carried out in 1962, revealed that the churches were built on top of an extensive early Christian burial site with the remains of an earlier church under that to the south. The site was apparently still in use in the early 14th century as ‘the Church of Dere’ was valued at two marks (£1 6s 8d.) in the Papal taxation 1306.

SMR No DOW 32:5

References- Secondary sources
1 Bishop Reeves, 'Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore' (Dublin 1847), pp. 23-4
2 Rev. J. O’ Laverty, 'Diocese of Down and Connor Ancient and Modern' (1878, reprinted 1980), pp. 404-5
3 J.F. Kenney, Sources for the early history of Ireland (1929), pp. 479-81
4 'Archaeological Survey of County Down' (Belfast, 1966), pp. 29-91
5 D.M. Waterman, [article] in 'Ulster Journal of Archaeology' 30 (1967), pp. 53-75
6 'Historic Monuments of Northern Ireland: An Introduction and Guide', (HMSO 1983), pp. 91-2

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Ruins of two small churches of possible 9th century construction, now in state care as monuments.