St. John's Church, Ballymore Eustace

Last updated

St. John's Church, Ballymore Eustace
St. John's Church, Ballymore Eustace 12.jpg
Entranceway leading up to church
Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
St. John's Church, Ballymore Eustace
53°07′53″N6°36′23″W / 53.1314°N 6.6064°W / 53.1314; -6.6064
Location Ballymore Eustace
County Kildare
W91 NP38
Country Ireland
Denomination Church of Ireland
Website dublin.anglican.org/parishes/blessington-and-manor-kilbride-with
History
Foundedpre-10th century – Early medieval Irish religious foundation [1]
pre-1192 – Original medieval church [2]
1820 – Current church [3]
1894 – Current church extended [3]
Dedication John the Evangelist
Architecture
Architect(s) unknown, but "aspects of the composition clearly illustrate the continued development or "improvement" of the church to designs by James Franklin Fuller" [3]
Architectural typea "medieval" Gothic theme [3]
Administration
Province Province of Dublin?
Diocese United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough
Parish Christ Church?

St. John's Church (officially "The Church of Saint John the Evangelist") is a Church of Ireland church located in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, Ireland. [3] The current church, built in 1820, consecrated in 1822 [3] and extended in 1894, stands close to the site of a medieval church first mentioned in 1192. [1] The church, which cost £900 to build, [4] was financially assisted by the Board of First Fruits, and included extensive use of local granite. [3]

Contents

Interior features of the church include memorial plaques and stained-glass windows dedicated to families historically connected to the local area, as well as a number of memorials to locals who fell in the First World War. [1] Stained glass windows in the church include those produced by James Powell and Sons (est. 1834) of London, and John Hardman and Company of Birmingham. [3]

The local nineteenth century diarist Elizabeth Smith described the church thus: "The church is a plain building with an embattled tower surmounted with pinnacles... the churchyard is of great extent, and contains the remains of an old church, and numerous ancient tombstones. In the R.C. division... the chapel at Ballymore is a substantial and commodious building, and there is another at Hollywood...". [4]

Baptismal font

Internally the church contains a large 12th century granite circular baptismal font, possibly moved from the old medieval church which existed nearby. [1]

Effigy

Within the church also lies an early 16th century [1] stone effigy of a chain-mailed knight named Sir Thomas FitzEustace of Castlemartin (died 1454), which was brought there in 1919 [5] for safe-keeping from Old Kilcullen. [1] The knight is depicted as being dressed in a long hauberk shirt of chainmail with a bascinet helmet on his head. [1] His arms and knees are protected by vambraces and couters and there is a sword held in his left hand.

Monastic settlement

The site was originally the location of an earlier early medieval Irish religious foundation, as evidenced by the two 10th-century high crosses situated to the north and south of the present church building. [1] The existence of these high crosses indicates a high likelihood of there having been a former monastic settlement onsite. [6]

High crosses

High cross at the church St. John's Church, Ballymore Eustace 19.jpg
High cross at the church

On the north side of the present church stands the better preserved of the two crosses - a granite high cross, over 2 meters in height with a slender shaft supporting a solid ring and short arms, all anchored in a substantial, plain rectangular base. [2] An inscription in the cross commemorates its re-erection in the year 1689 [2] by Ambrose Wall, Sheriff of Wicklow. [6] The second high cross exists to the southeast of the modern church but is in bad repair, all that remains being the shaft, but still stands to approximately 6 feet. [6]

Medieval church

Subsequent to the early medieval settlement, a Norman-era parish church was constructed just east of the current St. John's Church, and was first mentioned in 1192. [1] This church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and subsequent to the reformation to St John. [6] The old church likely became obsolete after Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries between 1536 and 1541. [6]

The church was noted as being in good condition during the Royal Visitation of 1615, however it experienced significant deterioration over the subsequent centuries. [6]

As of April 2013, the remains of a tall column (likely a corner section of the east gable wall of the church) remained standing in situ on a mound a short distance from the modern church, along with the foundations of one of the former side walls. [6] This column was noted to have collapsed by March 2015. [6]

Grave slabs

A medieval grave slab St. John's Church, Ballymore Eustace 14.jpg
A medieval grave slab

Approximately thirteen distinctive late medieval grave slabs (or graveslabs) from the 12th–13th century lie within the graveyard of the church. [7] [8] Archaeologist Christiaan Corlett contends that the Ballymore Eustace grave slabs belong to one style of slab (distinguishable by their depiction of 'crosses with splayed terminals') out of three identified styles which have been found in the wider West-Wicklow area. [8] Other locations in the area with the same style as the Ballymore Eustace slabs include Aghowle, Ballycook, Donard and Hollywood. [8]

Corlett notes that several of the sites where grave slabs have been found were centres of medieval settlement and served as parish churches during the late medieval period. [8]

Access

The church is located on the top of a small raised hill hugged on one side by the main Ballymore Eustace to N81 road. The church and graveyard are accessed by a stile at the main entrance gate which lies at the end of a short lane off this road. [6] Limited parking is available. An information plaque exists on the exterior of the church detailing the history of the site.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glendalough</span> Glacial valley and monastic settlement in County Wicklow, Ireland

Glendalough is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. From 1825 to 1957, the head of the Glendalough Valley was the site of a galena lead mine. Glendalough is also a recreational area for picnics, for walking along networks of maintained trails of varying difficulty, and also for rock climbing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wicklow Mountains</span> Mountain range in Ireland

The Wicklow Mountains form the largest continuous upland area in Ireland. They occupy the whole centre of County Wicklow and stretch outside its borders into the counties of Dublin, Wexford and Carlow. Where the mountains extend into County Dublin, they are known locally as the Dublin Mountains. The highest peak is Lugnaquilla at 925 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blessington</span> Town in western County Wicklow, Ireland

Blessington, historically known as Ballycomeen, is a town on the River Liffey in County Wicklow, Ireland, near the border with County Kildare. It is around 25 km south-west of Dublin, and is situated on the N81 road, which connects Dublin to Tullow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballymore Eustace</span> Town in County Kildare, Leinster, Ireland

Ballymore Eustace is a small town situated in County Kildare in Ireland, although until 1836 it lay within an exclave of County Dublin. It lies close to the border with County Wicklow. The town is in a civil parish of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltinglass</span> Town in County Wicklow, Ireland

Baltinglass, historically known as Baltinglas, is a town in south-west County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on the River Slaney near the border with County Carlow and County Kildare, on the N81 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballymore Eustace GAA</span>

Ballymore Eustace GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland, winner of the county senior football championships in 1953, completing the remarkable achievement of winning junior, intermediate and senior titles in successive years.

Events from the year 1689 in Ireland.

Events from the year 1192 in Ireland.

Events from the year 1820 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Rock</span> Mountain in County Dublin, Ireland

Two Rock is a mountain in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland. It is 536 metres high and is the 382nd highest mountain in Ireland. It is the highest point of the group of hills in the Dublin Mountains which comprises Two Rock, Three Rock, Kilmashogue and Tibradden Mountains. The mountain takes its name from the two granite tors that lie to the south-east of the summit. From the summit, which is called Fairy Castle, there are views of much of the Dublin area from Tallaght to Howth to the north while Bray Head, Killiney Hill, the Great Sugar Loaf and the Wicklow Mountains are visible to the south. The summit area is mostly shallow bog while ferns and gorse cover the lower slopes. The mountain is also an important habitat for red grouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilteel</span> Village in County Kildare, Ireland

Kilteel is the name of a village, townland and civil parish located in the barony of South Salt, County Kildare, Ireland. The townland of Kilteel Upper contains the remains of a church with a decorated Romanesque chancel arch, the ruins of a 13th-century preceptory of the Knights Hospitaller and a well-preserved 15th-century tower house. The historic settlement is located on the southwest corner of the English Pale and served an important function as a border fortress during the medieval period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castlemartin House and Estate</span> Historic property in County Kildare, Ireland

Castlemartin is the name of a historic house and estate, and the townland in which they sit, on the banks of the River Liffey in Kilcullen, County Kildare, Ireland. Formerly a key estate of the Eustace family, it was for many years the home of media magnate Tony O'Reilly, and his wife, Chryss Goulandris, but was bought in 2015 by John Malone, an Irish American. The estate includes major stud farm and cattle breeding operations, a restored medieval church and an icehouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valleymount</span> Village in County Wicklow, Ireland

Valleymount is a small village in western County Wicklow, Ireland. The name 'Valleymount' does not appear before 1839. Previously, the village was known as 'the Cross of Ballymore' or simply 'the Cross', with 'cross' referring to land belonging to the church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dublin Mountains Way</span> Hiking trail in the Dublin Mountains in Ireland

The Dublin Mountains Way is a waymarked long-distance trail in the Dublin Mountains, Counties South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland. The route is approximately 42 kilometres long and runs from Shankill in the east to Tallaght in the west. It has been developed by the Dublin Mountains Partnership, an umbrella group of relevant state agencies and recreational users working to improve recreational facilities in the Dublin Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrickgollogan</span> Hill in County Dublin, Ireland

Carrickgollogan is a hill in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown in Ireland, towards the southern border of the traditional County Dublin. It is 276 metres high, on the eastern edge of the Dublin Mountains, rising above the districts of Rathmichael and Shankill. Its summit is noted for the panoramic views it offers of south Dublin and north Wicklow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilbride, County Wicklow</span> Village in County Wicklow, Ireland

Kilbride, or Manor Kilbride, is a village, civil parish and electoral division in County Wicklow, Ireland, located at the western edge of the Wicklow Mountains in the barony of Talbotstown Lower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aghowle Church</span> Church in County Wicklow, Ireland

Aghowle Church is a medieval church and national monument in County Wicklow, Ireland. It was one of the largest rural parish churches of its era. Aghowle is also a civil parish in the ancient barony of Shillelagh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballywiheen</span> National monument, County Kerry, Ireland

Ballywiheen is a medieval Christian site and National Monument located on the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donaghcumper Church</span> Ruined medieval church in Ireland

Donaghcumper Church is a ruined medieval church in Celbridge, Ireland. On the Record of Monuments and Places it bears the code KD011-013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilgeever Abbey</span> Church in County Mayo, Ireland

Kilgeever Abbey or church is situated just outside Louisburgh in the parish of Kilgeever, in the barony of Murrisk, County Mayo. The site consists of a ruined church, a graveyard and a holy well, where pilgrimages or patterns take place. The site is part of the Clew Bay Archaeological Trail. The church is a multi-period church containing a late medieval doorway. The graveyard on the site is suggested to be from Early Christian times and continues to be in use. Within the graveyard, there is a pillar stone incised with a cross, the graveyard also contained a free-standing stone and a portable stone cross with incised crosses which are now in private ownership.

References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "A Guided Tour of Ballymore Woolen Mills". kildarelocalhistory.ie. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
    2. 1 2 3 "A flying visit to Ballymore Eustace". Pilgrimage In Medieval Ireland. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Saint John's Church (Ballymore Eustace), BALLYMORE EUSTACE EAST (B'MORE EUST. ED), Ballymore Eustace, KILDARE". buildingsofireland.ie. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 6 January 2003. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
    4. 1 2 James & Ó Maitiú 1996, p. 153.
    5. ↑ "Ballymore Eustace walking tour". westwicklowhistoricalsociety. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
    6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Old Ballymore Church Co Kildare". irelandinruins.blogspot.ie. 14 April 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
    7. ↑ "Ballymore Eustace - Hollywood graveslabs". megalithicireland.com. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
    8. 1 2 3 4 Corlett 2003.

    Sources

    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.