Thomastown Church

Thomastown Church
Cill Bhaile Mhic Andáin
Aisle arcade
Thomastown Church
52°31′34″N7°08′21″W / 52.526122°N 7.139052°W / 52.526122; -7.139052
Location	Pipe Street, Thomastown, County Kilkenny
Country	Ireland
Denomination	Church of Ireland
Previous denomination	Pre-Reformation Catholic
History
Founder(s)	Thomas FitzAnthony
Architecture
Functional status	inactive
Heritage designation
National monument of Ireland
Official name	Thomastown Church
Reference no.	191
Style	French Gothic [1]
Years built	between 1215 and 1229
Specifications
Number of floors	1
Administration
Diocese	Ossory

Thomastown Church is a medieval church and National Monument in County Kilkenny, Ireland. ^{[2] [3]}

Location

Thomastown Church is located in the centre of Thomastown, immediately behind the Protestant Church and north of the River Nore. ^[4]

History

The church was founded by Thomas FitzAnthony, a Cambro-Norman knight who was granted land here in 1215 by John, King of England and Lord of Ireland. ^[5] It belonged to Inistioge Augustinian Priory (est. 1210). It may also have had Dominican associations. ^[6] After the Reformation the nave was modified for use by the Anglican Church of Ireland. In 1809 the present Churhc of Ireland church was built on the site of the south aisle which was restored and converted for use as a private dwelling 2003-2004 ^[7] .

Church

Thomastown Church was built as a nave and chancel with north and south aisles. The ruins today consist of the north aisle arcade (five arches with quatrefoil pillars, decorated capitals and clerestory) the west gable and a fragment of the crossing tower.

References

1. "Dictionary of Irish Architects - CO. KILKENNY, THOMASTOWN, CHURCH OF ST MARY (RC)".
2. "Search Results - Thomastown Church".
3. "The Scientific Proceedings of the Royal Dublin Society". The Society. 1 January 1887 – via Google Books.
4. "Holdings: [The nave arcades of Thomastown Church, County..."
5. Medieval News. "Thomas Fitz Anthony: thirteenth century Irish administrator" . Retrieved 12 October 2020– via celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.ie.
6. Gorton, John (1 January 1833). "A Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland: Compiled from Local Information, and the Most Recent and Official Authorities". Chapman and Hall – via Google Books.
7. "HEV". Historic Environment Viewer. Retrieved 23 July 2025.