St. Cronan's Church, Roscrea (Church of Ireland)

St. Cronan's Church is a 19th-century Church of Ireland church in Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland. The church was constructed in 1812 on the site of the original 12th century Romanesque church. The grounds include a graveyard and a replica high cross, enclosed by a rubble stone wall, cast iron gate and railings.[1]

Tower and main entrance of modern church
St. Cronan's Church
View of the graveyard, nave, and tower of St. Cronan's Church, Roscrea
52°57′20″N 07°47′42″W
CountryIreland
DenominationChurch of Ireland
Previous denominationRoman Catholic (original 12th century church)
History
Founded1812
Architecture
StyleGothic/Romanesque
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Limerick and Killaloe

Original church

The grounds include part of a 12th-century Romanesque church which was demolished in 1812 to make way for the construction of the current church. Only the western gable of the original church remains, including a bell-cot which was added at a later date. Stones and material from the original church were used for the new building.[2][1][3] The original church is registered as National Monument number 126.[4]

Original 12th century Romanesque St. Cronan's Church

Current church design

The modern church was designed by local architect James Sheane, whose name is inscribed on a datestone in the tower and who was buried in the churchyard upon his death in 1816.[5] A porch was later added by John Bowden. The church was restored in 1879 by Thomas Newenham Deane.[6] The original construction was funded by the Board of First Fruits with a gift of £100 and a loan of £775.[7]

It is a detached, single-cell, gable-fronted church. The pitched roof is covered with artificial slate. There are 5 bays on each side of the nave which features Gothic pointed-arch stained glass windows, with a vestry to the south east, and a porch and 4-stage bell tower to the south west. The string coursed sandstone walls and tower feature crenellation and pinnacles, as well as diagonal buttresses and pinnacles on the porch. The pointed-arch main doorway holds a timber battened double-leaf door.[2]

Preservation

The church has been renovated several times, including a large renovation in the 1960s when the slate roof was replaced, the interior was redecorated, and the graveyard was deforested.

Its most notable historical artefact is a 17th-century pre-Reformation silver chalice decorated with raised angelic figures. The chalice may have been used at a wedding as the letters S.C. M.P., thought to be the initials of the couple, are inscribed on the base.[8]

References

  1. "St. Cronan's Church". askaboutireland.ie. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  2. Heritage, National Inventory of Architectural. "Wilson's Bridge Additional Images: Buildings of Ireland: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage". buildingsofireland.ie. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  3. Farrelly, Jean; Caimin O'Brien (2002). Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary: Vol. I – North Tipperary. Dublin: Stationery Office. p. 240. ISBN 0-7557-1264-1.
  4. https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-tipperary-north.pdf
  5. "Dictionary of Irish Architects - SHEANE, JAMES". dia.ie. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  6. "1812 - Church of Ireland, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary - Architecture of Tipperary - Archiseek - Irish Architecture". archiseek.com. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  7. First-Fruits, United Church of England and Ireland Board of (1 January 1820). "The ecclesiastical register;: containing the names of the prelates, dignitaries and parochial clergy in Ireland; the denominations of their respective dignities and benefices: and exhibiting the progress made in providing churches, glebes, and glebe-houses for each benefice". Printed by J.J. Nolan, 3, Suffolk-street. Retrieved 2 December 2016 via Google Books.
  8. "RoscreaOnline St. Cronans Church of Ireland". roscreaonline.com. Retrieved 2 December 2016.


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