Rathmore Church
Rathmore Church is a ruined medieval church and National Monument in County Meath, Ireland.[1][2] It was constructed by the prominent Plunkett living nearby at Rathmore Castle. A modern church 0.5 km to the north-east serving the area was constructed in 1844.[3] Archer and Smith describe it as similar in purpose to other churches constructed at Killeen and Dunsany.[4]
| Rathmore Church | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cill an Rátha Mhóir | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
  Rathmore Church | |||||||||
| 53.643173°N 6.872316°W | |||||||||
| Location | Rathmore, Athboy, County Meath | ||||||||
| Country | Ireland | ||||||||
| Denomination | Church of Ireland | ||||||||
| Previous denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| Founder(s) | Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket | ||||||||
| Dedication | Lorcán Ua Tuathail (St Lawrence) | ||||||||
| Architecture | |||||||||
| Years built | 1470s | ||||||||
| Closed | late 17th century | ||||||||
| Specifications | |||||||||
| Length | 26 m (85 ft) | ||||||||
| Width | 7 m (23 ft) | ||||||||
| Nave width | 7 m (23 ft) | ||||||||
| Floor area | 175 m2 (1,880 sq ft) | ||||||||
| Spire height | 12 m (39 ft) | ||||||||
| Materials | sandstone, mortar | ||||||||
| Administration | |||||||||
| Diocese | Meath | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Location
Rathmore Church is located 3.5 km (2.2 mi) northeast of Athboy, to the west of Jamestown Bog.[5]
History
Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket was a lawyer and judge of the mid-15th century, serving as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in 1461 and 1463. He was married to Marion Cruise (Mary Anne Cruys) and died in 1471; the couple are buried together at Rathmore, Marion's hereditary seat.[6]
Lieutenant-General Thomas Bligh (d. 1775) of the 20th Regiment of Foot has a monumental tablet in the church. He fought at Dettingen, Val, Fontneay, and Melle. He was also commander of the British troops at Cherbourg.[7][8]
The baptismal font was stolen in April 2013 but recovered in May of that year.[9]
Church
Rathmore Church is a nave and chancel church with a three-storey sacristy and a tall bell tower. Features include a piscina, sedilia, carved heads and labyrinth stone. The effigy of Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket is in good condition; he wears armour and a dog sleeps at his feet. Marion's is badly damaged.[9][10]
References
- "Tom Cruise's Irish Ancestry - Overview - Eneclann".
- Hiberionacum, Vox (15 May 2013). "On the Theft of a Decorated Medieval Font from Rathmore Church, Co. Meath".
- Christine Casey; Alistair John Rowan (1993). North Leinster: The Counties of Longford, Louth, Meath and Westmeath. Penguin. pp. 457–8. ISBN 978-0-14-071085-4.
- Archer, Lucy; Smith, Edwin (1999). Architecture in Britain and Ireland : 600-1500 (1. publ. ed.). London: Harvill Press. p. 410. ISBN 9781860467011.
- "Rathmore Church « The Irish Aesthete".
- "Ireland In Ruins: Old Rathmore Church Co Meath".
- p. 120
- https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/R/Rathmore-Lune-Meath.php
- "Rathmore Church, Meath".
- Past, Ed Hannon-Visions of the (20 February 2016). "Rathmore Church, Meath, Ireland".