Church in County Meath, Ireland
| Rathmore Church | |
|---|---|
| Cill an Rátha Mhóir | |
 | |
  Rathmore Church | |
| 53°38′35″N 6°52′20″W / 53.643173°N 6.872316°W / 53.643173; -6.872316 | |
| 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 | |
| Heritage designation | |
| National monument of Ireland | |
| Official name | Rathmore Church |
| Reference no. | 289 |
| 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 m (1,880 sq ft) |
| Spire height | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Materials | sandstone, mortar |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Meath |
Rathmore Church is a ruined medieval church and National Monument in County Meath, Ireland. It was constructed by the prominent Plunkett living nearby at Rathmore Castle. A modern church 0.5 km to the northeast serving the area was constructed in 1844. Archer and Smith describe it as similar in purpose to other churches constructed at Killeen and Dunsany.
Location
Rathmore Church is located 3.5 km (2.2 mi) northeast of Athboy, to the west of Jamestown Bog.
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 family seat.
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.
The baptismal font was stolen in April 2013 but recovered in May of that year.
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.
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". 8 March 2013.
- p. 120
- "Rathmore (Meath) - Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)".
- ^ "Rathmore Church, Meath".
- Past, Ed Hannon-Visions of the (20 February 2016). "Rathmore Church, Meath, Ireland".