Aghowle Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aghowle Church |
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Eaglais Achadh Abhall
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 Aghowle Church
Location in Ireland
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| 52°46′04″N 6°37′14″W / 52.767857°N 6.620430°W | |
| Location | Aghowle Lower, Coolkenno, County Wicklow |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic; Church of Ireland |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Romanesque |
| Years built | 12th century |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Width | 7.3 m (24 ft) |
| Materials | stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Leighlin |
Aghowle Church is a very old church and a national monument in County Wicklow, Ireland. This means it's a special historic site protected by the government. It was one of the biggest country churches of its time. The area around it is also called Aghowle, which is a civil parish in the old barony of Shillelagh.
Contents
Where is Aghowle Church?
Aghowle Church is located about 1.7 kilometers (just over a mile) southwest of Coolkenno. It's found near some small rivers that flow into the River Derreen.
A Glimpse into Aghowle's Past
Early Beginnings and the Apple Field
People believe that a monastery was started here by a saint named Finnian of Clonard way back in the 6th century. The monks lived in small, round stone huts called clocháin, like beehives, around a wooden church. The name "Aghowle" comes from an Irish phrase meaning "field of apple trees."
The Stone Church and Its Use
The stone church you see today was built around the year 1100. It was used by the Church of Ireland until about 1716 or 1717. This church was the main religious building for a group of people called the northern Ui Felmeda. The church is very large, which suggests it was important, but history doesn't fully explain why this particular parish was so significant.
The Legend of the Fugitive Bell
There's a cool local story about a "fugitive bell." It's said that Saint Finnian put a bell tower at Aghowle. But then he moved the bell to his other monastery at Clonard. One day, the bell mysteriously disappeared and reappeared back at Aghowle! Even after several tries to move it again, the bell kept finding its way back to Aghowle.
Exploring the Church Building
The church is a long, rectangular building with tall, pointed walls called gables. The original walls on the north, east, and west sides are still standing.
The West Doorway
The main entrance on the west side is made of granite. It has a flat stone lintel on the outside and an arch on the inside. You can see fancy Romanesque designs on the outside. There's also a special slot for a wooden bar that would have locked the door.
East Wall Windows
On the east wall, there are two round-topped windows. These windows have decorative frames called hood mouldings on the outside, which are supported by small pillars.
St Finden's Cross
To the northeast of the church, you'll find a tall stone cross called St Finden's Cross. It's about 2.8 meters (9 feet) high and made of granite. It might have been left unfinished. This cross stands on a pyramid-shaped base. It has special sunken panels on its main part and under its arms. Experts think it was made around the 10th century.
The Ancient Font
Near the cross, on its eastern side, there's a large granite baptismal font. It's about 130 cm by 73 cm (4 feet 3 inches by 2 feet 5 inches). People believe this font is even older than the Norman times in Ireland. Local stories say that water from this font could cure headaches!
Using fonts inside churches became common in Ireland around the 12th century. This was when the church started to organize itself into parishes and dioceses. It meant that important ceremonies like baptisms had to happen in a special place inside the church. In a field to the southeast, there's also a large bullaun stone, which is a stone with a basin-like hollow.
