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Ballylarkin Church facts for kids

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Ballylarkin Church
Ballylarkin Abbey
Cill Bhaile Uí Lorcáin
Ballylarkin Church.png
Ballylarkin Church is located in Ireland
Ballylarkin Church
Ballylarkin Church
Location in Ireland
52°43′22″N 7°25′39″W / 52.722866°N 7.427629°W / 52.722866; -7.427629
Location Ballylarkin Upper, Freshford, County Kilkenny
Country Ireland
Denomination Church of Ireland
Previous denomination Pre-Reformation Catholic
Architecture
Functional status inactive
Style Late Gothic
Years built 1350
Specifications
Length 7.9 m (26 ft)
Width 5.8 m (19 ft)
Number of floors 1
Materials stone
Administration
Diocese Ossory

Ballylarkin Church, also known as Ballylarkin Abbey, is an old church from the Middle Ages. It is a special National Monument located in County Kilkenny, Ireland. This means it is a very important historical site protected by the country.

Where to Find Ballylarkin Church

Ballylarkin Church is easy to find. It sits right next to the road. You can find it about 2.3 km (1.4 mi) southwest of a town called Freshford.

A Look at Ballylarkin's Past

Who Lived Here?

The area where Ballylarkin Church stands was once controlled by a family known as the Ó Lorcáin. They were an important local family. However, in 1326, another group called the Anglo-Norman Shorthalls (or Schortal) took over the land.

Building the Church

In 1350, a man named James Schortal and his wife, Catherine White, decided to build a church. They built Ballylarkin Church as a small building with just one main room. It has stood there ever since.

Special Features Added Later

Over time, more features were added to the church. In the 14th century, a triple sedilia was put into the south wall. A sedilia is a set of seats, usually for priests or important people during church services.

Exploring Ballylarkin Church's Design

Strong Walls and Entrances

The church was built to be strong. It had a chemin de ronde, which was like a path on top of the walls. This path allowed people to walk along the top of the church for defense. There was also a small entrance on the north side.

Beautiful Windows and Carvings

Ballylarkin Church features a lovely Gothic style window made from cut stone. Gothic architecture is known for its pointed arches and detailed designs.

Inside, you can see the triple sedilia in the south wall. Along the top edges of both the north and south walls, there are many corbel-stones. These are stones that stick out from the wall, often carved with designs. Some of these carvings show tracery, which are patterns made from stone bars.

Places for Sacred Items

Near the sedilia, there is a piscina. This is a special basin with a quatrefoil (four-leaf shape) design. It was used for washing sacred items. Next to the east window, you can find an ambry. An ambry is a small cupboard built into the wall, used for storing important church items.

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