Clonamery Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clonamery Church |
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Cill Chluain Iomaire
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 Clonamery Church
Location in Ireland
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| 52°28′01″N 7°01′54″W / 52.466944°N 7.031667°W | |
| Location | Clonamery, Inistioge, County Kilkenny |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Previous denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | inactive |
| Style | Celtic Christianity |
| Years built | 9th or 10th century |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Width | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Number of floors | 1 |
| Materials | stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Ossory |
Clonamery Church is a very old church located in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It's so important that it's protected as a National Monument. This means it's a special historical site that the country wants to preserve.
Contents
Where is Clonamery Church?
Clonamery Church is found about 3 kilometers (2 miles) southeast of a town called Inistioge. It sits on the north side of the River Nore.
A Look Back: History of the Church
Who Built Clonamery Church?
Long ago, a saint named Broonahawn started a monastery here. The church you see today was built a very long time ago, either in the 800s or 900s.
How the Church Grew Over Time
Later, in the 1100s, a special part called the chancel was added. This part of the church was built in a style called Romanesque, which was popular back then. Much later, around the 1400s or 1500s, a small room called a sacristy was built next to the church. This room was often used to store church items. At the same time, a bell-cote was added. This is a small structure on the roof that holds bells.
When Was the Church Last Used?
People say that Clonamery Church was used for services until the year 1691. This was the year that Edward Fitzgerald, a person from a nearby castle, died in a big battle called the Battle of Aughrim.
Exploring Clonamery Church
What Does the Church Look Like?
Clonamery Church has two main parts: a nave (the main area where people sit) and a chancel (the area near the altar). It also has the sacristy we talked about. The church is built from rough stones that aren't laid in perfectly straight lines. The walls are slightly sloped outwards at the bottom, which is called a batter.
Special Features of the Church
The main entrance on the west side has a flat top. Above the doorway, there's a special cross shape called a cross pattée. This cross has arms that get wider at the ends. The doorway also has a Maltese cross design that goes down both sides.
The bell-cote on the roof had space for two bells. One was a sanctus bell, which was rung during important parts of the church service. The other bell was used to call people to prayer.
Ancient Stones Found Here
A very old stone pillar was found at Clonamery. It's made of greenish slate and has three crosses carved into it. It also has two round marks called cup marks. You can also find some other old stone slabs with crosses and a grave slab at the site.
