Clone Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clone Church |
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Séipéal Chluana
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Clone Church in 2017
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 Clone Church
Location in Ireland
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| 52°34′06″N 6°30′18″W / 52.568347°N 6.504963°W | |
| Location | Clone, Ferns, County Wexford |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Previous denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | Máedóc of Ferns |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | inactive |
| Style | Romanesque |
| Years built | 13th century |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 16.95 m (55.6 ft) |
| Width | 8.3 m (27 ft) |
| Height | 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) |
| Number of floors | 1 |
| Materials | stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Ferns |
Clone Church is an amazing old church in County Wexford, Ireland. It was built a very long time ago, in the 13th century, in a special style called Romanesque. Today, it's a National Monument, which means it's a really important historical site that the country protects.
Contents
Where is Clone Church Located?
Clone Church is found about 2.6 kilometers (about 1.6 miles) south of a town called Ferns. It sits on the south side of the River Bann, which is a river in County Wexford.
The Ancient History of Clone Church
Clone Church was built on a very old site where a monastery once stood. A monastery is a place where monks live and pray. This early religious community was started by a saint named Máedóc of Ferns, also known as Aidan or Mogue.
The church you see today was built in the 13th century. That's over 700 years ago! It was built in the Romanesque style, which is known for its strong, round arches and thick walls.
Some parts of the old church have been moved over time. For example, a special window from Clone Church was later used in St. Peter's Church in Ferns. Also, some carved stone faces, called corbels, from the church were put into a small building over St. Mogue's Well, which is a historic well.
What the Church Looks Like Now
Today, Clone Church is mostly in ruins, but you can still see parts of it. The main parts that remain are the west gable (the triangular upper part of the wall) and some of the south wall.
If you look closely at the west door, you'll see some cool carvings. The sides of the door, called jambs, have zigzag patterns called "chevron" carvings. Above the door, there are five carved heads, a greyhound dog, and a stone with a "dog-tooth" pattern. These carvings show the amazing skill of the people who built the church so many centuries ago.
The Graveyard and Its Secrets
Around Clone Church, there's a graveyard. In this graveyard, you can find two old stone slabs with crosses carved into them. There are also two "bullaun stones," which are large stones with bowl-shaped hollows carved into them. No one is completely sure what these hollows were used for, but they are often found at ancient religious sites.
There used to be an old stone sundial in the graveyard, dating back to about the year 1200. A sundial is like an ancient clock that tells time using the sun's shadow. This sundial was probably used by the monks at the monastery to know when to say their prayers at certain times of the day. The sundial had twelve lines to mark the hours and a hole where the pointer (called a gnomon) would have been. It was moved to Tintern Abbey in 2001 to keep it safe.
