Collegiate Church of St Peter and St Paul (Kilmallock) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Collegiate Church of St Peter and St Paul, Kilmallock
Eaglais Choláisteach Naoimh Peadar agus Pól, Cill Mocheallóg
Collegiate Church of St Peter and St Paul, Kilmallock Location in Ireland
52°24′04″N 8°34′28″W / 52.401037°N 8.574547°W / 52.401037; -8.574547
Location	Orr Street, Kilmallock, County Limerick
Country	Ireland
Denomination	Church of Ireland
Previous denomination	Pre-Reformation Catholic
History
Dedication	Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Architecture
Functional status	inactive
Years built	1241
Specifications
Length	40 m (130 ft)
Nave width	9 m (30 ft)
Number of floors	1
Administration
Diocese	Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe

The Collegiate Church of St Peter and St Paul is a very old church in Kilmallock, Ireland. It's so important that it's called a National Monument. People think it was built where an even older monastery once stood.

Where is the Church?

You can find this church on the south side of the River Loobagh. It's just north of the main street in Kilmallock.

A Look at Its History

How Old Is It?

This church was finished by the year 1241. It was likely built on the spot of a much older monastery. That monastery was started around the year 600 AD by someone named Mocheallóg. You can still see the base of an old round tower here. In 1410, the church was named after Peter and Paul.

Changes Over Time

In 1420, a person named Maurice Fitzgerald made big changes to the main part of the church, called the nave, and a side section, called the transept. During the 15th century, it became a "collegiate church." This means it was a church with a group of priests, called a college, who lived and worked together there.

You can still see carved tombs from the 1500s in the south transept.

A Difficult Period

The church was partly destroyed by Oliver Cromwell and his army. By 1657, it no longer had a roof, according to a writer named Samuel Lewis.

The church was still used by the local Church of Ireland community. However, a fire in 1935 caused more damage. After that, it was no longer used for regular services.

What the Church Looks Like

Main Parts of the Church

The church is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. It has a main hall, called the nave, and a special area for the altar, called the chancel. There is also a side section known as a south transept.

In the northwest corner of the nave, there's a tower. This tower actually includes the bottom part of a round tower from the very first monastery.

Special Features

The church has three aisles, which are walkways on the sides. It also has a chancel and a north transept. You can see a beautiful doorway from the 1200s on the south wall. The chancel has five tall, narrow windows called lancet windows.

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  ceiling

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  Arches

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  Doorway with arch

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