Mansfieldstown Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Church, Mansfieldstown |
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| Mansfieldstown Church | |
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Eaglais Mhuire
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 St. Mary's Church, Mansfieldstown
Location in Ireland
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| 53°53′49″N 6°26′45″W / 53.896892°N 6.445712°W | |
| Location | Mansfieldstown, Castlebellingham, County Louth |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Previous denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | Mary, mother of Jesus |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | inactive |
| Heritage designation | |
| Official name | Mansfieldstown Church |
| Reference no. | 480 |
| Style | Late Gothic |
| Completed | 1691 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Rubble stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Armagh |
St. Mary's Church in Mansfieldstown is a very old church in County Louth, 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 Mansfieldstown Church?
Mansfieldstown Church is located about 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) west of Castlebellingham. You can find it on the north side of the River Glyde.
A Look Back: The Church's History
How Old is the Church?
The area where the church stands is named after the Maundeville family. They were Anglo-Normans who settled here after 1172. The first time a church in this spot was mentioned was in 1299. This was in official church records from the Pope.
Important Events in the Church's Past
In 1349, Archbishop Richard FitzRalph gave a sermon at Mansfieldstown. This was during the time of the terrible Black Death. This sickness spread across Europe and caused many deaths. By 1640, the church was in ruins.
Building the Current Church
The Mansfieldstown Old Church you see today was built in 1691. This was after a big battle in Ireland called the Battle of the Boyne. However, parts of the church are even older. It includes a beautiful east window from the 15th century. This window is in the Late Gothic style. Over the years, especially in the 1800s, many changes and additions were made to the church.
A Special Font and a French Rector
A large, decorated stone font used to be in this church. A font is a basin used for baptisms. This font was made around the 15th century. Today, you can find it in St. Mary's Parish Church in Ardee.
Anthony Vinchon Des Voeux was the church's rector from 1781 until he passed away in 1792. A rector is a type of priest who leads a church. He was born in France and was the son of an important judge. He wrote books defending the Huguenot faith. Huguenots were French Protestants who faced challenges for their beliefs. His son, Charles, later became a baronet in 1787. A baronet is a special title of honor.
What the Church Looks Like
Mansfieldstown Church has one main room that combines the nave and chancel. The nave is where the people sit, and the chancel is near the altar. At the west end of the church, there's a small bell-cote. This is a structure that holds a bell.
The east window is a key feature of the church. It's from the Late Gothic period and has detailed stone patterns called tracery. Around the window, there are two stone masks. A third mask is at the very top. These masks are decorative carvings.
