Ray Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ray Church |
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Teampall Ráithe
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 Ray Church
Location in Ireland
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| 55°08′51″N 8°04′14″W / 55.147379°N 8.070682°W | |
| Location | Ray, Falcarragh, County Donegal |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Previous denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 6th century AD |
| Founder(s) | St. Fionnán |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | inactive |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Raphoe |
Ray Church is an old church from the Middle Ages located in County Donegal, Ireland. It is also a special place called a National Monument, which means it's protected because of its history.
Contents
Where is Ray Church?
Ray Church is found about 2.5 kilometers (about 1.5 miles) northeast of a town called Falcarragh. It's close to where two rivers, the Yellow River and the Ray River, meet.
The History of Ray Church
How the Church Started
A saint named Fionnán started this church way back in the 6th century. The church was built next to the Ray River. This river used to be an old border between two groups of people, the Cenél Luighdech and the Cenél Duach.
Some important leaders of a famous monastery called Iona were from the Cenél Duach group. This means Ray Church was probably their main church.
The Famous Ray Cross
The Ray high cross is the biggest early medieval stone cross in all of Ireland. People in the area have a story that the cross was made for Columba (who lived from 521 to 597) at a place called Muckish. The story says it was meant to go to Tory Island.
However, local saint Fionnán supposedly found Columba's special Gospel Book. Because of this, he gave the cross to Ray Church. But historians say the cross was actually made later, around the late 8th century.
A Difficult Time for the Church
In the 17th century, the church was badly damaged by soldiers. During a Sunday church service, many people were killed in an event known as the Massacre of Ray. The people who died are buried together in a large grave called Resting Place of the Bones.
Around 1750, a big storm knocked down the cross. It lay broken in the graveyard for a long time. In the 1970s, a group called the Office of Public Works fixed it.
What You Can See at Ray Church
The Church Building
The church building is shaped like a rectangle. It has wide windows with rounded tops.
The Ray Cross
The cross, also known as St Colm Cille's Cross, is very tall. It stands about 5.56 meters (18.2 feet) high and is 2.26 meters (7.4 feet) wide. It is made of slate rock. The design of the Ray Cross was inspired by Saint John's Cross, which is on Iona.
Other Things Nearby
Close to the church, you can also find a special basin stone and a tall standing stone.
