Skryne Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skryne Church |
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| Skreen Church Skryne Tower The Steeple |
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Scrín Choluim Chille
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 Skryne Church
Location in Ireland
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| 53°35′09″N 6°33′47″W / 53.585946°N 6.563023°W | |
| Location | Hill of Skryne, Skryne, County Meath |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Previous denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | Francis de Feypo, Baron Skryne |
| Dedication | St. Lawrence O'Toole |
| Relics held | Columba (formerly) |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | 1341 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 36.3 m (119 ft) |
| Width | 6.47 m (21.2 ft) |
| Nave width | 6.47 m (21.2 ft) |
| Height | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Number of floors | 3 |
| Floor area | 235 m2 (2,530 sq ft) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Meath |
Skryne Church is an old, ruined church in County Meath, Ireland. It is a very special place and is known as a National Monument. This means it is protected because of its history and importance.
Contents
Where is Skryne Church?
Skryne Church sits on top of the Hill of Skryne. This hill is about 1.4 kilometers (less than a mile) northwest of Skryne village. It is also about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) east of the famous Hill of Tara.
A Look Back at History
Early Beginnings
A long time ago, there was a monastery called Achall on this very spot. It was named after a legendary figure. In the 10th century, something very important happened here. The shrine of Columba (also known as Colm Cille), or perhaps some of his special items, were brought here for safety. Because of this, the place became known as Scrín Choluim Chille. This means "Colmcille's Shrine" in Irish. The word "scrín" comes from the Latin word scrīnium, which means a shrine or a case for sacred things.
Challenges and Changes
The monastery faced many challenges over the years. It was attacked and robbed at least six times by different groups. However, it kept going even after the Norman conquest of Ireland. This was a big event when Normans came to Ireland and changed many things.
Later, a man named Adam de Feypo, who was the first Baron Skryne, started a new church here. He dedicated it to Nicholas of Myra, a saint. He gave this church to his brother Thomas, who was a monk. This church was then looked after by St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin until 1534. This was when the Dissolution of the Monasteries happened, a time when many monasteries in Ireland were closed down.
Building the Church and Tower
Skryne Church, as we see its ruins today, was built in 1341. It was built for a group of monks called Augustinians. The person who built it was Francis de Feypo, who was the last Baron Skryne from that family. The tall tower that you can see was added later, in the 15th century.
What the Church Looks Like
The church has a main hall called a nave and a special area for the altar called a chancel. Inside, there are stairs built into the walls that led to a rood screen, which was a partition separating parts of the church. There is also an arched space for a tomb.
Near the door, you can see a carving of a man. Some people think this might be a carving of Colm Cille himself. The bell tower is very tall, about three stories high. It has a wider base, which makes it very strong. Inside the tower, you can find pieces of an old baptismal font (a basin used for baptisms) and a stone slab from a tomb. There is also an old medieval cross standing nearby.
Gallery
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The doorway with a carved figure of a saint above it.
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The Marward Stone, a 16th-century burial site for the Barons Skryne.
