St. Mary's Church, New Ross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Church, New Ross |
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| St. Mary's Abbey | |
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Séipéal Mhuire
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 St. Mary's Church, New Ross
Location in Ireland
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| 52°23′47″N 6°56′26″W / 52.396258°N 6.940464°W | |
| Location | Mary Street, New Ross, County Wexford |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Church of Ireland |
| Previous denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | ruined |
| Founder(s) | William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke Isabel de Clare |
| Dedication | Mary, mother of Jesus |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | inactive |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Completed | 1210 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | sandstone, Dundry stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Ferns |
St. Mary's Church is an old church from the Middle Ages. It's also a special National Monument in New Ross, Ireland. Today, much of it is in ruins, but it still holds many interesting stories and historical secrets.
Contents
Where to Find St. Mary's Church
You can find St. Mary's Church on Mary Street in New Ross. It's right on the east side of the River Barrow.
A Look Back at St. Mary's History
Long, long ago, around the 500s, a person named Abbán built a monastery in the New Ross area. It's possible this monastery was on the very same spot where St. Mary's Church stands today.
Building the Church
St. Mary's Church was finished in the year 1210. It was started by either William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke or his wife, Isabel de Clare, 4th Countess of Pembroke. Isabel was the daughter of a famous knight known as Strongbow.
Later Years and Changes
In 1654, during a time of war called the Irish Confederate Wars, the church's bells were taken by a soldier named Lieut.-Col. Beale. People continued to hold church services at St. Mary's until about 1811 or 1812. After that, part of the church was taken down to make space for a newer building.
Mysterious Local Stories
Many cool and mysterious stories are told about the old ruins of St. Mary's. One tale is about a soldier who went into a dark place called the "Black Hole" under an archway with his dog. Only the dog ever came back out! Another story tells of a man who tried to take a cross from the old part of the church. The story says he was badly hurt for trying.
Exploring the Church Ruins
The part of St. Mary's that is used as a church today is built where the old main hall used to be. Only the back part (called the chancel) and the side sections (called transepts) of the original medieval church are still standing as ruins.
Inside the Old Chancel
The chancel has several interesting features. These include an aumbry (a cupboard for church items), sedilia (seats for priests), and a piscina (a basin for washing holy vessels). There's also a special tomb canopy and two doorways. One doorway shows an older style of building called transitional, and the other is in the Gothic style.
Windows and Burials
The east wall of the church has three tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. The old chancel and the north and south transepts are home to one of Ireland's biggest collections of medieval burial stones. One of these stones has a cross with a Lamb of God symbol, which is linked to the Knights Templar. Another very rare find is a woman buried next to both of her husbands. This was very unusual in the Middle Ages!
