St. Mary's Collegiate Church, Gowran facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Collegiate Church |
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Eaglais Mhuire
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| General information | |
| Type | Collegiate Church |
| Location | Gowran, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Address | Main St. Gowran, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°37′45″N 7°03′48″W / 52.62917°N 7.06333°W |
| Construction started | 1225 |
| Reference #: | 214 |
St. Mary’s Collegiate Church Gowran (which is Eaglais Mhuire in Irish) is a very old church in the middle of Gowran, County Kilkenny, Ireland. It's also known as the Church of the Blessed Virgin of the Assumption. This special place is a National Monument, meaning it's protected by the government.
The church is called a collegiate church because the priests who worked there lived together as a community. Even though it's not a monastery, experts think it might have been built where an even older religious site once stood. There's an ancient Ogham stone inside the church, which tells us people have been worshipping here for about 2000 years, possibly since Celtic times!
Contents
What is a Collegiate Church?
In 1312 A.D., a powerful person named Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick made an important promise. He agreed to pay for four priests at St. Mary's Church in Gowran. These priests would hold church services forever for him, his family, and his ancestors. This special arrangement is why it's called a "collegiate" church.
The Ancient Gowran Ogham Stone
One of the oldest things you can see in the church is the Christianised Ogham Stone. It dates back to the 3rd or 4th century. This stone was found when parts of the church were being rebuilt in 1826. It had been used as a building block for many centuries!
Ogham stones were like old gravestones or memorials. The Gowran stone is about 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. Experts believe the carvings on it mean "Dalach, grandson, of Mac-Eirche, who was son of Lia." Around the 6th century, a Christian cross was carved onto the stone, making it "Christianised."
A Look at the Church's History
St. Mary's Church has changed a lot over hundreds of years.
Early Days to Medieval Times
- Before Christianity: The Ogham stone suggests people worshipped here even before St. Patrick came to Ireland around 432 A.D.
- St. Patrick's Visit: Some records say St. Patrick visited Gowran and built churches in the area.
- Early Church Building: There was a church here before the Normans arrived in Ireland in 1169.
- First Known Priest: A priest named Ralph was in Gowran around 1218. You can see a monument to him in the church.
- The First Stone Church: Around 1225, an early stone church was built. It had a square tower in the middle, which was quite unusual for churches in Ireland at that time.
Medieval Period to the 1700s
- Attacks and Damage: In 1415, enemies burned the church. Then, in 1421, Edward Bruce attacked Gowran and damaged the church even more.
- Repairs and Help: The Pope even offered special blessings to people who gave money to help fix the church. The church tower was made taller and stronger during this time.
- Big Changes: In the 15th century, many parts of the church were changed and improved.
- New Decorations: In 1502, Margaret Fitzgerald, a noblewoman, helped decorate the church.
- Religious Shift: Around 1541, during the time of King Henry VIII, the church's worship style changed from Catholic to Protestant (Church of Ireland). The church was used by the Church of Ireland community for centuries.
- Decline: In the late 1700s, many old buildings in Ireland, including parts of St. Mary's Church, fell into disrepair. Pictures from 1791 show the church walls covered in ivy and in poor condition.
1800s to Today
- Improvements Begin: The 1800s brought many improvements to Gowran. New houses were built, and a new Gowran Castle was finished in 1819.
- New Chancel: In 1826, a new part of St. Mary's Church, called the Chancel, was rebuilt. A famous architect named William Robertson designed it.
- End of Worship: Church of Ireland services stopped in the 1970s, ending over 700 years of continuous worship. The government's Office of Public Works (OPW) took over care of the church.
- Community Efforts: In 1988, the Gowran Development Association (GDA) was formed. They worked hard to improve and restore the church and its surroundings.
- Restoration Work: From 1992 to 1995, the GDA helped restore the graveyard wall and the chancel roof. They also helped get government funding for more improvements. The inside of the chancel was replastered using old methods.
- Gardens and Lighting: New gardens were created around the church in 1996. In 2000, floodlights were installed to light up the building at night.
- Wall Restoration: From 2010 to 2012, the OPW restored a long section of the old medieval wall behind the graveyard.
Oldest Dated Burial Monument
The monument of Ralph (Radoulfus), the priest of Gowran from 1218, is thought to be the oldest burial monument in Ireland with a date on it. It has Latin words carved around its edge. The monument is dated March 19, 1253.
The Butler Family Connection
Gowran was very important to the Butler family of Ormond for over 500 years. After the Normans came to Ireland in 1169, the lands around Gowran were given to Theobald Walter, an ancestor of the Butlers. Gowran was their main home in County Kilkenny until James Butler, the 3rd Earl of Ormond, bought Kilkenny Castle in 1391.
Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick, was the one who started the Collegiate Church in Gowran. He chose to be buried there. He died in London in 1321 and was buried in St. Mary's Church on November 10, 1321.
Other Important Families and Monuments
After the Butlers, the Agar family became important in Gowran. Charles Agar came from Yorkshire in the 1600s. He, his son James, and many of their family members are buried in St. Mary's Church.
Other family names you might see on monuments include Kealy, Rothe, and Moran. There's also a special stained glass window that remembers Aubrey Cecil White from Gowran. He was killed in World War One in 1916 when he was only 20 years old.
Special Monuments to See
- Single Butler Knight Tomb: This is a flat, table-like tomb. It was likely carved between 1500 and 1515 by famous stonemasons called the O Tunneys.
- Two Butler Knight Tomb: Another flat tomb, probably from a similar time (1515-1527).
- Agar Monument: A large wall monument with Greek-style pillars that remembers James Agar, who died in 1733.
Important People Buried Here
- Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick
- James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormond
- James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond
- James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond
Visiting the Church
The church grounds and gardens are open to everyone all year round. The main part of the church, the chancel, is open to visitors during May, June, July, and August. Inside, you can see many interesting things like:
- The Gowran Ogham Stone
- The Effigy of Ralph (the old priest)
- The tombs of James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormonde, and his wife
- The Butler Knight Tombs
- The Agar Monument
- The stained glass window for Aubrey Cecil White
- And many other old items!
Special Events at the Church
Sometimes, special events are held at the church. For example, in 2014, there was a special event during Heritage Week to remember World War One and Aubrey Cecil White.
