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St. Mary's Church, New Ross facts for kids

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St. Mary's Church, New Ross
St. Mary's Abbey
Séipéal Mhuire
Ruins of St Marys Church, New Ross.jpg
St. Mary's Church, New Ross is located in Ireland
St. Mary's Church, New Ross
St. Mary's Church, New Ross
Location in Ireland
52°23′47″N 6°56′26″W / 52.396258°N 6.940464°W / 52.396258; -6.940464
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.

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!

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