St. Cronan's Church, Roscrea (Church of Ireland)

St. Cronan's Church is a 19th-century Church of Ireland church in Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland. The church was constructed in 1812 on the site of the original 12th century Romanesque church. The grounds include a graveyard and a replica high cross, enclosed by a rubble stone wall, cast iron gate and railings.[1]

Tower and main entrance of modern church
For the Roman Catholic church of the same name in Roscrea, see St. Cronan's Church, Roscrea (Roman Catholic).
St. Cronan's Church
View of the graveyard, nave, and tower of St. Cronan's Church, Roscrea
52°57′20″N 07°47′42″W
CountryIreland
DenominationChurch of Ireland
Previous denominationRoman Catholic (original 12th century church)
History
Founded1812
Architecture
StyleGothic/Romanesque
Administration
DioceseDiocese of Limerick and Killaloe

Original church

The grounds include part of a 12th-century Romanesque church which was demolished in 1812 to make way for the construction of the current church. Only the western gable of the original church remains, including a bell-cot which was added at a later date. Stones and material from the original church were used for the new building.[2][1][3] The original church is registered as National Monument number 126.[4]

Original 12th century Romanesque St. Cronan's Church

Current church design

The modern church was designed by local architect James Sheane, whose name is inscribed on a datestone in the tower and who was buried in the churchyard upon his death in 1816.[5] A porch was later added by John Bowden. The church was restored in 1879 by Thomas Newenham Deane.[6] The original construction was funded by the Board of First Fruits with a gift of £100 and a loan of £775.[7]

It is a detached, single-cell, gable-fronted church. The pitched roof is covered with artificial slate. There are 5 bays on each side of the nave which features Gothic pointed-arch stained glass windows, with a vestry to the south east, and a porch and 4-stage bell tower to the south west. The string coursed sandstone walls and tower feature crenellation and pinnacles, as well as diagonal buttresses and pinnacles on the porch. The pointed-arch main doorway holds a timber battened double-leaf door.[2]

Preservation

The church has been renovated several times, including a large renovation in the 1960s when the slate roof was replaced, the interior was redecorated, and the graveyard was deforested.

Its most notable historical artefact is a 17th-century pre-Reformation silver chalice decorated with raised angelic figures. The chalice may have been used at a wedding as the letters S.C. M.P., thought to be the initials of the couple, are inscribed on the base.[8]

References
  1. "St. Cronan's Church". askaboutireland.ie. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  2. Heritage, National Inventory of Architectural. "Wilson's Bridge Additional Images: Buildings of Ireland: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage". buildingsofireland.ie. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  3. Farrelly, Jean; Caimin O'Brien (2002). Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary: Vol. I – North Tipperary. Dublin: Stationery Office. p. 240. ISBN 0-7557-1264-1.
  4. https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-tipperary-north.pdf
  5. "Dictionary of Irish Architects - SHEANE, JAMES". dia.ie. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  6. "1812 - Church of Ireland, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary - Architecture of Tipperary - Archiseek - Irish Architecture". archiseek.com. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  7. First-Fruits, United Church of England and Ireland Board of (1 January 1820). "The ecclesiastical register;: containing the names of the prelates, dignitaries and parochial clergy in Ireland; the denominations of their respective dignities and benefices: and exhibiting the progress made in providing churches, glebes, and glebe-houses for each benefice". Printed by J.J. Nolan, 3, Suffolk-street. Retrieved 2 December 2016 – via Google Books.
  8. "RoscreaOnline St. Cronans Church of Ireland". roscreaonline.com. Retrieved 2 December 2016.


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