churches historical derry

Christ Church was originally built in 1830 by Bishop Knox and was called the Free Church as it was intended solely for the poorer classes; ironically it later became the most bourgeois of the city congregations. The Church was almost completely rebuilt in 1903 and the name was changed to Christ Church by Bishop Alexander who seemingly disliked saints.

It stands at the foot of Brooke Park facing St Eugene's Cathedral.

Admission: Free

Location: Leading to Northland R...

A long rectangular church which served the parishioners of the Six Towns area during the later medieval period. Surviving decorative stonework suggests that a 13th century church was replace by another in the later medieval period. What is perhaps of greater interest is the collection of 18th century grave-stones well carved in high relief, which are found in and around the church, where more recent burials are absent....

This 10th century nave has a fine decorated 12th century west door with a crucificion scene carved on the massive lintel.

Tours on request....

Banagher is said to have been founded by Muiredagh O'Heney, a saint of unknown date associated with a well-known local family. The church is scarcely any earlier then 12th century, with inclining jambs, a massive lintel on the exterior doorway and an arch within. The date 474 was carved on the doorway in the 18th century!

In the earlier 13th century, a chancel was added to the east end, and the east wall fo the original church was replaced by a chancel arch.

To the south-eas...

Bovevagh parish church was established in the late Middle Ages on the site of an early monastery, said to have been founded by Colm Cille in 557. Adamnan, Coolm Cille's biographer was reputedly patron here and the monastery was the home of SS. Ringan and Aidan, son of Fintan. There was briefly a timber church (dertech) on the site in the 11th century. The oratory was burned in 1100. There were erenaghs until the early 17th century. The parish church was in use up to the 19th century.
<...

Its earliest part is the nave, probably erected in the 12th century when the Augustinian Canons took over an earlier monastery associated with St Nechtan. The exterior east end of the nave still preserves slight extensions of the north and south walls beyond the gable ends. More unusual is the blind arcading still traceable in the eastern interior corners of the nave, which helps to provide a date no earlier than the second quarter of the twelfth century. Now closed off from the nave by a woo...

In the centre of Coleraine on the original site of St. Patrick's foundation of the 5th Century. Parts of the present church date from 1613 and it contains many fine and moving memorials. To the rear of the church are the remains of the earthen wall or rampart which surrounded Coleraine in the early 1600s....

The site of a monastery founded by St Lurach in the 6th century, Maghera was the seat of a bishopric in the 12th/13th centuries. Parts of the now roofless rectangular church may date from before this period, though it is difficult to say how much earlier.

It was extended further to the east at the same time that the most important feature of the church was inserted in the west wall - a doorway dating probably from the episcopate of Muiredach O'Coffy (1152-73). The most important sin...

St Brecan's Church Ruins reputed to be Derry's oldest building situated in St Columb's Park a quiet woodland by the side of the River Foyle these ruins are said to be the remains of the oldest building in Derry dating back to the 6th century.

Admission: Free

Opening: All year winter daylight hours / Summer 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m....

The original church of Portstewart dating from at least the 1300s.

In a field to the East there are the remains of a Stone Age Court Tomb and to the South, a mound marks the spot of the citadel of Congal Clairingneach, King of all Ireland in 161 B.C....