saint peters church of ireland

It appears to have been a very large building, containing no less than seven chapels: St. Martin's, St. Patrick's, St. Peter's, St. John the Baptist, St. George's and St. Anne's, the principal one supporting two chaplains. The steeple of this church "supposed to be the highest in the world was thrown down by a violent storm at Midnight 27th January 1548", and replaced by a steeple of wood. When, from the end of the 13th century, "The men of English blood or birth" appointed to the Primacy were not accepted by the Irish dean and chapter in Armagh, the Archbishops of the diocese resided in Drogheda and Termonfeckin alternatively. St. Peter's then served as their pro-Cathedral, where important synods were held, clergy were ordained and bishops consecrated. The Ecclesiastical courts of Armagh were regularly convened here. Around the interior walls are many excellently carved memorial tablets of the 18th and 19th centuries and here also may be seen the late mediaeval baptisimal font from the original church.