Maghera Old Church
Defunct church in Ireland / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maghera Old Church (also known as Old St. Lurach's Church) is the ruins of a church in Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is a scheduled monument and a Monument in State Care. It was originally founded by St Lurach at some point during the 6th century, likely as a monastery. It is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster when it was plundered by Vikings in 835 and many of its abbots killed. The church later suffered significant damaged when it was burned in 1135.[1]
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Maghera Old Church | |
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Old St. Lurach's Church | |
54.8429°N 6.6699°W / 54.8429; -6.6699 | |
Location | Maghera, County Londonderry |
Country | Northern Ireland |
Denomination | Church of Ireland |
Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
History | |
Status | Ruined |
Founded | 6th Century |
Founder(s) | St. Lurach |
Relics held | Remains of St. Lurcah |
Events | Plundered 1135 |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Abandoned |
Heritage designation | Scheduled Monument and Monument in State Care |
Closed | 1819 |
Administration | |
Division | Department for Communities |
District | Mid Ulster |
From the mid-12th century until 1245 it was the seat of a bishop, after which it became a parish church. It was damaged due to warfare in 1688, but rebuilt. It was later abandoned in 1819 when the new St. Lurach's Church was built across the road.[2]
In 1880, following the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland, it passed into state care. An extensive conservation effort was completed in 1984. In the graveyard, west of the church, is a cross-carved pillar stone, which is traditionally believed to hold the remains of St. Lurach. The church also contains one of the earliest depictions of the crucifixion in Irish architecture, and is one of the most important Romanesque monuments in Ulster.[3]