Dromore an Ulster Diocese

Dromore An Ulster Diocese by E. D. ATKINSON, L.L.B Archdeacon of Dromore Fellow of Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland This edition of Archdeacon E. D. Atkinson’s book, ‘Dromore, An Ulster Diocese’ was digitized and printed by G. Damien Kerr DEDICATED With esteem and affection to The Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Christ the Redeemer, Dromore and to the Clergy of the Diocese, past and present, Together with the faithful Laity, whose friendship and loyal co-operation I have enjoyed for forty-four years. By Archdeacon E. D. ATKINSON, L.L.B Archdeacon of Dromore 1911 Fellow of Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland Author of “Donaghcloney”, An Ulster Parish” 1925 FOREWORD A very few words will explain the purpose and plan of the present little work. It is intended primarily, not to add to the knowledge of the antiquarian and student of history, but to present to such of the clergy and laity of the Diocese who take some interest in those who have gone before them and desire to look to the “rock whence they were hewn, and the hole of the pit whence they were digged” some facts with regard to their Diocese and Parish which may interest them and possibly whet their appetite for more. If this result in causing them to pursue the quest for themselves, the object of this little sketch will have been abundantly fulfilled. The book is divided into two parts. The first aims at giving a concise narrative of the evolution and history of the Diocese from the sixth century till its union with that of Down and Connor on the death of Bishop Saurin in 1842. The second part deals with the parishes, of each of which a short account is given together with the succession of clergy, so far as can now be ascertained. Among more modern works consulted, needless to say I have used extensively the Antiquities of Bishop Reeves, who has indeed rendered comparatively easy the work of the compiler of the early history of the Diocese. I am also much indebted to Gosse’s “Jeremy Taylor,” and to the “Life of Bishop Percy, Poet and Prelate,” by Miss Alice Gaussen. It only remains for me to express my deep obligation to Dr. Jackson Lawlor, Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the University of Dublin, who has not only supplied me with the completest list of the early and medieval bishops which has yet appeared together with much valuable information with regard to the Chapter and other matters, but has also most kindly read over and criticised the whole of Part I, and thereby saved me from many historical pitfalls and inaccuracies; to the late Canon Lett of Loughbrickland, who with his unrivalled local knowledge of the Diocese performed the same kind office for Part II to the Rev. J. B. Leslie, of Castlebellingham; and to the parochial clergy of the Diocese, many of whom have assisted me most materially, and to all of whom I owe my grateful thanks for their ready co-operation and hearty goodwill. The image on the front page was drawn from an engraving from an ancient brass seal found in the County of Clare in 5789. It was bought by a brass founder in Limerick; and soon after sold to Mr. Ansley of that city in whose possession it now is.’’ ‘The inscription on the seal is - Sigillfl Chr. Dei Gra. Dromoreus Epi. - that is, - The Seal of Christopher by the grace of God, Bishop of Dromore - which Christopher, according to Ware, was Bishop of Dromore in 1369. Contents CHAPTER I. THE DIOCESE IN EARLY TIMES.................................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER II. THE EXEMPT JURISDICTION. .................................................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER III. THE DIOCESE IN MEDIEVAL TIMES...................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER IV THE DIOCESE IN REFORMATION TIMES. .......................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER V. THE CIVIL WAR & COMMONWEALTH. ............................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER VI. THE EPISCOPATE OF JEREMY TAYLOR. ........................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER VIII. THE DIOCESE IN THE 18th CENTURY. ............................................................................................. 33 CHAPTER IX. THE VOLUNTEERS. .................................................................................................................................... 37 CHAPTER X. EPISCOPATE OF BISHOP PERCY. ........................................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER XI. THE SUPPRESSION OF THE SEE........................................................................................................... 43 CHAPTER XII. 18THCENTURY CHURCH DISCIPLINE ................................................................................................. 45 CHAPTER XIII. THE CATHEDRAL. ..................................................................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER XIV. SAINTS CONNECTED WITH THE DIOCESE. .................................................................................. 52 APPENDIX I. THE BISHOPS OF DROMORE .................................................................................................................... 59 APPENDIX II. THE DEAN AND CHAPTER. ..................................................................................................................... 60 Appendix III. BUCKWORTH’S REPORT ON THE DIOCESE, 1622. ........................................................................ 69 APPENDIX IV. AN INQUISITION OF 1657. ..................................................................................................................... 74 APPENDIX V. REPORT ON POPERY IN IRELAND, 1731. .......................................................................................... 81 APPENDIX VI. ............................................................................................................................................................................. 83 APPENDIX VII BISHOP MANT’S REPLY TO MEMORIALISTS ................................................................................. 84 Part 2 CHAPTER I. RURAL DEANERY OF DROMORE. ................................................................................................. 1 THE PARISH OF SEAGOE ...................................................................................................................................................... 30 CHAPTER III. RURAL DEANERY OF AGHADERG. ...................................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER VI. RURAL DEANERY OF KILMEGAN. ........................................................................................................ 92 CHAPTER VI RURAL DEANERY OF KILMEGAN ........................................................................................................ 104 INDEX .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTORY THE Diocese of Dromore is situated for the most part in the south and west of the County Down, but includes small portions of the Counties of Armagh and Antrim. It is among the smaller Irish Dioceses and was, with eleven others, suppressed as a separate bishopric by Act of Parliament in 1833. Since the death of the then bishop in 1842 it has formed part of the union known as the United Diocese of Down and Connor and Dromore. In the early days of the Church of Ireland, according to Bishop Reeves, in addition to many bishops of minor sees, there appears to have existed a numerous order of chorepiscopi or Country Bishops. Their suppression was due to the rise of Papal influence in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, and in 1152 at the Synod of Kells, presided over by Cardinal John Paparo, the Papal Legate, the office of Rural Dean was substituted. (It is right to state that this account of the evolution of the office of Rural Dean in Ireland is seriously questioned as resting on no certain historical evidence by more recent authorities such as the present Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the University of Dublin.) At what date the Diocese of Dromore was divided into Rural Deaneries is not known. In recent times they number six, viz. Dromore, Aghaderg, Kilbroney, Kilmegan, Newry and Mourne, and Shankill. It has always formed a single Archdeaconry. According to a Parliamentary return for the year 1834 the number of benefices in the Diocese, exclusive of the then Exempt Jurisdiction of Newry and Mourne, was twenty- five, of which the patronage of twenty-two was vested in the Bishop, two were in the hands of Incumbents, and one in the gift of the Earl of Kilmorey. The same return gives some other interesting particulars as to the state of the Diocese in the first half of the nineteenth century. There were then in the Diocese twenty-seven churches served by eighteen stipendiary curates in addition to the twenty-five beneficed clergy, of whom six were non-resident. Appropriate tithes amounted to £2,977..9s..9d. Impropriate to £514..4s..3d. The Bishop’s nett income amounted to £4,216..18s..64d. per annum. This return of 1834 was the first occasion on which the religious profession of the people was

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