Cam Church (in Ruins)

Situated towards the top of a NE-facing slope of Cam Hill. The parish church of Cam is probably on the site of an earlier church. The coarb of Camach Brighdi is mentioned on a 15th century document (O'Donovan 1843, 79). The church is a rectangular structure (ext. dims 22.7m E-W; 7.3m N-S) surviving complete with rebuilt walls and dressed limestone quoins. There is only one doorway with a re-constructed pointed head (Wth 1.06m; H 2m) towards the W end of the N wall. A rebuilt round-headed opening (Wth 1.25m; H c. 4m) in the W wall is probably not original. There is a double lancet window in the E wall and single lancets towards the E end of the N (round-headed) and S (renewed ogee-headed) walls. The graveslab (RO048-099004-) of Walter Lister of Milltown but originally from Yorkshire, which is dated 1622, is in the NE angle of the church, and the graveslab beside it (RO048-099007-) could also be 17th century in date (Denny 1907-09; 1911-12), as might a third graveslab (RO048-099008-) with a latin cross in false relief. Five other graveslabs set in the floor of the church are illegible. A fragment of a font (RO048-099005-) is inside the church and a bullaun stone (RO048-099009-) is now set inside the doorway on the W side as a stoup. The stoup (RO048-108005-) at Brideswell holy well (RO048-108001-) is thought to have come from this church. The church is within a rectangular graveyard (RO048-099002-) (dims c. 60m NW-SE-W; c. 55m NE-SW) defined by masonry walls which is within the remains of a large ecclesiastical enclosure (RO048-099003-) (original diam. c. 150m) defined by the foundations of a stone wall (Wth 2.4m) largely obscured by field stones SW-NW (Chord c. 100m) and with slight traces of an outer fosse WNW-NW. The graveyard has been extended N to the E-W Athlone - Tuam road (R 363) (L c. 140m). The site of a well (RO048-100----) is c. 350m to the NE. See the attached general view from the SE, and aerial views by Markus Casey made c. 2004 Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010

The church at Cam may have been built by the coarb (hereditary church official) of Camach Brighdi, with origins likely dating to the early medieval period. It is dedicated to Saint Brigid and represents a continuation of an earlier religious site, reflecting the enduring influence of early Christian traditions in the region.