Church in Templedouglas

A sub-pentagonal graveyard(DG052-019007-) containing Templedouglas Abbey, an altar and the Abbot's House (DG052-019002-). Templedouglas Abbey (DG052-019001-): The surviving ruins, a 16th century gabled church, 19.1m by 6.35m internally are built of rubble with ashlar quoins. The E gable has a two-light lancet window with transom. The upper mullion is modern and the original outline of the centre piece above the pointed lights is obscured by modern repairs. The jambs and tracery have char-acteristic 16th century punched dressing. The exte-rior hood-mould, with cavetto and right-angled mouldings has outurned terminals. The window has splayed ingoings and a double-chamfered rear-arch. The N and S walls are 3m high and have opposing wall-presses at the E end. A tree, growing through the thickness of the S wall, has dislodged a window at the E end, of which only the W splayed ingoing survives in situ. A featureless opening to the W, surrounded by collapse, is all that remains of the church door. The W gable is 2.1m high; the upper section has fallen away. The graveyard walls are bonded into the NW and SW corners of the church, the lower quoin stones having been removed for this purpose. Abbot's House: N of Templedouglas Abbey are the grass-covered lower courses of a rectangular structure 12.2m by 2.6m internally. The low grass-covered cairns of stones in the interior were made by 'pilgrims performing religious stations' (Fagan Bk. No.7, 2). There is a modern tombstone set in the E wall. Tradition identifies this building as the abbot's house. Altar: E of Templedouglas Abbey is a small barrel-vaulted structure 2.2m by 3.7m externally, built of rubble masonry. It contains a single chamber, with an altar against the W wall, and is open towards the E. This structure was erected over the remains of Bishop Coyle, catholic bishop of Raphoe 1782-1801, by the Rev. John Campbell, the resident curate in Glenswilly between 1840 and 1850. He was also responsible for the construction of the graveyard wall (Maguire 1920, I, 345). Built into the SE quoins is a moulded window-jamb fragment. The moulding comprises a central right-angle flanked by two quarter rounds. Templedouglas Graveyard (DG052-019007-): Set into the graveyard gateposts are a number of punch-dressed blocks, two window jamb fragments with hood-mould stops, and one small weathered, moulded corbel. The blocks are possibly from the NW and SW corners of the church. The window fragment in the N gatepost has carved, in relief, a fish biting the tapering point of the out-turned stop and above it is a crude repre-sentation of a unicorn. The moulding profile is similar to that of the piece in the altar. The window fragment in the S gatepost has another animal, possibly a stag, sculptured on the end of the out-turned stop. Both fragments probably came from the ruined window in the S wall of the church. A piece of chamfered arch, probably from the S door of the church, is re-used in the stile on the N of the graveyard gate. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

Templedouglas Church was built in the 16th century as a gabled church and is associated with the nearby Templedouglas Abbey, likely reflecting a medieval religious complex. Its significance lies in its connection to the abbey and its role within the sub-pentagonal graveyard.