Mass-rock in Ballypatrick (temple-Etney Par.)

On a S-facing slope c. 25m from W bank of a stream flowing roughly N-S, in pasture. According to Power (1908, 9-10) the field is known as the 'Field of the Early Church Site' and was sacred to St. Bearachan. The red sandstone mass-rock (H 0.81m) is located immediately W face of a N-S field boundary. It is aligned NW-SE and is roughly rectangular in plan (L 1.12m; max.T c. 0.33m). The top surface is quite worn and water has gathered in a slight depression. The stone bears no inscription. It is located 0.62m W of a bullaun stone (TS078-061004-) and stone cross (TS078-061002-). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011

Linked to St. Bearachan, the site is associated with early Christian worship in the area, with the field retaining a sacred character as noted in historical records. Local tradition holds that the mass-rock was used for clandestine Catholic worship during periods of religious persecution.