St Senachs Church — Newberry

In N half of graveyard (14611). Former C of I parish church of Kilshannig; converted to craft centre in 1984. Built of random-rubble limestone construction with cut stone detail. Consists of 4-storey tower (int.: 3.12m N-S; 3.57m E-W) at W end of rectangular nave (int.: 14m E-W; 4.5m N-S) with chancel (6.2m E-W) added to E, of similar in width to nave; porch entrance added to W end of S wall of nave, and a gable-ended aisle is added to N of nave and tower. Nave has two paired lancets in S wall which replaced three earlier windows now blocked; slender buttresses on corners. Tower appears to incorporate part of earlier structure: base of walls noticeably battered and S wall is over 1m thick. Tower has blocked-up pointed door ope in W wall. In wall above blocked door is inscribed stone plaque with date of '1719'; directly overhead is slim window ope, at top of which is inserted head of double cusped ogee-headed light (central mullion removed). Chancel has three lancet windows in centre of E wall. Interior renovated in 1984; pulpit and some wall memorials survive. Nave divided from isle by three-bay pointed arcade springing from stone piers. During conversion head of round-arched window light (0.43m x 0.33m) was found: edge chamfered; sunken spandrels carved with primitive human heads (c. 0.12m x 0.10m) According to Grove White (1905-25, vol. 3, 343), built in 1719 to accommodate 340 persons. In 1882 numerous improvements made including heating system, wicket gate and piers (Cole 1903, 221-2). Lewis (1837, vol. 2, 208) refers to spire atop tower which was removed in 1815. Multi-period church on or near site (and possibly incorporating part) of earlier parish church of Kilshannig which was noted in charter of 1242 (MacCotter and Nicholls 1996, 65); reported 'in ruins' in 1612 (Brady 1863, vol. 2, 287-289). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009