Church in Lifford

Clonleigh Parish Church (DG071-008001-): Erected under the will of Sir Richard Hansard and the foundations laid by 1622, the present church is of late 18th century appearance (Rowan 1979, 348). In the S wall is a segment-headed recess (DG071-008008-) containing two kneeling figures in Jacobean attire facing each other across a draped predieu — part of the monument of Sir Richard Hansard Kt. and Dame Anne, his wife (for whom see Loeber 1977-80, 238-9). The tablet bears the following inscription: ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF SR RICHARD HANSARD/KNIGHT BORNE AT BISKERTHORPE IN THE COVNTY OF LINCOLNE IN/ENGLAND WHO DYED THE 5 OF OCTOBER 1619 AND OF DAME ANNE HIS WIFE/DAUGHTER TO SR EDWARD MARBVRY OF GEISBY IN, THE SAID COVNTY KNIGHT/WHO DYED THE 3 DAY OF OCTOBER 1619 SR RICHARD HANSARD AFTER HE HAD/OF ART IN CAMBRIDGE TOOKE VPON HIM THE PREFESSION OF A SOLIDER IN THE PRIME OF/LIFE HE HAD DIVERS SINDRY HONORABLE PLACES OF COMAND IN THE WARES HE/WAS MAD GOVERNOR OF LIFFORD AND THE PARTS ADIOYNING WHER HE DID MANY GOOD/SERVES IN THE TIME OF TYRONES REBELION AND LAST OF AL IN SR CAHIR O DOHERLES REBELIONIKING JAMES THE FIRST GAVE HIM THIS TOWNE OF LIFORD AND FOWER QVARTERS OF CROHAN TO/PLANT A CORPORACON THERE WHICH HE EFECTED AT HIS DEATH HE DISPOSED BY WIL OF THESE LANDS AND OTHERS TO DIVERS OF HIS NAME NOT NEARE OF KINDRED TO HIM BVT FOR WANT/OF A FEOFTMIENT TO ENABLE HIM TO DISPOSE OF HIS LANDS BY WIL BY LAWE ITFEL A[L]/TO HIS YONGER BROTHER WILLIAM HANSARD OF BISKERTHORPE IN LINCOLNSHIRE ESQVIRE/HE ORDAINED BY HIS WILL SR IOHN VAVHAN KNIGHT SR GEORGE MERBVRY KNIGHT AND/THOMAS PERKINS ESQUIRE THEN LIFTENNANT TO HIS COMPANY HIS EXECITORS/AND DIRECTED THEM TO BVILD THIS CHVRCH THE SCHOOLE AND SCHOOLE HOUSE IN/THIS TOWNE AS NOW THEY ARE DONE AND LIKEWISE GAVE 86L P ANNVM IN PPETVITY/OUT OF HIS LANDES (VIDELICET TO THE WARDEN OF LIFFORD XXL TO THE RECORDER THERE/OF XL TO THE 2 SERGEANTS 6L TO THE SCHOOLE MAISTER XXXL AND TO THE USHER XXL P ANNUM/AND FOR THAT BY LAWE THIS LAND FELL TO HIS YONGER BROTHER WHEERBY THESE PIOVS/INTENTIONS WEER LIKE TO BE FRVSTRATED THEREFORE THE 3 SORNAMED EXECVTORS DID/PVRCHASE OF HIS SAID BROTHER THE WHOLE LANDES FOR ONE THOUSAND AND 5 HUNDRED/POUNDS AND SO HAVE FINISHED THE SAID WORKES AND PPETVALL DONATION ACCORDING/TO THE WILL AND INTENT OF THE SAID SR RICHARD. 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