Church in Stillorgan South

The present early 18th-century Church of Ireland (dated 1712) church in Stillorgan (Stigh Lorgan/house on long low ridge), dedicated to St Brigid stands on the site of or incorporates fabric of the medieval church dedicated to St. Brigid, in the archdiocese of Dublin, barony of Rathdown. Situated ‘in the marches of Dublin’ in the medieval period, today the church stands in an urban area to the N of the junction of Stillorgan Road and Merville Road on a low rise overlooking the surrounding graveyard (DU023-011002-).  The medieval church or chapel of Stillorgan stood beside a medieval road/routeway also known as the ‘greate straight road to Senekyll’ [Shankill] running through the townland of Stillorgan which is shown on the 1655-59 Down Survey map of the parish (NLI, MS. 714/52).  Stillorgan castle (DU023-071----) stands 240m to the E.  Stillorgan church was probably the manorial church of the manor of Stillorgan castle which was originally the residence of the Carew family.  The curving boundary wall of the graveyard (DU023-011002-) indicates the possible existence of an early ecclesiastical enclosure (DU023-011004-).  On the 17th-century Down Survey map the townland of Stillorgan stood in the parish of Kill, there is no mention of a church in the townland of Stillorgan in the terrier of the Down Survey map of the parishes of Kill and Monkstown (NLI, MS 714/52).  The medieval church is not depicted on this map.  In 1216 Raymond de Karrue/Carew granted the church of Stacklorgan (Stillorgan) to Christchurch Cathedral also known as the Church of the Holy Trinity (Blacker 1860, 370; Turner 1983, 59).  Around the year 1240, Luke, archbishop of Dublin (1228-55) confirmed to the Prior and Canons of the Holy Trinity [Christchurch] the ‘chapel of Stachlorgan [Stillorgan]’ (VRTI CCD/50-99/51).  In 1326 the rental and customal of the lands of Priory of the Holy Trinity (Christchurch) included ‘Stalorgan’  which was held by ‘Sir Ralph the chaplain’ who pays ‘at said feasts, 11s. 8d.’ (Mills 1891, 194).   In 1504 Walter Fitzsimon, archbishop of Dublin (1484-1511), confirmed to Holy Trinity church (Christchurch) (DU018-020270-); ‘in the marches of Dublin, the churches of St. Brigid of Stalorgan [Stillorgan]’ (McNeill 1950, 255-8;  VRTI CCD/350-399/379).   In 1684 Sir Joshua Allen, 1st Viscount Allen of Stillorgan (Stillorgan House DU023-012001-), disclaimed all ‘intention of passing letters patents for any lands belonging to the Dean and chapter of Holy Trinity in Stillorgan, particularly the ruinous church, and land commonly called “church land”, now in their possession’ (PROI DKPRI 20/9).    Complied by: Caimin O'Brien