Church (in Ruins) — Straffan

According to Ronan, St. Patrick's of Straffan was incorporated in the Hospital of St. John about 1250, by Robert de Capella. In 1531, the Vicarage was restored by Alen 'with much labour and expense' (IHS 1941b, 47). In 1615 the church and chancel were in good repair (IHS 1941a, 47) but by 1630, 'the body of the church is ruinous; the chancel is well covered, but wants Glassinge and necessary ornaments' (IHS 1941b, 98). The remains consist of a fairly well preserved, although partially rebuilt and ivy clad, rectangular structure (ext. dims. L 29.5m E-W; Wth 6.7m) with a four-storied, rectangular tower (ext. dims. L 5.5m N-S; Wth 4m), with a double bellcote on its E wall, attached at the W. Later buttresses at N and S support the junctions of church and tower. Both church and tower are built of randomly coursed, roughly dressed, limestone blocks and flags. The church comprises a nave (int. dims. L 16.7m E-W; Wth 5.3m) and chancel (dims. L 8.71m; Wth 5.3m) divided by an unbonded wall containing a now blocked up, flat-arched opening (Wth 1.7m), which is later insertion. However, the N wall (wall T 0.6m) and the surviving E section of the S wall (Wth 0.8m) of the nave are rebuilt, while the N and S walls of the chancel (wall T 1m) and its E gable wall (T 1.3m) are far more substantial, suggesting the chancel may be later than the nave? The nave is entered through a rebuilt, flat-arched doorway (Wth 1.2m; H 2m) at the W end of the N wall, and is lit by rebuilt (apparently misassembled), opposing, ogee-headed windows near the centres of the N and S walls. The chancel is lit by a large, robbed-out window in the E gable wall, opposing robbed-out windows at the W ends of the N and S walls and by an ogee-headed window at the E end of the N wall. The adjoining tower is now inaccessible, but there is a blocked doorway near the S end of the church's W gable wall. It is lit by centrally placed, plain rectangular windows in the N and W walls at first, second and third-floor levels, and by a blocked window at second-floor level in the S wall with a round-arched window at third-floor level. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011