Cross — Churchyard cross in Church Hill

In Grange graveyard (KK023-036002-), associated with the medieval church (KK023-036001-). The limestone cross-base has been reused as a quoin stone in the NW angle of the RC church which was erected in the graveyard in 1826. Described by Hogan (1880-83, vol. 2, 41-2) as, ‘part of the base of a memorial cross – a block of lime-stone, about two feet [0.6m] square – and worked into the masonry as a quoin in the north-west angle of the present parish church. It stands about six feet [c. 1.8m] from the ground; two squares or faces of it are exposed, one uninscribed, the other bears an inscription, cut in relief. The following is a fac-simile of a rubbing taken by myself from the stone for the use of the present paper :- ….RICH ….. COMERFORD DE BALLIBVR EQVITIS ET DOMINAE MARIA PVRCELL VXORIS EIVS QVI HANC CRVCEM IN HONOREM ALMAE CEVCIS DNI NRI FIERI FECERVNT 20 IVLII [Pray for the souls of] Richard Comerford, of Ballybur [Knight], and of Mrs. Mary Purcell, his wife, who [both] had this cross erected in honour of the Holy Cross of our Lord, 20 July.” The left corner of the stone is broken off, and hence the word before Richard and the latter syllable of that name are absent; the words “pray, &c.,” within the brackets in the translation, are most probably the lost ones. The year of the erection is not on the stone, and, singular enough, the space for it was sunk down as if to show that this date was designedly obliterated; but an inscription on the tomb of this same Richard – to be noticed immediately – enables us to fix the date of the erection of this cross at some period between his marriage with Madame Purcell and that of his death, which took place in the year 1637’. The side walls of the church has a cement render and the inscribed plaque had been given a raised render surround. See attached photographs: KK023-036003-_01 Inscribed plaque KK023-036003-_02 Inscribed plaque inserted in external face of RC church wall Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 10 August 2021