Church in Bruff

The 18th century Church of Ireland church in Bruff stands on the site of an earlier church. In 1840 the Ordnance Survey Letters recorded following details about Bruff Church; 'The modern Church of Bruff occupies the site of an older one, which was in use until about fifty or sixty years since [c. 1780-90]. Inside the church there is to the left of the communion table a black marble monument with the following inscription; 'This Monument, with the Chappel, was pulled downe, to be sett up and better repaired in the Memory of Sir Thomas Standish of Bruff, Knight, deceased, by Standish Hartstonge, Esq. Recorder of the Citty of Lymrick, and second justice of the province of Munster, his Grandchild by Elizabeth, the eldest Daughter of Sir Thomas, who was Maryed to Francis Harstronge of Southreps in the county of Norfolck, Esq. which Standish their only sonne, first maryed Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Francis Jeremy of Gunton, in the county of Norfolck, Esq. and had issue by her, Eleaven children, whereof three sons and four daughters are now living, wich Elizabeth dying, he maryed Anne the daughter of his Grace Dr. John Bromhal, late Lord Primate of all Ireland, who is now co-heire to Sir Thomas Bromhal, Baronet, his Sonne, who died without issue; wich Standish and Anne, are yet living this 18th Octo. 1676, Septr. 4th 1685, Anne dying 3 years past the same, Sir Standish, now Bart. and Second Baron of the Exchequer Maryed Johanna the Eldest Sister of Sir Rowland Gwyn, 3 of the County Radnore, who hath now issue one sonne names Gwyn 3 months old' (Fitzgerald 1826, 322). Westropp (1904-5, 430) recorded the following details about Bruff; 'A parish, Brughnandeisi, in 1420 (O'Huidhrin, note, 700). Brug, 1186 (charter of Magio); Brugh, or Broff, dedicated to St. Peter of Alexandria, 26 Nov., 1410; Burgh, 1418; Borough, or Bruff, 1543 and 1578 (Inquisitions on the Hospital of Aney). Site - It had fallen into decay, so was demolished by Lady Lucy Hartstonge, and a new church built on its site, 1776 (Fitzgerald, i., pp. 320-2)'. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 April 2019