St. Johns Church

Situated on level ground. The present 19th-century parish church, now in commercial use, may stand on the site of an early wooden church called the 'Dearteach' or 'oak house' in several Anglo-Norman documents (Brooks 1951-2, 122) and a subsequent Norman foundation. The present church may incorporate portions of one erected in 1609 although nothing visible survives. Two 17th-century graveslabs (Richard Whichil ob. 1697, Robert Burfield ob. 1700) are located to the S of the church. It was part of the medieval borough of Bray (WI004-001----). (Lewis 1837, vol. 1, 222; Price 1957, 334-5) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 17 December 2008

St. John's Church in Bray may have originated as an early wooden church known as the 'Dearteach' or 'oak house,' mentioned in Anglo-Norman documents, with the present 19th-century structure now repurposed for commercial use. Its earlier dedication to St. John suggests a long-standing Christian presence in the area.