St. Johns Church (In ruins)

The Priory of St. Thomas and Hospital of St. John (Fratres Cruciferi) stood near the W bank of the River Barrow, possibly on, or just inside, the line of Athy’s town defences (KD035-022002-). Built by Richard de St Michael, Lord of Rheban, either in the reign of King John (1199-1216) or later, in 1253, and described in a document of c. 1270-80 as 'The Priory of St. Thomas the Martyr with its hospital containing brothers, sisters and sick'. The priory was dissolved by 1540, but no extent of its possessions is known. However, a deed of 1603 noted that in 1568, James Foster had been granted the Priory of St. John with a church, a hall, a garden, a stable, five cottages and a ruinous tower. Today the site is occupied by a modern monastery, a private house and a disused graveyard, the N wall of which includes a portion of wall (L 12m E-W; T 0.9m; int. H 1.8m; ext. H 3.8m) of uncoursed limestone, with the splays of a blocked window, possibly the remains of the original priory. Some dressed limestone and granite pieces in the graveyard together with an architectural feature (KD035-022019-) - a window - incorporated into an adjoining garden wall, all probably came from the levelled priory. (Bradley et al. 1986a, vol. 1, 56-8; Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 210-11) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 11 December 2013

St. John's Church in Athy was built by Richard de St Michael in the 13th century and was associated with the Priory of St. Thomas and Hospital of St. John (Fratres Cruciferi). Its significance lies in its connection to religious and military orders, reflecting the medieval religious and defensive landscape of the area.