Church of Christ the Redeemer

This appealing if plain small-scale Church of Ireland church retains its early form and architectural character, despite some modern alterations. It retains much of its early fabric including natural slate roof, which helps give this simple structure a satisfying patina. The simple window openings add some interest to the It probably originally dates to the start of the seventeenth century, and may have been built shortly after the Ulster Plantation in 1610. The church was ‘undergoing restoration’ in 1622 (Royal Commission Report). Works (unknown) were reputedly carried out in 1693, possibly following damage during the Williamite Wars of 1688-91. The interior of the north wall preserves the splayed openings of two block small windows openings, probably early features. The church was described in 1729 as in ‘good repair, of stone and clay with thatch’ (Rowan 1979). It was restored about 1830 (Rowan 1979, 477) and the round-headed windows may date to this period. Further works to the interior were carried out in 1868 to designs by Welland and Gillespie, joint architects to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners from May 1860 until the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland on the 31st December 1870. These works included the ‘proposed rearrangement of seats’, the main contractor involved was a John Tallon. The gallery to the west may date to this phase of alterations also. The memorial slab to the south wall commemorates William Cunningham (died 1693), and there are a number of other early memorials to site. The graveyard contains an interesting collection of recumbent, upstanding and table-type memorial markers, some of modest artistic merit and some of within railed enclosures, that add significantly to the context and setting of the church. The graveyard is surrounded by a rubble stone boundary wall, probably a nineteenth century addition. The present church may occupy the site of an early ecclesiastical foundation associated with St. Davaddog, and local tradition records early cross slabs and holy wells in the vicinity, none of which are clearly visible today. An early mask or carved head is built into the north pier of the main gateway; this is probably of early date and depicts an oval face with stylised foliage to either side. This building and associated graveyard is an important element of the built heritage of Rosnakill, and is an integral element of the social history and archaeology of the local area, and acts as a focal point in the scenic rural landscape to the south-west end of the Fanad Peninsula. It forms a pair of related sites with the associated Church of Ireland rectory (see 40901705) located to the north of the site.