Ardglass town

Ardglass was a flourishing port in 1177 when John de Courcey marched up from Dublin. The Jordans were awarded Ardglass where they built their castle. (SSM p94) The Earls of Kildare had a lengthy connection with Lecale, which ended in 1806 when Lord Charles Fitzgerald sold the Manor of Ardglass to William Ogilvie, husband of his mother, the Duchess of Leinster. It is because of this connection that the main thoroughfare of the village is known as Kildare Street.

Ardglass derives its name of the Irish 'ard glas'; the green hill, probably a reference to the conical elevation, now known as The Ward, to the west of the town. It has also been called Portreve. It owed its origins to the Anglo-Normans, but there is little evidence of a settlement there until the early middle ages (Jordan's Castle or Castle Shane & King's Castle- see photos and information below). A trading company from London settled there in the reign of King Henry 8th and built a range of buildings consisting of work-shops and warehouses, that were later reconstructed as Ardglass Castle and are now the headquarters of Ardglass Golf Club. Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, was granted letters of patent to collect all revenue .

The ancient English family of Savages are generally supposed to have been the first colonists of the town and the founders of most of the castles remaining here, to whom a great part of Lecale as well as Ards, belonged. Prior to that the area belonged to the Magennis family.

St. Nicholas, Church of Ireland,
Kildare St, Ardglass

There was a Catholic Church on this site in 1306 but was in ruins in 1622. St. Nicholas was built on the original site in 1813 on high ground in Kildare Street, Ardglass. When the old walls were removed, a hand-bell with an ivory handle and an altar stone were found. The ancient holy water stoup was removed to a part of the graveyard. They also found an oblong stone, which is now inserted into a wall of the porch. It has a shield of arms with some curiously raised letters of Old English characters:- " Live to die, And fer the Lord, Amend yr life, And sin no mor for dethe is Yr rewarde. Mari Janes, Thoams Janes AD 1585."

The curate in 1783 was Rev. Samuel Buydy. In 1839 the north transept was added, as the congregation was increased by the numbers of coastguards and maritime official on duty in the port. It holds about 300 people. The duties of this parish in 1836 were performed by a perpetual curate who received £80 out of £130 which are the tithes of the parish. The remaining £50 goes to the Chancellor of Down. There is an old memorial document dated 1772 .

There is nothing distinctive in its architecture, but built into the wall of the entrance porch is one of the earliest headstones found in Ulster, it reads; "Live to die and for the Lord / Amend yr life and sine no mor / for dethe is your rewarde / Maria Jones, mother to Thomas Jones, gentleman A.D. 1585" . The rector in 1830 was Rev. George Crane & in 1852 Rev Charles Campbell & in 1910 was Rev. William Hanna.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
ordination Rev Burns 4 Jun 1842; transfer of Rev. Burns 12 Oct 1844; abandonment of innovations in parish 5 Apr 1845: storm damage 4 Nov 1848; re opening services 25 Mar 1876;

UHF have baptism 1872-1900 & marriages 1845-1900; graveyard attached, gravestones UHF Vol 8; email me for a gravestone look-up
The above photo was kindly sent to me by Brian McCleary.

St. Nicholas parish church, Ardtole

Less than 2km north-east of Ardglass town, on the coast road to Dunsford, overlooking the sea and the Isle of Man, are the ruins of the ancient church of Ardtole, dedicated to St. Nicholas. This was the old parish church. An early cross slab from this site, now built into the church at Chapeltown, and a souterrain recorded south of this church suggest early Christian activity on the hilltop. This was formerly the parish church of Ardglass, but there is a local tradition that the McCartans massacred the congregation at worship there, to avenge an insult offered to their chief by the burgesses of Ardglass, who fastened his long hair to briars while he lay in a drunken sleep. Jonathan Swift used this story in his novel "Gulliver's Travels". The long narrow church seems largely of 15th century date with a huge easterly window and opposed north and south doors, one with a draw-bar hole. The church was abandoned in 15th century after the massacre and the congregation transferred to Ardglass church.

No graveyard

Ardglass Presbyterian Church
in Kildare St., Ardglass

A congregation was formed with Rev. Joseph Burns ordained in 1841. Rev. Thomas MacAfee was minister from 1845- 1910.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
the new church built 24 Sep 1842 ; congregation 3 Dec 1842; soiree 12 Nov 1853; soiree 30 Jan 1858; soiree 22 Jan 1859; soiree 30 Jan 1869; Sunday school 27 Aug 1881; annual soiree 24 Mar 1883; social meeting 13 Feb 1915*; helped British Sailors' Society & fisherman 18 Sep 1935*;

modern graveyard

Ardglass Wesleyan Methodist Church
in Hill St., Ardglass town

Missionaries from the "Methodist New Connection" came to Ardglass and formed a Society in 1832. A very small plain building was erected in 1843 at a cost of £150 it had 28 seats which could hold 8 people each.

The minister in 1910 was Rev. Thomas Orr from Downpatrick. The church was demolished in 1960s.

no graveyard

St Nicholas Catholic Church
High Street, Ardglass
Parochial House 19 High St, Ardglass BT30 7TU Tel; 4484 1208

This church was built in 1830 and was capable of holding 300 people. It was simple in design,like a barn chapel, with the altar on a long wall opposite the entrance. 3/5th's of this parish's population were Catholic . There were many alterations over the years to accommodate the growing population. Extensive work was carried out in 2005.
Some priests were - Rev. William McMullin in 1848 & 1852 & Rev. J. Crawford on 1890 & Rev. E. Crawford in 1895; Rev. Joseph J. O'Donnelly/ Donnelly curate in 1884 then priest 1910- 1927; Rev. Bernard McNamee 1927-1942; Rev. John McKee 1942- 1965; Rev. William B. Tumilty 1966-1967; Rev. Patrick White 1967- 1980; Rev. John McAteer 1980- 1985; Rev. Liam Mullan 1985- 1990; Rev. Conleth Byrne 1990-2000; Rev. Robert Fleck 2000+

moderrn graveyard; old burials at Dunsford Catholic church; UHF has baptisms 1880-1900

Articles in Down Recorder newspaper;
Funds to liquidate debt incurred in erecting new schools were also raised,list of subscribers 8 Aug 1863;dedication of church 23 Aug 1879