A familiar sight across the country: an abandoned and roofless Church of Ireland church. This one is in the parish of Kilfree, County Sligo and, according to the reliable Samuel Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary of Ireland of 1837, was ‘erected in 1826, for which the late Board of First Fruits granted a loan of £600.’ It appears to have closed for services in the 1950s, but as so often the surrounding graveyard remains in use.
Actually, your title for the last posting seems just as appropriate here- Awaiting New Purpose (besides being a graveyard). I have seen a few churches converted into residences, but you have to like that style of living- including the ‘neighbors’, which limits the market for such homes. Particularly these churches built almost cookie cutter, how many should be kept up with no use? Every time, they announce finding another Roman mosaic floor in the fields/under city roadways, etc. in England you wonder what the villa actually looked like and how they fell/were swept into oblivion.
Quite a few old churches around Ireland like the one thats posted here have been converted into bars and restaurants,the neighbors outside dont seem to care also some of the old folks thats left are dying to get in occasionally,have a good holiday stay well be safe.
Just another note, just read the full Lewis text and was amazed that in 1837 the population was over 5,000. Today, due to depopulation- not just from the Famine, it would be harder to find a need to reuse in this area. But churches do well as restaurants, etc (thanks for the reminder). A community center comes to mind, too. More akin to its original purpose. But they all bring people together.
Was the church deliberately de-roofed? If so, did this happen so that the Church of Ireland didn’t have to pay rates (or Irish equivalent)?
No rates were payable on churches.
I expect the tiles or slates found a new home
The Board of First Fruits (what an interesting title) must have invested considerable sums of money in the early/mid the 19th century.