Tucked down a minor road north of Drogheda, this is St Nicholas’s church, Ballymakenny, County Louth. It was designed by Thomas Cooley for his patron, Richard Robinson, Archbishop of Armagh, whose country residence, Rokeby Hall, stands a few miles further still further north. Cooley died in 1784 before the work was executed and therefore the job passed to the young architect Francis Johnston, then just on the onset of his career. This charming little rural church is 18th century Irish Gothic at its best, a simple design with the tower at the west end flanked by modest vestries and then the main body of the building being a long, plain hall. The most notable feature of the exterior is above the entrance, the archiepiscopal insignia and Robinson’s arms in beautifully crisp limestone (just look at those ribbons ending in tassels). In recent years, the church has been used by a local Baptist group, although it is a pity that much of the glass on the north side (where the latticed windows are actually blind) has been broken and not repaired.
Keep up the great work traversing up and down the country to find, record and highlight hidden gems like this
If and when they repair the glass, they could also have a look at the guttering and downpipes before damp becomes a major problem.
If and when they repair the glass, they could also have a look at the guttering and downpipes before damp becomes a major problem.
Just had to comment, you may soon have more churches to cover that face an uncertain fate after closure. Interesting to ponder what Roman catholic churches fates should be since they are mostly more recent buildings- although some date to near this period. Thought of this as I read in the news that Cork is losing priest and parishes do to non-attendance.