| Rathmore Church | |||||||||
| Native Name: | Cill an Rátha Mhóir | ||||||||
| Native Name Lang: | ga | ||||||||
| Pushpin Map: | Ireland | ||||||||
| Relief: | yes | ||||||||
| Coordinates: | 53.6432°N -6.8723°W | ||||||||
| Location: | Rathmore, Athboy, County Meath | ||||||||
| Country: | Ireland | ||||||||
| Denomination: | Church of Ireland | ||||||||
| Previous Denomination: | Pre-Reformation Catholic | ||||||||
| Founder: | Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket | ||||||||
| Dedication: | Lorcán Ua Tuathail (St Lawrence) | ||||||||
| Heritage Designation: |
| ||||||||
| Years Built: | 1470s | ||||||||
| Closed Date: | late 17th century | ||||||||
| Length: | 26m (85feet) | ||||||||
| Width: | 7m (23feet) | ||||||||
| Width Nave: | 7m (23feet) | ||||||||
| Floor Area: | 175m2 | ||||||||
| Spire Height: | 12m (39feet) | ||||||||
| Materials: | sandstone, mortar | ||||||||
| Diocese: | Meath | ||||||||
Rathmore Church is a ruined medieval church and National Monument in County Meath, Ireland.[1] [2] It was constructed by the prominent Plunkett living nearby at Rathmore Castle. A modern church 0.5 km to the northeast serving the area was constructed in 1844.[3] Archer and Smith describe it as similar in purpose to other churches constructed at Killeen and Dunsany.[4]
Rathmore Church is located 3.5km (02.2miles) northeast of Athboy, to the west of Jamestown Bog.[5]
Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket was a lawyer and judge of the mid-15th century, serving as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in 1461 and 1463. He was married to Marion Cruise (Mary Anne Cruys) and died in 1471; the couple are buried together at Rathmore, Marion's hereditary family seat.[6]
Lieutenant-General Thomas Bligh (d. 1775) of the 20th Regiment of Foot has a monumental tablet in the church. He fought at Dettingen, Val, Fontneay, and Melle. He was also commander of the British troops at Cherbourg.[7] [8]
The baptismal font was stolen in April 2013 but recovered in May of that year.[9]
Rathmore Church is a nave and chancel church with a three-storey sacristy and a tall bell tower. Features include a piscina, sedilia, carved heads and labyrinth stone. The effigy of Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket is in good condition; he wears armour and a dog sleeps at his feet. Marion's is badly damaged.[9] [10]