A small carpark and sign about 2 miles south of Waterfoot indicate the site of the Old Church of Ardclinis which is the name of the Townland and also of the Civil Parish. The Church Ruins are a short distance inland and may be visited courtesy of the landowners. The earliest reference to the church, as ‘Ecclesia de Ardglanys’, was in the Papal Taxation records of 1306 but it is probably much older. It would have been quite a substantial building with walls a metre thick and dimensions of 18m by 6.5m and a thatched roof but by 1622 it was recorded as ‘decayed’. Much of the walls have fallen and the building stones were used to construct the wall around the site. It is a Scheduled Monument and recently the remains of the structure were stabilised by Historic Monuments Branch.
Local tradition links the church with St McKenna, a version of the name Cannice. Across Red Bay is Old Layde Church and the two may have been associated. There is a tradition that one year the crop of oats was not ripening at Layde so a monk was sent by boat across the bay to ask for prayers. The saintly abbot at Ardclinis told the monk to look behind him and on doing so he saw the crop fully ripened!
A 12th century Irish Crozier associated with St McKenna remained in the church ruins until the early 19th century when the hereditary keeper moved to Glenarm taking the crozier for safekeeping. It is now known as the Ardclinis Crozier and consists of a yew-wood and pine staff about 1.5m long with a decorative crook in bronze and silver and supposedly was occasionally used to swear upon as to the truth of some matter. In 1961 the family then in possession of the crozier sold it to the National Museum, Dublin and the proceeds were donated for the renovation of Feystown Chapel, Glenarm. A detailed replica can be viewed in the Church at Glenariff.
Burials have taken place around and inside the church. Those recorded are mainly 19th Century but the earliest visible date is for Shean O’Mulvena, ‘who departed this life ye 16th of March 1754’. An interesting memorial slab has the coat of arms of the O’Neills with the motto ‘Lamh dearg Erin’ – the Red Hand of Ireland. The O’Neills of Glenariff traced their ancestry to the O’Neill chieftains of Ulster.
Further information: The Glynns, volumes 4 & 8, Brian Turner and Anne Mageean.
This post is part of the What’s That? Project. Funded by The Community Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund & The Community Foundation for NI. The aim of the project is to highlight local historical sites and give people a short history of what is there. Photos by John Healy.
I have often thought that I would visit this ancient site someday but I never did manage to do it. So I am delighted to receive this comprehensive description of the Church and Graveyard. I wish to thank the person who sent it to me. Kevin McHugh
How are you Kevin I was just up there the other day lovely wee spot in poor shape and the sheep have taken over there’s a little stream in the field beside as well still worth a visit !