July 2012
Our second Field Day of 2012 was in Stranorlar Parish Church and its adjoining graveyard. Aubrey Oliver, the Church Archivist, was our guide for the occasion.
The Church of Ireland has a long history in this area dating back to the late 1500’s. By 1622, the Parish Church is decayed and is being repaired at the parishioners’ expense.
Over the centuries the Church has undergone several enlargements and, of course, maintenance, with donations of fittings installed during all this time in memory of parishioners and this continues up to the present. For example, in 2000AD new quarter foil stained glass windows were added and in 2009 a new lighting system was fitted.
The graveyard contains headstones dating back centuries and Aubrey took us around many of the graves. Isaac Butt is buried here (his father Robert was Curate from 1814 to 1829) and also the family of Frances Browne, the blind poetess. (She herself is buried in Richmond upon Thames). Many of those interred here were in military service in Europe and Africa, all now at their rest in the tranquillity of this secluded corner of the Finn valley.
The afternoon ended with light refreshments in the nearby hall. We also had the opportunity to peruse old parish records and the magnificent penmanship skills from more than a century ago was the focus of much praise.
Thanks
The CDHS would like to thank most sincerely Rev. Tony Adamson, who welcomed us warmly to his Church; Mr. Aubrey Oliver, our guide and the staff of the hall who had tea and refreshments waiting for us at the end of our visit.