{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use Irish English|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox church | name = Rathmore Church | native_name = Cill an Rátha Mhóir | native_name_lang = ga | image = Ruined Church - geograph.org.uk - 166668.jpg | pushpin_map = Ireland | relief = yes | coordinates = {{coord|53.643173|N|6.872316|W|display=inline,title}} | 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 = {{Infobox designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = National Monument of Ireland | designation1_offname = Rathmore Church | designation1_number = 289 }} | years_built = 1470s | closed = late 17th century | length = {{convert|26|m|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|7|m|abbr=on}} | materials = sandstone, mortar | diocese = Meath }}

'''Rathmore Church''' is a ruined medieval church and National Monument in County Meath, Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eneclann.ie/exhibitions/tomcruise/historically-who-were-the-cruise-family/|title=Tom Cruise's Irish Ancestry - Overview - Eneclann|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://voxhiberionacum.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/rathmore-font/|title=On the Theft of a Decorated Medieval Font from Rathmore Church, Co. Meath|first=Vox|last=Hiberionacum|date=15 May 2013|publisher=}}</ref> It was constructed by the prominent Plunkett living nearby at Rathmore Castle. A modern church 0.5&nbsp;km to the northeast serving the area was constructed in 1844.<ref name="CaseyRowan1993">{{cite book|author1=Christine Casey|author2=Alistair John Rowan|title=North Leinster: The Counties of Longford, Louth, Meath and Westmeath|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NJ1j2FhGpAEC&pg=PA457|year=1993|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-14-071085-4|pages=457–8}}</ref> Archer and Smith describe it as similar in purpose to other churches constructed at Killeen and Dunsany.<ref name="Architecture in Britain and Ireland : 600-1500">{{cite book|last1=Archer|first1=Lucy|last2=Smith|first2=Edwin|title=Architecture in Britain and Ireland : 600-1500|date=1999|publisher=Harvill Press|location=London|isbn=9781860467011|page=410|edition=1. publ.}}</ref>

==Location== Rathmore Church is located {{convert|3.5|km|abbr=on}} northeast of Athboy, to the west of Jamestown Bog.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theirishaesthete.com/tag/rathmore-church/|title=Rathmore Church « The Irish Aesthete|publisher=}}</ref>

==History== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://irelandinruins.blogspot.ie/2013/03/old-rathmore-church-co-meath.html|title=Ireland In Ruins: Old Rathmore Church Co Meath|date=8 March 2013|publisher=}}</ref>

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.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Emw9AQAAMAAJ_2/page/n163 <!-- quote=rathmore parish "thomas bligh". --> p. 120]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/R/Rathmore-Lune-Meath.php|title=Rathmore (Meath) - Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)}}</ref>

The baptismal font was stolen in April 2013 but recovered in May of that year.<ref name="megalithicireland.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.megalithicireland.com/Rathmore%20Church,%20Meath.html|title=Rathmore Church, Meath|publisher=}}</ref>

==Church== 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.<ref name="megalithicireland.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionsofthepastblog.com/2016/02/20/rathmore-church-co-meath/|title=Rathmore Church, Meath, Ireland|first=Ed Hannon-Visions of the|last=Past|date=20 February 2016|publisher=}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Archaeological sites in County Meath Category:National monuments in County Meath Category:Former churches in County Meath Category:Church ruins in Ireland