# Rathmore Church

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rathmore_Church.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathmore_Church
> Source revision: 1354901117
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{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](/source/Athboy), [County Meath](/source/County_Meath)
| country = [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland)
| denomination = [Church of Ireland](/source/Church_of_Ireland)
| previous_denomination = Pre-Reformation Catholic
| founder = [Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket](/source/Thomas_Fitz-Christopher_Plunket)
| dedication = [Lorcán Ua Tuathail](/source/Lorc%C3%A1n_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](/source/sandstone), [mortar](/source/Mortar_(masonry))
| diocese = [Meath](/source/Diocese_of_Meath)
}}

'''Rathmore Church''' is a ruined medieval church and [National Monument](/source/National_Monument_(Ireland)) in [County Meath](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Athboy), to the west of [Jamestown Bog](/source/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](/source/Thomas_Fitz-Christopher_Plunket) was a lawyer and judge of the mid-15th century, serving as [Lord Chief Justice of Ireland](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/nave) and [chancel](/source/chancel) church with a three-storey [sacristy](/source/sacristy) and a tall [bell tower](/source/bell_tower). Features include a [piscina](/source/piscina), [sedilia](/source/sedilia), carved heads and [labyrinth stone](/source/Labyrinth). The [effigy](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rathmore Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathmore_Church) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathmore_Church?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.