St Columba's Church

The terrier of the 17th century Down Survey map of Tullow Parish recorded that ‘upon the land of Tulloephellim is a Towne, A Church & a Castle’ (NLI MS 726). The church and castle of Tullow are depicted on the Down Survey map of Tullow parish (NLI MS 726). The church appears to have been a nave and chancel building for the Funeral Entries in the Ulster's Office recorded that Walter Mottly, a merchant in Tullow 'departed this mortall life at Tullaphelim aforesaid the 11th day of January 1638, and was interred in the chauncell of the Parish Church of Tullaphelim aforesaid the 14th of the same monneth' (FitzGerald 1898-1900, 188). The graveslab (CW008-045017-) of Walter Mottly is located in the graveyard (CW008-045014-) of Tullow.

Present St. Columba's C of I parish church may have been partially built on the site of or incorporated the foundations of the earlier medieval nave and chancel parish church of Tullowphelim. Present 19th century church stands at NE end of Tullow town (CW008-045----) in N quadrant of rectangular shaped graveyard (CW008-045014-) on high ground with site of Tullow Castle (CW008-0450023-) 30m to NNE. Lying on the ground immediately adjacent to the centre of the S wall of the C of I church is the granite head of a twin-light elliptical-headed window. A glazing groove is visible on the soffit of this window head. This twin-light window of late medieval or 17th century date came from an earlier church building which presumably was replaced by the present church in the 19th century. A large rectangular granite cross base (CW008-045013-) with rectangular socket and circular granite font (CW008-045012-) in churchyard (CW008-045014-) may be associated with earlier church (Bradley 1990, 69-71).

Compiled and revised by: Claire Breen & Caimin O'Brien