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At a glance

TypeChurch
Recorded sizeint. 10.8m E-W; 7.15m N-S
StatusNational Monument

What to look for

Nave and chancel
East window
Graveyard
Romanesque doorway

Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.

Visiting

National Monument in State care, listed by the National Monuments Service as a monument to visit.NMS Monuments to Visit · official page
May be on private land and not open to the publicNational Monuments Service advice
Wear suitable footwear and clothingNational Monuments Service advice
Uneven ground: not suitable for everyone, especially wheelchair usersNational Monuments Service advice

Opening times and fees change: check with the operator before you go.

About St. Peter's Church, Ferns

mid-12th centuryThere are also the remains of an even older Romanesque window, from the mid-12th century…
13th centuryThere are two windows that most likely originally formed part of the 13th century…
16th centuryThis curious church has a number of early features; however it appears that it was…

Its history

This curious church has a number of early features; however it appears that it was actually constructed towards the end of the 16th century.
There are two windows that most likely originally formed part of the 13th century cathedral nearby and have been reused in this building.
There are also the remains of an even older Romanesque window, from the mid-12th century within the church that may have originally formed part of St Mary’s Abbey near the cathedral.
It appears then that this church is a relatively late building that was constructed by recycling parts of older churches at Ferns.

Text: National Monuments Service, Monuments to Visit (CC BY 4.0). Sentences grouped by topic by ErinSites; the wording is unchanged.

History and description

Full archaeological record 195 words

St Peter's church might be the parish church of Ferns and it is at the N edge of a small D-shaped graveyard (dims. c. 30m E-W; c. 25m N-S) defined by masonry walls. It is situated on a slight bluff overlooking a NW-SE stream c. 100m to the SW with the Cathedral (WX015-003002-) c. 250m to the SW. This is a nave (int. dims. 10.8m E-W; 7.15m N-S) and chancel (int. dims. 6.1m E-W; 5.6m N-S) church that is complete except for the W wall and portions of other walls of the nave. Investigations at the time of its conservation uncovered the original W wall showing that the nave was longer (int. dim. c. 14.6m) (Anon. 1910-1, 5-6). The church has a plain rounded chancel arch (Wth 5m) and two lancet windows at the E end of the chancel. There are small niches in the N, E and S chancel walls. A lancet window in the S wall of chancel has a round-headed embrasure in a green stone decorated with chevrons, probably taken from Clone church (WX015-023001-) c. 2.7km to the SSW. (Harbison 1975, 247)

This is a National Monument in state ownership: No. 133.

Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Compiled by Michael Moore · Updated 30 April, 2012 · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.

Folklore and traditions

St Peter

More ancient churches nearby

National Monument

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Around St. Peter's Church, Ferns

Other heritage nearby

St Mogue's WellHoly well · 0.1 km
Ferns AbbeyAbbey or friary · 0.3 km
Ferns Round TowerRound tower · 0.3 km
Ferns CastleCastle · 0.6 km
Lady's WellHoly well · 2.2 km
Ballymoty MotteCastle · 9.8 km

Recorded within 5 km

22 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
5 high crossesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
3 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
3 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
2 monastic sitesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
2 castlesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
1 abbey or friaryArchaeological Survey of Ireland
1 round towerArchaeological Survey of Ireland

Walks and trails

Nine Stones Cycle RouteRoad Cycling Trail · nearest point 1.5 km
Slieveboy LoopWalking Trail · 10.9 km · nearest point 6.2 km
Ballybeg loopWalking Trail · 7.8 km · nearest point 6.2 km

Outdoors, towns and places to stay

Courtown, North BeachBeaches · 19 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
MorriscastleBeaches · 19 km · Excellent Quality (2025)
FernsWalled towns · 0.3 km

Other attractions nearby

Ferns CathedralAbbeys and Monastery · 0.3 km
Medieval Ferns ExperienceMuseums and Attraction · 0.5 km
Ferns CastleHistoric Houses and Castle · 0.6 km
Father Murphy CentreMuseums and Attraction · 7.2 km

What's on nearby

Gorey Whiskey Festival 20262026-11-06 · 16 km
Gorey Whiskey Festival 20262026-11-07 · 16 km
Winter Fair and Santa Paws2026-11-15 · 12 km · free

St. Peter's Church, Ferns