Dufferin Chronicles

A Short History of Killyleagh Parish Church

Killyleagh Parish Church is on top of church Hill, overlooking the harbour and Strangford Lough. It was built in 1640 by Viscount Clandeboye. It fell into a bad state of dilapidation and was in 1812 rebuilt, at the expense of £2,000 by James – Baron Dufferin and Clandeboye to whom a monument is erected on the East wall of the South Transept. The roof was raised and a tower and spire added in 1824. the ‘old line’ of the roof can still be seen under the present plaster of the painted interior.

The church was built in the Cruciform Shape, but the addition of the aisle, where the font now stands, and the vestry spoils the Cruciform. The Architecture is Jacobean. In the tower there is a fine bell which weights 15cwt. It was presented to the church by Catherine Ann Hamilton, of Killyleagh Castle, in 1875. J.Murphy of Dublin was the founder of the bell.

At this time also the present organ was installed. It was built by Walker of London – a famous organbuilder.

The Ministers in the periods 1640-41 and 1649-1661 were Presbyterians, licensed to preach under the Crown. They were deposed by Bishop Jeremy Taylor for Nonconformity.

A book entitled “The Presbyterian Ministers of Killyleagh, 1875”, written by DrMcCreery of 2nd Killyleagh Presbyterian Church, gives an interesting account of Life in Killyleagh from 1640 onwards.

First to preach in the church was Thomas Murray, who was later crucified on a tree, in company with two other men.

The early Registers were lost and Baptismal and Marriage Registers survive only from 1830. Burial Registers exist only from 1836.

Inside the Church are many memorial tablets – particularly relating to the Hamilton Family. There is one in memory of Vice-Admiral Blackwood who served in Nelson’s fleet at Trafalgar. Another is in memory of a Captain Robert Blackwood, killed at Waterloo in 1815.

There are eight memorial windows:-one to the memory of Rev. Edward Hincks – a former rector 1822-66. He was a famous student of Oriental Culture and one of the first to decipher Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Ancient Persian Script. He is buried in the adjoining graveyard. His father, Rev. Thomas Dix Hincks was head of the Classical School at Royal Belfast Academical Institution and he was a Professor of Hebrew.

The other notable family buried here is the family of Sir Hans Sloane. His father’s and brothers’ graves are in the churchyard. There are two gravestones to his brothers – ‘Henry’ died 1659 and ‘John’ died 1660.

A stone placed in the Castle green, at the instigation of ‘The Downe Society commemorates the achievement of Sir Hans, and the dated stone from the house (now demolished) where he was born is inset in a wall of the new Car Park in Frederick Street.

The tombstones of two of the early Presbyterian ministers are fixed against the North Wall, beside the porch.

A very old memorial to Rev. James Clewlow can be seen to the left of the main aisle at the entrance. It’s inscription is in Latin throughout. Recently some Latin Masters in Down High School translated the inscription and a very skilful parishioner – Mr Wm McKee, placed a copper plaque, bearing the translation, on the wall beside the memorial.

The Font is of Red Porphry. Amongst those baptized at the font was Hans Sloane.

An article in the Belfast Telegraph of Friday, 13th September 1940 gives an account of a Tercentenary Thanksgiving Service when, amongst many gifts dedicated were new Choir Stalls.

The Carving on the Choir Stalls in Killyleagh Parish Church

Peacocks are emblems of Immortality

The ancient Irish believed that the peacock never died but flew away and was translated.

The strange interwoven pattern – so common to all Celtic designs and known as the “meander design” is intended to represent the eternal mind of God. The pattern never ends but winds in and out and starts again where it began.

The Snake dying upon the cross-shaped sword shows ‘Sin’ slain by the power of the Cross. Ireland, unused to the sight of snakes, believed they had beaks like birds. The beaks are seen on the snakes on the Reading Desks.

A strange Capital is to be seen on the Stalls. It shows the Foot – a symbol of possession, and the Cross of Wisdom between. It is older than Christianity, but was adopted by the Christians. The Druid Priest drew the sign of the Foot with his finger in the dust, and shouted with a loud voice “Our great God is come amongst us to possess the land”; hence – the Foot for Possession. The same thought comes in ‘The earth is His Footstool’.

On the communion Table are ‘The Tree of Life’ and ‘The True Vine’ interwoven in the ancient Irish mode. ‘Lilies of Purity’ are to be seen and little ‘Snowdrops of Hope’ piercing the hard winter soil with the promise of New Life.

Celtic Bosses are based on the famous sign of ‘The Holy Trinity’.

Rectors of the Parish Church

Rev. John Bole 1622 (old church)

Rev. Thomas Murray 1641

Rev. Wm. Richardson 1649 (who baptised Hans Sloane in the present Church Font)

Rev. Robert Maxwell 1686

Rev. Jas. Clewlow 1686 (Memorial tablet in Latin)

Rev. Patrick Hamilton 1735

Rev. Roland Hill 1749

Rev. John Foster 1770

Rev. Wm. Day 1789

Rev. Wm. Stack 1794

Rev. Wm McGee 1812

Rev. Peter Carleton 1813

Rev. Edward Hincks 1825

Very Rev. Edward Moeran 1876 (Dean of Down)

Rev. Richard Ray 1887

Rev. I. McCran 1904

Rev. I. Woods 1905

Rev. Wm. Brown 1907

Rev. Thomas Parr 1930 (Later became Canon)

Rev. Stanley Mann 1935 (afterwards Dean of Down)

Rev. R. Edwin Conn 1963

Miss Tynsdale was the first organist, and though there have been a number of organists down through the years it is interesting to record that six McKnight sisters have sat on that stool.

Researched by Olive H. Stevenson.

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