CRUISETOWN CHURCH (RPM ME005 005-/15/16 27958/28453)
A BRIEF HISTORY
Cruicetown is situated southwest of Nobber, on the border of the baronies of Morgallion and Lower Kells, and forms part of the Union of Nobber. Formerly the property of the Cruise Family, the first of whom was a member of Strongbow’s Army, which landed in Ireland in 1169. The first recorded member of the Cruise family in the area was Maurice Cruise who died in 1216.
The church of Cruicetown is situated beside a fort, which is believed to have been the usual gift from the local chieftain after the conversion of the local people to Christianity. The church, however, is dedicated to St. James, a biblical saint, highly unusual for a Celtic church. So the church may have been re-dedicated by the conquering Anglo-Normans and all records of a previous patron saint erased from local memory and record.
Enclosed by a low stonewall the entrance to the graveyard is located on the south.
The majority of visible grave markers date to the 19th and 20th centuries (though some date back to 1688 such as the Ringed Cross). Many of these were simple unmarked stones and most, likely date to the Reformation period.
The believed date of construction for the church and motte at Cruicetown is the late 12th, or early 13th centuries.
The church itself was built in the Hiberno-Romanesque style and consists of a chancel and nave. The chancel itself measures 6.1m by 4.1m the walls are on average 1m thick. Little survives of the eastern or northern walls, what little remains, of decoration seems to be plain in style. The Cruise family vault is situated at the western end of the south wall.
The church door was located on the south wall of the Nave, which is 10.5m by 5.4m. Evidence of a drawbar hole remains on the east side of the door which means the church could have been locked from inside if necessary. The western gable of the Nave is almost intact and the outside shows three rows of putlog holes. The existence of these holes is evidence of construction methods of the time, the scaffolding was built into the wall, when construction was completed the logs were sawn off and covered over. At a later date at the western end of the church a Priest’s room and a belfry were added.
By 1622 when Archbishop Ussher visited, the church was in a ruined state and probably had been so for many years. This change in fortune of the church rather than the family is owing to the Reformation. The Cruise family remained Catholic and continued services for as long as possible within the confines of the church. But, with the crowning of Elizabeth in 1558 and the introduction of Protestantism as the official religion of the country and the resulting seizure of all Catholic Church property meant that Cruicetown Church was given over to the practice of Protestantism. However, the Protestant population of the area or rather lack of it meant that the church soon fell into disrepair.
Despite this, the Cruise Family remained patrons of the church. In its ruined condition it is possible that the family made provision for services in their house. It is most likely though that the burial of family members and retainers continued within the grounds of the church.
In 1688 a pierced ring limestone cross was erected within the graveyard of Cruicetown. It measures 6ft 6ins in height with arms measuring 3ft 9in across. It depicts the Virgin and Child on its eastern side and the scene of the Crucifixion on the west and cherubs are seen at the top. The inscription reads “ Pray for the souls of Patrick Cruise and Catherine Dalton, his wife, daughter to William Dalton 1688”.
Dating to the same time within the church itself built along the southern wall stands a vault with an effigy of the deceased couple. The construction of the tomb most likely caused two windows to be walled up, which confirms the report that the church was no longer being used as a place of worship at this time.
The accession of a Catholic Monarch to the throne would explain the sudden appearance of these almost ostentatious memorials: the cross was erected for Patrick and Catherine and was also dedicated to the memory of Catherine’s parents, the tomb within the church was dedicated to his own parents who had died almost thirty years before.
The inscription “Anno dom. 1688 and in the 4th year of the Reign of the most Illustrious Prince our Gracious King James the second” takes on more significance in light of the political situation of the country at the time.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
An Archaeological and Historical Assessment of Cruicetown Church and Graveyard, Cruicetown, Co. Meath, Discover Programme’s Medieval Rural Settlement Project, May 2005.
Cruicetown, Dr. Beryl F.E. Moore, M.A.
Nobber and the Surrounding Areas, Nora O’Sullivan.
Nobber, A Step Back in Time, Ed. Noel French, Meath Heritage Centre, High St., Trim, Co. Meath, April 1991.
[KAREN WARD]
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