St Matthew's Church, Aghadown

St Matthew's Church is a small Gothic Revival Anglican church located in Aghadown, County Cork, Ireland. It was completed in 1873. It is dedicated to Matthew the Apostle. Along with St Matthias' Church in Ballydehob, it is part of the Ballydehob Union of Parishes in the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross.

St Matthew's Church
CountryIreland
DenominationChurch of Ireland
Architecture
Architect(s)Henry & Arthur Hill
Clergy
RectorStephen McCann

Stephen McCann currently serves as rector of the parish.[1]

History

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The original church of St Matthew, now ruined.

St Matthew's replaced an earlier church in Aghadown, which was located on the banks of the River Ilen.[2] This original church was also dedicated to St Matthew,[3] and was built in 1814.[4] The current church stands on a site donated by John H. Becher, and was completed in 1873.[2]

Between 1886 and 1957, the Schull and Skibereen Railway line bordered the boundary of the churchyard.[2]

Architecture

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St Matthew's was designed by father and son Cork architects Henry and Arthur Hill. It is built in the early French Gothic style.[5] The church's organ was built in London in the early 19th century, and was originally housed in the old church.[6]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Stephen McCann". United Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c St Leger 2013, p. 364.
  3. ^ "Aughadown Graveyard in West Cork". skibbheritage.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  4. ^ Hallinan, Nelligan & Sleeman 2015, p. 177.
  5. ^ "CO. CORK, AGHADOWN, CHURCH OF ST MATTHEW (CI)". Dictionary of Irish Architects. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  6. ^ "St Matthew Aughadown". ballydehobunion.ie. Retrieved 30 October 2021.

Sources

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  • Hallinan, Mona; Nelligan, Conor; Sleeman, Mary, eds. (2015). Heritage Churches of County Cork. Cork: Cork County Council: Heritage Unit. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-9525869-2-0.
  • St Leger, Dr. Alicia (2013). "The Province of Dublin: Cork, Cloyne and Ross". In McAuley, Alicia; Costecalde, Dr. Claude; Walker, Prof. Brian (eds.). The Church of Ireland: An illustrated history. Dublin: Booklink. p. 364. ISBN 978-1-906886-56-1.