Church History
Interior of Christ Church
The Church- 1694 saw the building of a private chapel on the Moyola Estate by Joshua Dawson. This chapel, to a large extent, catered for the worship of estate staff and was to become known as the church over the Bridge. It is nearly two hundred years older than the Parish of Castledawson which was formed as a separate unit in 1875.
In 1710 and 1760 the church was greatly enlarged. In 1851 the church was greatly enhanced by the addition of a stained glass window made by Cootes of Belfast, and the chancel walls were embellished with some fine oak carvings. Parquet flooring was laid in the chancel and it was furnished with a beautifully carved oak Communion Table, two Glastonbury chairs and Communion rails. As well as providing these adornments, George Robert Dawson installed a pulpit and a large carved oak eagle.
In 1847, he had bought a handsome carved frame which came originally from the Cathedral of St. Malines in Belgium and was used by him to frame a brass tablet on which was inscribed the genealogy of the Dawson family. This surround had to be replaced (1980) owing to an attack of woodworm
Another massive carved frame surrounds brass memorial tablets from his tenantry to mark his death in 1856. This carving has greatly interested visitors over the years and some experts think that it was originally the surround for a fireplace. Such was the little church handed over to the newly-formed Parish of Castledawson in 1875, to be the Parish Church for the growing community. It was the heritage and gift not of one generation of Dawsons but of many, and it has a continuing record of family monuments and gifts from succeeding generations, alongside those of its newer parishioners.
The Parish was formed from some townlands ceded from the Parishes of Magherafelt and Ballyscullion.
Extract from minutes of Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Synod held on 4th August 1875:
Council have consented to the formation of a new Parish of Castledawson to comprise the following portions of the Dioceses of Derry and Armagh: From Magherafelt Parish - that part of. Ballynocker to the East of the Castledawson and Curran Road, all Shanemullagh, all Tamnadeese and that portion of Annaghmore to the east of Castledawson and Ballyronan Road. From the Woods Chapel - that part of the Creagh between the Moyola, Lough Neagh and the Castledawson-Toome Road. From Ballyscullion part of Leitrim-Lances. In Leitrim, to South of Leitrim Road; the whole of Tamniaran; part of Drumclamph, bounded by Ballyherry townland and the Coppice Road; from Peadlows to Moyola river.
It was dedicated Christ Church on 7th November 1876 by Bishop Alexander (husband of Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander of There is a Green Hill far away and Once in Royal Davidís City fame).
In 1710 and 1760 the church was greatly enlarged. In 1851 the church was greatly enhanced by the addition of a stained glass window made by Cootes of Belfast, and the chancel walls were embellished with some fine oak carvings. Parquet flooring was laid in the chancel and it was furnished with a beautifully carved oak Communion Table, two Glastonbury chairs and Communion rails. As well as providing these adornments, George Robert Dawson installed a pulpit and a large carved oak eagle.
In 1847, he had bought a handsome carved frame which came originally from the Cathedral of St. Malines in Belgium and was used by him to frame a brass tablet on which was inscribed the genealogy of the Dawson family. This surround had to be replaced (1980) owing to an attack of woodworm
Another massive carved frame surrounds brass memorial tablets from his tenantry to mark his death in 1856. This carving has greatly interested visitors over the years and some experts think that it was originally the surround for a fireplace. Such was the little church handed over to the newly-formed Parish of Castledawson in 1875, to be the Parish Church for the growing community. It was the heritage and gift not of one generation of Dawsons but of many, and it has a continuing record of family monuments and gifts from succeeding generations, alongside those of its newer parishioners.
The Parish was formed from some townlands ceded from the Parishes of Magherafelt and Ballyscullion.
Extract from minutes of Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Synod held on 4th August 1875:
Council have consented to the formation of a new Parish of Castledawson to comprise the following portions of the Dioceses of Derry and Armagh: From Magherafelt Parish - that part of. Ballynocker to the East of the Castledawson and Curran Road, all Shanemullagh, all Tamnadeese and that portion of Annaghmore to the east of Castledawson and Ballyronan Road. From the Woods Chapel - that part of the Creagh between the Moyola, Lough Neagh and the Castledawson-Toome Road. From Ballyscullion part of Leitrim-Lances. In Leitrim, to South of Leitrim Road; the whole of Tamniaran; part of Drumclamph, bounded by Ballyherry townland and the Coppice Road; from Peadlows to Moyola river.
It was dedicated Christ Church on 7th November 1876 by Bishop Alexander (husband of Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander of There is a Green Hill far away and Once in Royal Davidís City fame).
