Clonleigh Parish Church (St. Lugadius' Church of Ireland) Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland: Historical Notes 1609-1911

Extracted from Derry Clergy and Parishes – Rev. James B. Leslie (Enniskillen, 1937)

Transcribed, Compiled and Submitted by
Len Swindley, Melbourne, Australia
len_swindley[at]hotmail.com

This file of HISTORICAL NOTES FOR CLONLEIGH PARISH CHURCH (ST. LUGARDIUS’ CHURCH OF IRELAND), LIFFORD, COUNTY DONEGAL forms part of the vast archive of 4,000+ pages of genealogical records relating to COUNTIES TYRONE, DONEGAL, LONDONDERRY & FERMANAGH provided without charge or subscription by CoTyroneIreland Welcome to the Premier Website & Research Tool for Cos. Tyrone, Donegal, Londonderry & Fermanagh Genealogy (cotyroneireland.com) An extensive list of records pertaining to CLONLEIGH PARISH, COUNTY DONEGAL on this website can be found at the foot of this file.

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Clonleigh = Cluan laog-called also Clonlege = ”the Calves Meadow.” It is in the Co. of Donegal, and includes Lifford, the County town of Donegal. Its patron saint one of the twelve missionaries who accompanied Columbkille to Iona – namely ”Lugaidh son of Eochaid of Cluanlaogh.” He was of the same stock of the O’Carolans who were herenachs here, up to 1609, when they paid out of two quarters herenach land 33/4 to the Bishop, and for Episcopal thirds of the tithe 13/4.

In 1622 “the old Church of Clonloy is ruined, but instead thereof a faire new Church is to be built in the town of Lifford, the foundacon is already layd by the Exeors. of Sir Richard Hansard, Kt..” 90 acres of glebe belonging to the Church, in Taboyne parish is detained by the Bishop of Raphoe. Incumbent resided in Lifford having no glebe house in the parish.

The Church contains a Monument to Sir Richard Hansard and Anne his wife.

In 1661 Andrew Burton, Parish Clerk, Richard Keys and Henry Holyday, Churchwardens (V. B.)

In 1686 Matthew McClellan was Schoolmaster of the Free School, and Richard Skammon (sic) Par. Clerk: John Johnston “Hypodidasculus”,, Hugh Hamill, Esq., and Matthew Strong, Churchwardens. Richard Skanmon and William Maxwell, Inquisitors. (V. B.).

In 1693 Richard Hammond was Par. Clerk and Richard Martin, B.A., Master of the Free School. Matthew Strong and James Vaughan, Churchwardens 1692-3 Wm. Ellison and James Calhoon for 1693-4, Andrew Jenkins and James Brahen, Inquisitors for 1692-3, and William Gilfilling and John Hindman for 1693-4. “The ancient church was at Clonleigh about a mile from the present Church, it is called in the Inquisition a Collegiate Church, it was transferred to Lifford by Sir Richard Hansard who built a very faire Church in the towne; it was much defaced by King James’ Army but is repaired by the Rector and parishioners, there were anciently 3 Chapples of Ease in this parish – Tehumrick or Ballybogan wch was a Parish and Kirkminster wch was something of a Religious House, but of what sort I cannot learne…… the Minister resides in Lifford and has prayer dayly in the Church.”

About 80 conformable parishioners “and they dayly increase.”

The Church stands in the middle of the parish. Glebe about 120 acres in Carrick-ne-Shannagh, including one gort and one garden of ancient glebe. In the Survey it is 55ac. and lies in Taboyne Parish, dio. of Raphoe.

There is a free school endowed at Lifford by Sr. Richard Hansard, who by his last will endowed it with £30 for a Schoolmaster and £20 for an Usher, and left orders for the building of a schoolhouse and houses for the Master and Usher, the Warden and the Corporation of Lifford being left Trustees and the Bp. Overseer and Visitor. The Master and Overseer to be elected by the Corporation of Lifford.

King James’ Army demolished the school and houses.

There was a nominal Schoolmaster, Matthew McClelland and an Usher put in by the interest of the Warden, but not effectual for 14 years. The Master was compelled to resign and the Usher’s place declared vacant. The Bp. ordered the Deputy Warden and Corporation to elect a Master. They at first refused designing I suppose to have no School……that they may have the salary.” But they at length submitted and appointed with him Mr. Richard Martin, under whom the school thrives. The Salary of the Usher, while vacant to be used in repairing the demolished houses.”

Kirkminster was an appropriation owned by Alexr. Maxwell of Strabane and was about one seventh of the parish

In 1718 Richard Stramon (sic) was Clerk, John Cowan, Free Schoolmaster, and Aaron Jenkins, Assistant. Jas. Mitchell and Jas. Robert, Churchwardens 1718. Wm. Ferguson and Robert McCreery, Churchwardens 1719 (V. B.)

In 1768 Church (at Lifford) is in good repair; a glebe but no house. The Rector, Edw. Golding and Curate Ralph Mansfield both resident (Parl. Ret.)

The Church population in 1861 was 686, Protestant Dissenters [Presbyterians] 1,066. The gross income was £1098.9.9 of which the curate was paid £80! : The annuity declared at Disestablishment was £870. 18s. 9d.

Ballybogan, old Clonleigh and Kirkminster Graveyards are vested in the Local Burial Board.

A new Rectory was built at Lifford in 1911.

V. B. = Visitation Book

Parlt. Ret. = Parliamentary Returns

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Further records for CLONLEIGH PARISH, COUNTY DONEGAL can be found at:

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Clonleigh Parish Records, County Donegal

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