Aghadowey (St Guaires) Church of Ireland Churchyard
Aghadowey (St Guaires) Church of Ireland Churchyard
This church is located at 81, Ardreagh Road, Coleraine, Londonderry.
Aghadowey Church is still in the townland of the same name, in County Londonderry. The church is an active parish and has its own parking facilities. It would not be advised to park on the main road, if visiting.
It is believed that a church was in this area from the 7th century and that it was connected to an abbey nearby at Agivey.[1] By 1622 though the church lay in ruins. It would be another 40 years before it would be repaired and be active again and would remain like this until 1797 when it was rebuilt once again in today’s form, this time with a tower and a spire.
The spire on the tower though would not last long as it was struck by lightning in 1826. This caused extensive damage to the building. The tower though was rebuilt but the spire was not.
Within the tower there is also a bell that is believed to have been given to the church chaplain, the Reverent Robert Gage by the future Queen Anne III,[2] at the end of the 17th century. It remains there today. In the grounds there are 3 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war.
[1] The abbey at Agivey’s ruins can still be seen today
[2] Queen Anne reigned from the 8th March 1702 until 1st August 1714, when she passed away, she was only 48.
