Faughanvale (St. Canice) Church of Ireland Churchyard

It is believed that Saint Canice built a small church in the nearby Greysteel village during the 6^th century. It is thought that this is where the present church took its name.

During the early 17^th century, the Grocers’ Company of the City of London was granted a manor of some 16,000 acre around townland of Muff by King James I.[1] A castle was built (it was really a manor house with four towers) and twelve houses and a defensive wall. The work was completed by 1622. The original Faughanvale Parish church was then also built, it was completed during 1626 (the ruins of this building still stand on this site today.)

Between 1641 and 1689 the “castle” was occupied several times by various armies and was finally left in partial ruin by Parliamentarians[2] and then troops of King James II during the Siege of Derry.[3]

As the village of Muff grew, it was soon noticed that a new church was needed. The present day Faughanvale (Saint Canice) Church was completed during 1821 and the nearby “castle” was fully demolished during 1823 and a Rectory was built from its rubble. Both buildings stand on their present sites to this day.

Due to confusement between this village of Muff and another one across the river Foyle in County Donegal, it was decided to change the name on the 19^th of August 1858, to the village of Eglinton in honour of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. There are 25 identified casualties from the Second World War here. Two of these men are Dutch.