Church Micro 759…Carnmoney Parish Church
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The cache is located just inside the Litch Gate of the Carnmoney Parish Church it is a round container slightly larger than a 35mm film canister It contains a log book and pencil stub
Carnmoney Parish Church and Graveyard stands in the shadow of the hill and is believed to be the on the site of an early Christian settlement dating back to the 5th century, the time of St Patrick. The old church was demolished in 1856 to make way for the present building. However, an ancient well, named after St Brigid can be found in the graveyard. The graveyard is also the resting place of many key figures in local history, including Nicolas Grimshaw, who founded Irelands first cotton mill in 1784 and James Joseph Biggar, one of the most controversial figures in Irish - British politics, who supported Home Rule and became MP for Cavan in 1874. Of particular interest is the Celtic Cross, which marks the grave of General James Smyth. Standing eighteen feet high, with intricately carved decorations, the cross is regarded as one of the finest pieces of ecclesiastical art in Ireland. Smyth was born on 25th January 1816 at Coole Glebe, Carnmoney. He was the second son of the local vicar and joined the Royal Artillery at the age of 17. He fought in the Kaffir War of 1835 and in a career spanning 37 years he held numerous positions, including Secretary of the Royal Artillery Institution at Woolwich between 1839 - 1841 and Director of Military Studies 1850 - 1852.Before his death in 1887 and following his retirement from the army, Smyth lived at Tobercooran House From Lewis Topographical Dictionary, 1837 we read the following description of the area Carnmoney Civil Parish County Antrim Ireland CARNMONEY, a parish , in the barony of LOWER BELFAST, county of ANTRIM, and province of ULSTER; 3 miles (N. by E.) from Belfast; containing 5423 in habitants. This place was anciently called, Coole, and according to tradition there was a town of that name of considerable extent near the present church, on the decay of which the parish took its modern name from an adjoining hill with a large cairn on its summit. It is situated on Carrickfergus bay, and on the road from Belfast to Londonderry; and according to the ordnance survey comprises 8937¼ statute acres, of which 230 are too mountainous to be cultivated, and the remainder is arable or pasture land excepting about 70 acres of bog. The land is generally in a high state of cultivation, especially near the shore, where several gentlemen who are practical agriculturalists, till their own estates, and their improved methods are almost generally followed by the farmers. Great quantities of limestone are raised in the parish, and are shipped to Scotland and other places. The village of Whitehouse has considerable manufactures: there are a cotton and flax-spinning manufactory, and extensive works for printing cloths, which are made here exclusively for the Manchester market; and at White Abbey also is a cotton and flax spinning manufactory. These establishments together employ about 670 persons. If anyone would like to expand on this series please do, but first please email sadexploration@yahoo.co.uk so that he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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