The Church Micro IE series is open to everyone; if you have a church you would like to place a cache at then please contact THE_Chris through Geocaching.com. This is to keep track of the numbers of the churches and give you the general format for the cache page. In the UK there are thousands in the series so we have some catching up to do! Also, if you currently have a published cache at a church that you would like to include in the series, get in contact and I can add it
St Johns, Moira C of I was founded in 1721. A plot of land opposite Moira Castle was given by the Hill family from Hillsborough for the building of the Church in 1723. The Rawdon Family contributed much of the expense in the building of the Church, although Sir John Rawdon himself died the same year the Church was built and before it was consecrated in 1725. His funeral service was in Magheralin but he was buried in Moira.
The Church building had a steeple with wooden slates but it was blown down in a freak storm in 1884 and was replaced by the present copper spire at a cost of £370.
Doors that once hung on the entrance to the Castle Ballroom are now used as the West door in St John’s Church and the bannister rails are now the church communion rails.
The reredos containing the Ten Commandments, Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer was written on Irish Linen, which was apparently woven in the Moira area,
There is supposed to have been a tunnel from Moira Castle leading to the Church. Some think it was used by the Rawdon family and their servants as their means of entry to the Church but it is more likely to have been a means of escape if the house was under attack. When sewers and electric cables were laid the tunnel fell into disuse and was abandoned. What is believed to be an entry point is still visible in the demesne.
Bring your own pen, The Cache is not a micro but suitable to the environment it finds itself in. Upon rock, the wise man built his house, turn this rock to find a surprise.
The Church Micro IE series is open to everyone; if you have a church you would like to place a cache at then please contact THE_Chris through Geocaching.com. This is to keep track of the numbers of the churches and give you the general format for the cache page. In the UK there are thousands in the series so we have some catching up to do! Also, if you currently have a published cache at a church that you would like to include in the series, get in contact and I can add it