Board of First Fruits
Encyclopedia
The Board of First Fruits was an institution of the Church of Ireland
that was established in 1711 by Anne, Queen of Great Britain in order to build and improve churches and glebe
houses in Ireland
. This was funded from taxes collected on clerical incomes which were in turn funded by tithes. The board was replaced in 1833 by the Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners
.
in the 16th century, most Irish people chose to remain Roman Catholic and had by now to pay tithes valued at about 10% of an area's agricultural produce, to maintain and fund the established state church, the Anglican Church of Ireland
, to which only a small minority of the population converted. Irish Presbyterian
s and other minorities like the Quakers and Jews were in the same situation. Protests against this sitution led to the Tithe war
in the early 19th century.
In 1711, Queen Anne agreed that the tax on clerical incomes be given to the Church of Ireland for the building of new Churches and Glebe House
s. To this effect, with Jonathan Swift
's influence, the Board of First Fruits was founded.
During the first 70 years of its existence, the board purchased glebe lands for benefice
s at a total cost of £3,543. It also assisted the building of forty five glebe houses with gifts of £4,080.
In 1778 the Irish Parliament agreed a grant of £6,000, followed by £1,500 in 1779-1780, £6,000 in 1781-1782, £3,000 in 1783-1784 and £5,000 each year from 1785 to 1800. During the period 1791-1803, the board spent £55,600 towards the building of 88 churches and 116 glebe houses.
The grants were maintained after the Act of Union 1800
, but the Act of Parliament
in 1808 saw a consolidation of the funds and allowed the board to also repair old churches and glebe houses.
From 1808 the annual grant doubled to £10,000 and massively increased to £60,000 each year between 1810 to 1816. Thereafter the grant was halved between 1817 and 1821, finally being reduced to £10,000 each year in 1822-1823.
In the twenty years following the Act of Union a total of £807,648 was paid out in grants to purchases glebe lands in 193 benefices, the building of 550 glebe houses, and the building, rebuilding and enlargement of 697 churches.
The Church Temporalities Act 1833 put an end to the Board of First Fruits and The Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners took over.
An asterisk indicates that a building is featured on the website
of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
that was established in 1711 by Anne, Queen of Great Britain in order to build and improve churches and glebe
Glebe
Glebe Glebe Glebe (also known as Church furlong or parson's closes is an area of land within a manor and parish used to support a parish priest.-Medieval origins:...
houses in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. This was funded from taxes collected on clerical incomes which were in turn funded by tithes. The board was replaced in 1833 by the Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners
Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners
The Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners was established in 1833 to supersede the Board of First Fruits. It was created to overcome criticisms against the established church by enforcing a reform of the church. Ten dioceses were dissolved by joining them with neighboring dioceses and their...
.
History
From the English ReformationEnglish Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
in the 16th century, most Irish people chose to remain Roman Catholic and had by now to pay tithes valued at about 10% of an area's agricultural produce, to maintain and fund the established state church, the Anglican Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
, to which only a small minority of the population converted. Irish Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
s and other minorities like the Quakers and Jews were in the same situation. Protests against this sitution led to the Tithe war
Tithe War
The Tithe War was a campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience, punctuated by sporadic violent episodes, in Ireland between 1830-36 in reaction to the enforcement of Tithes on subsistence farmers and others for the upkeep of the established state church - the Church of Ireland...
in the early 19th century.
In 1711, Queen Anne agreed that the tax on clerical incomes be given to the Church of Ireland for the building of new Churches and Glebe House
Glebe House
The Glebe House is a 18th-century Georgian stone building in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, USA. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a historic place of local significance since 1982....
s. To this effect, with Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
's influence, the Board of First Fruits was founded.
During the first 70 years of its existence, the board purchased glebe lands for benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
s at a total cost of £3,543. It also assisted the building of forty five glebe houses with gifts of £4,080.
In 1778 the Irish Parliament agreed a grant of £6,000, followed by £1,500 in 1779-1780, £6,000 in 1781-1782, £3,000 in 1783-1784 and £5,000 each year from 1785 to 1800. During the period 1791-1803, the board spent £55,600 towards the building of 88 churches and 116 glebe houses.
The grants were maintained after the Act of Union 1800
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
, but the Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in 1808 saw a consolidation of the funds and allowed the board to also repair old churches and glebe houses.
From 1808 the annual grant doubled to £10,000 and massively increased to £60,000 each year between 1810 to 1816. Thereafter the grant was halved between 1817 and 1821, finally being reduced to £10,000 each year in 1822-1823.
In the twenty years following the Act of Union a total of £807,648 was paid out in grants to purchases glebe lands in 193 benefices, the building of 550 glebe houses, and the building, rebuilding and enlargement of 697 churches.
The Church Temporalities Act 1833 put an end to the Board of First Fruits and The Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners took over.
Architects
Many architects worked for the Board of First Fruits. The following lists a few and is not exhaustive:- George Richard PainGeorge Richard PainGeorge Richard Pain was born into a family of English architects. His Grandfather was William Pain, his father James Pain and his brother also James. George Richard served as an apprentice architect to John Nash of London. George Richard and James were commissioned by the Board of First Fruits to...
- James PainJames PainJames Pain was born into a family of English architects. His grandfather was William Pain, his father James Pain and his brother George Richard Pain. James Pain served as an apprentice to the architect John Nash of London. James and George Richard were commissioned by the Board of First Fruits...
- Joseph WellandJoseph Welland (architect)Joseph Welland was born in County Cork and became an Irish Architect for the Board of First Fruits and later the Ecclesiastical Commissioners...
- John BowdenJohn BowdenJohn Bowden was an Irish architect and member of the Board of First Fruits of the Church of Ireland from 1813 to 1821. He was born in Dublin and died in 1822....
- John SempleJohn Semple (architect)John Semple was an Irish Architect who worked for the Board of First Fruits and designed such churches as Monkstown Church, Dublin and St. Marys Chapel of Ease, Dublin. He is noted for being ahead of his time in his style of architecture....
- William FarrellWilliam Farrell (architect)William Farrell, RIAI, was a prominent Dublin-based Irish architect active throughout early to mid-nineteenth-century Ireland, during the Georgian and early Victorian period, known particularly for his church and institutional designs.-Career:...
Buildings
Many churches and glebe houses were constructed or improved with funding from the Board of First Fruits.Churches
- Littleton Church of Ireland, Bally Beg, North TipperaryNorth TipperaryNorth Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
(Built 1786) - Church of Ireland (in ruins), Glebe, North Tipperary (built c1790)*
- The Old Church, TerryglassTerryglassTerryglass is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. The village is located on the R493 regional road on the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg near where the River Shannon enters the Lough. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the...
, North Tipperary (Built 1808)* - Church of Ireland (in ruins), Marshalstown, County CorkCounty CorkCounty Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
(Built c1810)* - Killodiernan Church of Ireland, Johnstown, North Tipperary (Built 1811)*
- Church of Ireland, BorrisokaneBorrisokaneBorrisokane is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of approximately 1,145. It is situated on the N52/N65 National secondary road between Nenagh and Portumna and the N52 between Nenagh and Birr. It is close to Lough Derg which is only 12 km to the west. It is a...
, North Tipperary (Built 1812) * - Church of Ireland, Feigh WestFeigh WestFeigh West is a townland in the Barony of Ormond Lower, North Tipperary, Ireland. It is located north east of Borrisokane....
, North Tipperary (Built 1813)* - St. Burchin’s Church of Ireland, Ballyhenry, North Tipperary (Built 1814)*
- St. Michael’s Church of Ireland (in ruins), Cloonmore, North Tipperary (Built 1815)*
- St. Ruadan’s Church of Ireland, (in ruins) Curraghmore, North Tipperary (Built c1815)*
- Church of Ireland, Ballynaclogh, North Tipperary (Built 1815)*
- MaddenMadden, County ArmaghMadden or Maddan is a small village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 105 people. It is within the Armagh City and District Council area.- History :...
, County ArmaghCounty Armagh-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
(Rebuilt 1816) - St. Cartach’s Church, CastlemaineCastlemaine, County KerryCastlemaine is a small town in County Kerry, southwest Ireland. It lies on the N70 national secondary road between Killorglin and Tralee.-History:...
, County KerryCounty KerryKerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
(Built 1816)* - Former Church of Ireland, TemplenoeTemplenoeTemplenoe is a settlement in County Kerry, Ireland. It is situated four miles from Kenmare, on the N70 road to Sneem, which forms part of the Ring of Kerry....
, County Kerry (Built 1816)* - Christ Church, Taney ParishTaney ParishTaney is a populous parish in the Church of Ireland, located in the Dundrum area of Dublin.-Early history:Taney's origins go back to the early Irish saint Nathi, who in the 6th century established a centre for monastic life. This centre may have been on what is now the site of St. Nahi's Church in...
, DundrumDundrum, DublinDundrum , originally a town in its own right, is now a suburb of Dublin in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Ireland.The area is located in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and Dublin 16.-History:...
, Dublin (Built 1818) - Kilcolman Church, MilltownMilltown, County KerryMilltown is a small town on the N70 national secondary road between major towns Tralee and Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland.Milltown stands roughly four miles from Killorglin. Milltown is packed with seven pubs, two take-away restaurants, a vet, a butchers shop, a local church, three schools and...
, County Kerry (Built 1819)* - Church of Ireland, KilruaneKilruaneKilruane is a townland and civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower, North Tipperary in Ireland. It is located between Nenagh and Cloughjordan. Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA club grounds are located nearby in Cloughjordan....
, North Tipperary (Built 1820)* - St. Philip and St. James Church, BooterstownSt. Philip and St. James Church, BooterstownSt. Philip and St. James Church, Booterstown is a church of the Church of Ireland located in Booterstown, Dublin.-Beginning the Parish:The area of the parish of Booterstown was founded in 1821, where the area had previously been covered by the parish of Donnybrook.-Initial Building:The site of the...
, Dublin (Built 1821) - St. Mary’s Church of Ireland, ShinroneShinroneShinrone is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It lies at the junction of the R491 regional road between Cloughjordan and Roscrea where it is joined by the R492...
, Co. Offaly (Built 1821)* - Holycross Church of Ireland, HolycrossHolycrossHolycross is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is in the barony of Eliogarty. Unusually, the civil parish straddles two counties and the baronies of Eliogarty and of Middle Third . It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.The village developed around the...
, North Tipperary (Built 1821)* - Kilfithmone Church of Ireland, Kilfithmone, North Tipperary (Built 1821)*
- BallymoyerBallymoyerBallymoyer is a parish in the barony of Upper Fews, County of Armagh and province of Ulster, three miles north east of Newtownhamilton, and the seat of Sir Walter Synnot , Bart....
, County Armagh (Built 1822) - Former Church of Ireland, Dromagh, County Cork (Built 1822)*
- Church of Ireland (in ruins), Kilbiller, North Tipperary (Built 1822)*
- St.Mary’s Church, CastletownrocheCastletownrocheCastletownroche is a village on the N72 National secondary road in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. In ancient times, it was known in Irish as Dún Chruadha, meaning Cruadha's Fort...
, County Cork (Built c1825)* - Former St. Mary’s Church, ThurlesThurlesThurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
, North Tipperary (Built c1825)* - Church of Ireland (in ruins), ModreenyModreenyModreeny is a townland and a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower, North Tipperary in Ireland. Situated on the R490 between the towns of Borrisokane and Cloughjordan, it is the location of a ruined C19th church, an adjoining cemetery and to the west, remains of a medieval church...
, North Tipperary (Built 1828)* - St. George’s Church, MitchelstownMitchelstownMitchelstown is a town in County Cork, Ireland with a population of approximately 3300. Mitchelstown is situated in the valley to the south of the Galtee Mountains close to the Mitchelstown Caves and is 28 km from Cahir, 50 km from Cork and 59 km from Limerick...
, County Cork (Rebuild of 1830 partially funded by Board)* - Monkstown Church, DublinMonkstown Church, DublinMonkstown Church is a church of the Church of Ireland located in Monkstown, County Dublin, Ireland.-History:The original church on this site was opened in 1789 and was a very simple church. In 1825 it was decided to rebuild the church and the architect John Semple of the Board of First Fruits was...
(Built 1830s) - St. Marys Chapel of Ease, DublinSt. Marys Chapel of Ease, DublinSt. Marys Chapel of Ease universally known as 'The Black Church' is one of the most infamous and curious buildings in Dublin. It was a church of the Church of Ireland located on St. Mary's Place, Broadstone Dublin, Ireland. Constructed from local calp limestone, the building's nickname ‘The Black...
(Built 1830) - Church of Ireland, PortumnaPortumnaPortumna is a market town in the south-east of County Galway, Ireland, on the border with County Tipperary. The town is located to the west of the point where the River Shannon enters Lough Derg. This historic crossing point over the River Shannon between counties Tipperary and Galway has a long...
, County GalwayCounty GalwayCounty Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
(Built 1832)* - DorrhaDorrha, North TipperaryDorrha is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower, North Tipperary, Ireland. It is located in the extreme north of County Tipperary and includes the settlement of Rathcabbin....
Church of Ireland, Graigue, North Tipperary (Built 1832)* - St. Kieran’s Church of Ireland, CloughjordanCloughjordanCloughjordan, officially Cloghjordan , is a town in North Tipperary in Ireland. It is in the barony of Ormond Lower, and it is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
, North Tipperary (Built 1837)*
Glebe Houses
- ClondrohidClondrohidClondrohid is a small village in County Cork, Ireland, four miles north of Macroom. Population is estimated as 55 people living in the village, with a further 45 living nearby. The name of the village means 'the meadow of the bridges'...
, County CorkCounty CorkCounty Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county... - ClondavaddogClondavaddogClondavaddog is a parish in the Diocese of Raphoe. Clondavaddog is situated at the northern part of the Fanad peninsula, County Donegal in Ireland.-19th century:...
, County Donegal (Built c1795) - LorrhaLorrhaLorrha is a small village at the northern tip of North Tipperary, Ireland. It is located on a local minor road between the R489 Birr to Portumna road and the N65 Nenagh to Portumna road about five kilometres east of the point where the River Shannon enters Lough Derg. It is a townland and a civil...
, North Tipperary (Built 1816)* - Feigh WestFeigh WestFeigh West is a townland in the Barony of Ormond Lower, North Tipperary, Ireland. It is located north east of Borrisokane....
, North Tipperary (Built 1816)* - KilleenKilleen, County TipperaryKilleen is a townland in the Civil Parish of Borrisokane, in the Barony of Ormond Lower, North Tipperary, Ireland.It is one of eight townlands in County Tipperary sharing the name Killeen....
, North Tipperary (Built 1816)* - BallymoyerBallymoyerBallymoyer is a parish in the barony of Upper Fews, County of Armagh and province of Ulster, three miles north east of Newtownhamilton, and the seat of Sir Walter Synnot , Bart....
, County Armagh (Built 1825) - LoughkeenLoughkeenLoughkeen is a townland and a civil parish in the barony of Ormond Lower, North Tipperary in Ireland. It is located south-west of Riverstown in the extreme north of the county....
, North Tipperary (Built c1830)*
An asterisk indicates that a building is featured on the website
of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage