Crotty Schism
Encyclopedia
The Crotty Schism took place in the early 19th century, when Father Michael Crotty and his cousin, Father William Crotty, broke away from the Catholic Church to form their own church in Birr
, County Offaly
, Ireland
.
The two fathers began preaching under a divergent doctrine after Michael Crotty was forced from the church where he had been a temporary curate. Michael was able to convince some parishioners who had followed him to construct a new church, which is now used as a store. The schism
created was mostly exhausted by 1842. William Crotty eventually joined the Presbyterian Church.
The old church still stands in Castle Street. Known infamously as the site of a 20th century beerhouse, the prestige of the church has decreased significantly over the years. While certain faithfuls still attend services occasionally held, most Catholics tend to avoid the historical site.
Birr
Birr is a town in County Offaly, Ireland. Once called Parsonstown, after the Parsons family who were local landowners and hereditary Earls of Rosse. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe....
, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
, 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...
.
The two fathers began preaching under a divergent doctrine after Michael Crotty was forced from the church where he had been a temporary curate. Michael was able to convince some parishioners who had followed him to construct a new church, which is now used as a store. The schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
created was mostly exhausted by 1842. William Crotty eventually joined the Presbyterian Church.
The old church still stands in Castle Street. Known infamously as the site of a 20th century beerhouse, the prestige of the church has decreased significantly over the years. While certain faithfuls still attend services occasionally held, most Catholics tend to avoid the historical site.