St. Adamnan's Church, Lonan
Encyclopedia
St. Adamnan's Church is the former parish church of Lonan in the Isle of Man
. The church is situated in an isolated position, surrounded by open farmland on the eastern coast of the island, between Groudle Glen
and Baldrine. The eastern (and oldest) part of the church has been restored, but it is otherwise in a ruinous, though well-tended, condition. St. Adamnan was the Abbot of Iona
between 679 and 704.
, the oldest of which dates backs to the 5th century AD - evidence of an early keeill
. In about 1190, King Reginald of the Isle of Man gave a grant of the land of Escadala, in the Isle of Man to St Bees Priory
, in Cumbria
. It is likely that the site of the church was included in the grant, to which fact its subsequent reconstruction and selection as the parish church (despite its remoteness) are attributable.
was passed for the building of a new parish church at Boilley Veen, in a more convenient part of the parish, but the new church was not in fact completed until a hundred years later.
The Friends of St Adamnan's were formed in 1968 to keep the old church in good repair and ensure it remained as a working church and historical site.
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. The church is situated in an isolated position, surrounded by open farmland on the eastern coast of the island, between Groudle Glen
Groudle Glen
Groudle, a glen on the outskirts of Onchan on the Isle of Man, is formed in a valley leading to the sea at the small port of the same name. It was a remote hamlet boasting only a handful of small cottages until linked to the Manx Electric Railway in 1893, at which time it was developed as a...
and Baldrine. The eastern (and oldest) part of the church has been restored, but it is otherwise in a ruinous, though well-tended, condition. St. Adamnan was the Abbot of Iona
Iona Abbey
Iona Abbey is located on the Isle of Iona, just off the Isle of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland. It is one of the oldest and most important religious centres in Western Europe. The abbey was a focal point for the spread of Christianity throughout Scotland and marks the foundation of a monastic...
between 679 and 704.
Early history
The site on which the church stands is of ancient religious significance. The church yard contains Celtic crossesCeltic cross
A Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. In the Celtic Christian world it was combined with the Christian cross and this design was often used for high crosses – a free-standing cross made of stone and often richly decorated...
, the oldest of which dates backs to the 5th century AD - evidence of an early keeill
Keeill
-History and siting:Archaeologically, it is used for a specific type of small simple chapel found on the Isle of Man and built during the early medieval period...
. In about 1190, King Reginald of the Isle of Man gave a grant of the land of Escadala, in the Isle of Man to St Bees Priory
St Bees Priory
St Bees Priory is the parish church of St Bees, Cumbria. The Benedictine priory was founded by William le Meschin, Lord of Egremont on an earlier religious site, and was dedicated by Archbishop Thurstan of York sometime between 1120 and 1135...
, in Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. It is likely that the site of the church was included in the grant, to which fact its subsequent reconstruction and selection as the parish church (despite its remoteness) are attributable.
Supersession
On 25 June 1733, an Act of TynwaldAct of Tynwald
An Act of Tynwald is a statute passed by Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man.-Structure:Acts of Tynwald are structured in a similar format to Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-Commencement:...
was passed for the building of a new parish church at Boilley Veen, in a more convenient part of the parish, but the new church was not in fact completed until a hundred years later.
Later history
St.Adamnan's fell into disrepair, but was restored by the Reverend John Quine, who became vicar of Lonan in 1895.The Friends of St Adamnan's were formed in 1968 to keep the old church in good repair and ensure it remained as a working church and historical site.