St. Mary's old Church of Ireland
on Castle Hill, Ardkeen

Castle Hill was formally an ancient Celtic hill fort. On the south side of the hill lies the ruins of St. Mary's old church, now roofless, but the walls still standing to roof height. An older church was believed to have been there before the Savages arrived, possibly from the 6th century. Around the ruins is an ancient burying ground enclosed by later stone walls. An old Norman headstone, depicting a knight because of the sword carved on it, can still be seen.

The old church was a small simple building, in Ardkeen townland on Castle Hill which juts out into Strangford Lough. An old church was built by the Savage family in late 13th century but was in ruins by 1621 then fully retored in 1761. In 1836 it was described as being 60 feet by 27 feet and capable of holding 160 people. It was unroofed by a severe storm 6 Jan 1839 so the congregation then had the decision to make; build a new Church or repair an ancient one.
On 27th May 1847 the new Christ Church [The Quarter] Ardkeen was consecrated.
Gifts detonated by the Savage family to St. Mary's were moved to the new church. This site was abandoned for the new site near Kirkistown. (see below)

Ardkeen Rectors
1345/6 Thomas De Bredon
1385 Thomas Cuthbert
1386 William De Eldon
1440 Robert McGowne
1455 John Macassyn
1524 John McAgoyn
1524 Rodolph McAgoyn

1661 Bishop Robert Echlin

Church registers from 1745; UHF ( http://www.ancestryireland.com ) has baptisms 1746-1871 & burials 1746-1875 ; http://www.rootsireland.ie have burials 1746-1875 ; graveyard attached, gravestones UHF Vol 13; email me for a gravestone look-up

These photos were kindly sent to me by Lena McVea.

Christ Church, Church of Ireland near Kirkistown

the 'new' church

The new church was built in 1847 in a more convenient situation for most parishioners and consecrated 27 May 1847 when the Rev. Alexander Bullick was rector. (He was rector for 40 years).The old church was left to ruin. The Glebe House was a small plain house in Ardkeen townland. The tower was completed in 1891 when Rev. Hugh Stowell was rector and paid for by public subscirption. Rev. Joseph H. Scott was rector 1911-1930.

Newspaper articles from Down Recorder;
new church 22 May 1847 in Kirkistown; Sunday School soiree 1 Sep 1860; soiree 16 Nov 1861; death of rector Rev Alexander Bullick 2 Jun 1877

Church registers from 1745; graveyard attached, gravestones UHF Vol 13; email me for a gravestone look-up
The above photo was kindly sent to me by Brian McCleary.