Dunsford Church of Ireland- St. Mary's
postal address; Church Rd, Downpatrick

This church was built in 1791 on the site of an earlier Catholic church which was recorded as early as 1194. A headless statue of the Virgin Mary and Child which formerly stood at the western gable of the chapel was removed to Father William Magarry's residence and then after his death in 1763 to Ardglass Castle. The rector, before his death in 1834 was Rev. Alexander Colhoun. The rector in 1836, Rev. Thompson lived in Ardglass. The tithes paid to him then were worth £240. The rector before his death in 1861 was Rev Folliott Forbes Magrath & Rev. John Williams before his death in 1883.

Articles from Down Recorder newspaper;
harvest festival 23 Oct 1915*

Records available are baptisms from 1895, marriages from 1846 & burials from 1884; the earlier registers have been destroyed; UHF have baptisms 1895-1900 & marriages 1846-1900; graveyard attached, gravestone inscriptions available UHF Vol 8, the oldest stone 1726 with a slab in the church dated 1656; email me for a gravestone look-up

The above photo was kindly taken for me by Brian McCleary.

Dunsford Catholic Church- St Mary's
in Upper Ballyedock townland in Chapeltown village
Parochial House- 74 Strangford Rd, Dunsford BT30 7SP Tel; 4484 1209

This chapel was built in 1752 with Rev Daniel Clinton pastor until his death in 1788. The church was rebuilt in 1791 by Rev. Edward Mullholland, parish priest 1789-1805 then his brother , Rev. Eugene Mullholland, took over until 1832 then Rev. Peter Denvir 1832- 1848. The Catholic population in this parish was 3 Catholics to 1 Protestant in 1836 . There is a medieval cross here brought from the old Ardtole Church.

http://registers.nli.ie/ has registers to view 1845-1882; PRONI & NLI have baptisms 1845- 1881, marriages 1845- 1880, burials 1848- 1868 ; UHF has baptisms 1880-1900, graveyard attached gravestone inscriptions available UHF Vol 8; email me for a gravestone look-up;oldest stone 1752; for a list a 20th century priests see under Ardglass Catholic Church