St. Patrick’s Church Derriaghy
 |
| St. Patrick’s Church, Derriaghy. |
Derriaghy - St. Patrick’s Church
Barnfield Road, Derriaghy.
Parish Priest: Father Paul Byrne
Telephone: 9266 2896
Sunday Mass: 11.00am
Website: www.derriaghycatholicparish.org
Brief history as recorded in a book ‘Lisburn’s Rich Church Heritage’ by John Kelly
St Patrick’s, Derriaghy is the oldest church in Down and
Connor and is the mother church of the wider Belfast area. A
church has existed in Derriaghy for almost 1000 years. The
earliest mention comes in a letter from Pope Innocent III on
26th May 1204. The first recorded parish priest of Derriaghy is
the Rev Phelomy O’Hamill. He was ordained in Dublin in 1667 but
it is not known when he was appointed to Derriaghy. It is
believed that he died in Belfast Jail in 1709 and is buried in
Lambeg Cemetery. The next parish priest was the Rev Magee
(1709-1733). The Rev John McMullan followed him from 1733 until
his death in 1772, aged 80 years. He is attributed with building
St Patrick’s Church; he too is buried in Lambeg graveyard. It is
not known when St Patrick’s was first built, probably the late
17th or early 18th century. The Rev McMullan rebuilt it in 1745
after it was damaged in 1744 and the present cross on the
building bears the date 1745. On 12th May 1974 the church was
badly damaged in a sectarian attack and in 1984 electricity was
installed. The building was again attacked and badly damaged in
1986. Restoration work was carried out in 1987 when a new roof
was added. The present parish priest, The
Very Rev Feargal McGrady, was installed in November 2004.
For a more detailed history visit the churches website at: www.derriaghycatholicparish.org
