Christian - Derry City Council

You may wish to start your journey of discovery of our early Christian past at the Tower Museumand follow the Countryside Code when visiting any of the sites… 1 St Augustine’s Churchto Buncrana (A2)Grianánto MovillePeaceBridge45Lough FoyleEglinton6to Limavady (A2)1234567Key to the mapSt Augustine’s ChurchSt Columb’s CathedralLong TowerSt Columb’s ParkEnagh Church and GraveyardEglinton Old ChurchMullabuoy Stone CrossColmcille was born about 520 ADin Gartan, Co. Donegal. Colmcillemeans ‘dove of the church’.Colmcille is said to have studied atSt Mobhi’s monastery in Glasnevinand later to have established amonastery in Derry (Doire – Gaelicfor oakgrove) in 546 AD, but it isthought more likely that it wasfounded by his relative Fiachramac Ciaráin.St Augustine’s Church is possiblythe site of the original Columbanmonastery. A medieval pilgrimageroute may have led from the RiverFoyle, up Magazine Street, to StAugustine’s Church.It became an Augustinian abbeyin the early 13th century and wasused by the 17th century Plantersas a place of worship before StColumb’s Cathedral was built.St Columb’sWellto Letterkenny (A40)to Strabane (A5)132TowerMuseumNewbuildingsDerry~LondonderryDrumahoeSlaghtmanus Rd7Claudy8Cumber Old Church andGraveyardto Belfast (A6)…2 St Columb’s CathedralThe city’s oldest surviving buildingand the first Anglican cathedralbuilt in these islands since theReformation. The cathedral wasbuilt in 1633 by William Parrott forthe Honourable the Irish Societyin Planter-Gothic style, almostcertainly on the site of a medievalchurch. The foundation stone forthe cathedral includes a smaller,older stone from the Tempull Mór.A stained glass window inthe south-east corner in theArchbishop Alexander Chapelcommemorates Colmcille.This window depicts the storyof Colmcille’s promise never toset foot on Irish soil again, but toattend the Convention of DrumCeat in 575 AD he strapped sodsof Scottish soil to his feet enablinghim to keep his promise. Colmcilledied on Iona in 597 AD.GartanDerryLetterkennyStrabaneLimavadyColeraineMagherafeltRiver FaughanCumber Rd8Park… 3 Long TowerSt Columba’s Catholic Church thesite of the Tempull Mór (‘GreatChurch’) was founded in 1164. Abullaun stone where Colmcille issaid to have knelt to pray is locatedin the grounds of the Church.Impressive stained glass windows,paintings and mosaics in theChurch tell the story of Colmcille.Colmcille is remembered as a poetand a scribe. The oldest survivingIrish manuscript – a copy of thepsalms known as the Cathachmay have been made by him.According to legend the makingof the Cathach was the firstrecorded breach of copyright inIreland leading to the battle of CúlDreimhne in 561 AD. Colmcille hadsecretly copied the book withoutpermission which led to thebattle. Inside the church there is afacsimile copy of the Book of Kells,an illuminated manuscript createdby Columban monks in Iona andcompleted at Kells. This is theproposed site for the Áras CholmCille Interpretative Centre.