I[ f@ reiffne antiquarian anb - Cavan Library Service

But that the parishioners usually gave voluntary help is alsospecifically stated. The proxies were usually paid to the Bishopin coin.The system of obligatory tithes was universally recognisedin the Middle Ages and the practice only ceased in Ireland whenthe confiscations of the 16th century deprived the Church of itsproperty and diverted its revenues into other channels. Fromthe information which is furnished by the Inqhisition we mustinfer that every parish provided a regular income for the maintenanceof its clergy. The cost of living was then comparativelylow and the purchasing power of money was very great. It isscarcely possible now to deduce the comparative values of themoney in circulation in those times, but it may be remarked thatin England in 1378 the Archbishop of Canterbury consiciered asalary of five marks a year adequate for a chaplain.The churches appear to have been generally maintained ingood repair, and the 16th century witnessed the restoration ofmany churches and abbeys. It was an age of church-building andrestoration, and many of our ancient churches, now in ruins,belong to that period. In 1427 Pope Martin V granted an Indulgence,under certain prescribed conditions, to all who shouldassist in the repair of the church of Holy Trinity Priory, LochUachtair. The entries in the Papal Annates enable us to understandmore clearly the status of the clergy and the general schemeof ecclesiastical administration in the 15th and 16th centuries,that is, auring the centuries preceding the Inquisition.In the great majority of the Cavan parishes two-thirds of thetithes were paid to either of the great Abbeys of Ceanannus (Kells)or Fore, in Meath Diocese, to which these parish churches belonged.From the statement of the Inquisitiolz we are furnishedwith elaborate details of the revenues paid from the Cavanchurches to these Abbeys, and especially to that of the Fore. Asearly as the year 1306 the revenues of the Bishop of Kilmoreamounted to 10 marks while the revenues accruing to the Abbeysof 'Ceanannus and Fore, from lands and property in KilmoreDiocese, amounted to 6 and 11 marks, respectively. The Priorof Drumlane received the comparatively small sum of 3 marks,and the rector of Annagh a similar amount. The Inquisitiolz of1609 indicates in detaiI the revenues of the several pariskchurchesand, in practically every case, specifies the particular Abbey-Ceanannus, Fore, or Drumlane- of which tbe church was a dependency.The parish churches in the eastern part of Co. Cavanbelonged mostly to Ceanannus, as did also a few in tbe extremewest, e.g. Killinagh, as well as Killesher in Co. Fermanagh. Butthe great majority belonged to Fore.The origin of these payments from the parish churches ofancient BreLfIne to the two great Abbeys of Meath must be soughtfor in the early centuries of Christianity in Ireland when the