St. Mary's Church

About

In the gable under the steeple of this church you will find the only pre-reformation stone statue of the Madonna and Child in Ireland. It dates to about the year 1300 and was restored in 1908 having been lost for centuries. It was carved at Greyabbey from Scrabo stone. It was part of the medieval church half a mile away when the area was the heart of the Diocese of Down. It was broken down by a Cromwellian soldier and lost after the Reformation. It was restored in 1908 by the antiquarian Francis Joseph Bigger. The church built in 1791 also includes other medieval fragments from three other churches. Above the porch is a carved cross taken from Ardtole which dates to the 900s. Also preserved are ballaun stones. Internally the church is simply decorated but has an impressive rose window.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 30 minutes