Barnscourt Parish Church (Church of Ireland), Co. Tyrone, 17 March 2024 DSC_0013-2
Baronscourt was originally a district curacy in the parish of Ardstraw. The parish church, high in the west Tyrone hills six kilometres to the south-west of Newtownstewart, was consecrated on 24th March 1858. It has one of the two lynch gates in the Dioceses of Derry and Raphoe, the other being at All Saints, Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal. It was erected by the 2nd Duke of Abercorn in memory of his mother, Lady Louisa Jane Russell. Over the gate are inscribed the words, "I am the resurrection and the life saith the Lord".
The church is more English in style and character. It is entered through a porch in the south wall. The entrance doors commemorate Samuel and Margaret Crompton, 1993 both of whom are buried in the ajoining graveyard. The window in the west wall has coloured lattice glass.
There are two windows in the south wall, which have two lights and geometrically patterned lights above, and richly coloured lattice panes. In the north wall, the first window depicts St. Matthew and St. Mark on the left, and St. John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist on the right. The second window depicts King David and the Prophet Micah on the left, and the Prophets Isaiah and Zechariah on the right. They commemorate James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn (b.1811 d.1885). In the ceiling there are dormer windows of three lights each and lattice panes.
The east section depicts faith and commemorates Lord Ronald Douglas Hamilton. He was born on 17th March 1849, in Camus, Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, his father, James Hamilton 1st Duke of Abercorn, was 38 and his mother, Louisa Jane Russell (b.1812 d.1905) was 36, he was the 10th child of 14 siblings having 7 sisters and 6 brothers. He lived in Madehurst, Sussex, England, in 1851 and Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, 1861. He died on 6 Nov 1867, at the age of 18.
The central section, Charity, is in memory of Beatrix Francis, Countess of Durham ((b.1835 d.1871).
On 23rd May 1854 George Frederick D'Arcy Lambton 2nd Earl Durham (b.1828 d.1879) aged 25 and Beatrix Frances Hamilton Countess Durham aged 19, were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London. He the son of John "Radical Jack" Lambton (b.1792 d.1840)
1st Earl Durham and Louisa Elizabeth Grey Countess Durham (b.1797 d.1841).
The right section, Hope, is in memory of Elizabeth, Countess of Edgecombe.
On 26th October 1858 in St James parish Church, Westminster, Middlesex, William Henry Edgecumbe (b.1833 d.1917) 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe aged 24 married Katherine Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess Mount Edgcumbe, age 18. He the son of Ernest Augustus Edgecumbe 3rd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe (b.1797 d.1861) and Caroline Augusta Fielding (b.1808 d.1881), daughter of Rear-Admiral Charles Feilding (b.1780 d.1837) and Elizabeth Theresa (Fox-Strangways) Feilding (b.1773 d.1846).
The vestry room is north of the chancel. In the sanctuary, the Ten Commandments are inscribed on each side of the east wall. These, and the tiling of the chancel, commemorate Lady Louisa Jane, Russell (b.1812 d.1905) Duchess of Abercorn.
On Thursday, 25th October 1832, at Gordon Castle, in Morayshire, Scotland, Louisa married James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn (b.1838 d.1913), the son of James Hamilton (b1811 d.1885), Viscount Hamilton, and Harriet Douglas (b.1792 d.1833).
Louisa and James had fourteen children, seven daughters, all of whom were ordered to marry into the peerage and no one beneath the rank of an earl, and seven sons:
Lady Harriett Georgiana Louisa Hamilton (b.6 July 1834 d.23 Apr 1913), married 10 Aprl 1855 to Thomas Anson, 2nd Earl of Lichfield, and had issue.
Lady Beatrix Frances Hamilton (b.21 July 1835 d.21 Jan 1871), married in London 23 May 1854 to George Lambton, 2nd Earl of Durham, and had issue.
Lady Louisa Jane Hamilton (b.26 Aug 1836 d.16 Mar 1912), married in London 22 Nov 1859 to William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch, and had issue.
James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn (b.24 Aug 1838 d.3 Jan 1913) married on 7 Jan 1869, St. George's Church, Hanover Square, London, Lady Mary Anna Curzon-Howe (b.1848 d.1929), daughter of Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe and his second wife Anne Gore, and had issue.
Lady Katherine Elizabeth Hamilton (b.9 Jan 1840 d.3 Sept 1874), married 26 Oct 1858, William Edgcumbe, 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, and had issue.
Lady Georgiana Susan Hamilton (b.7 July 1841 d.23 Mar 1913), married in London, 16 Mar 1882, Edward Turnour, 5th Earl Winterton, and had issue.
Lord Claud John Hamilton (b.20 Feb 1843 d.26 Jan 1925) married 20 July 1878, Carolina Chandos-Pole (b.19 July 1857 d.21 Sept 1911) a granddaughter of the 5th Earl of Harrington), and had issue.
Lord George Francis Hamilton (b.17 Dec 1845 d.22 Sept 1927) married 1871, Lady Maud Caroline Lascelles (b.26 Nov 1846 d.14 Apr 1938), daughter of Henry Lascelles, 3rd Earl of Harewood, and had issue.
Lady Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton (b.29 July 1847 d.7 Jan 1932), married at the Palace of Westminster, London, 8 Nov 1869, George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough, and had issue, divorced 20 Nov 1883.
Lord Ronald Douglas Hamilton (b.17 Mar 1849 d.6 Nov 1867 aged 18).
Lady Maud Evelyn Hamilton (b.17 Dec 1850 d.21 Oct 1932), married at Westminster Abbey, London, 8 Nov 1869 to Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, and had issue.
Lord Cosmo Hamilton (b.16 April 1853, died at birth).
Lord Frederick Spencer Hamilton (b.13 Oct 1856 d.11 Aug 1928), never wed, without issue.
Lord Ernest William Hamilton (b.5 Sept 1858 d.14 Dec 1939) married Scotland, 2 June 1891, Pamela Campbell (b.1867 d.1931) a daughter of Capt. Frederick Augustus Campbell and Emma Mary Higgins Brabazon, and had issue.
The pulpit is on the left and the prayer desk is on the right. The brass eagle lectern was presented by Bishop William Alexander (Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and husband to Cecil Frances Alexander, author of many well-known hymns) and others in memory of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, K.G. (b.21 Jan 1811 d.31 Oct 1885).
The beautifully decorated chamber organ also commemorates Louisa Jane, Duchess of Abercorn. It was built by the Positive Organ Company of London.
There are numerous monuments in the church which commemorate the Hamilton Family, Dukes of Abercorn.
Barnscourt Parish Church (Church of Ireland), Co. Tyrone, 17 March 2024 DSC_0013-2
Baronscourt was originally a district curacy in the parish of Ardstraw. The parish church, high in the west Tyrone hills six kilometres to the south-west of Newtownstewart, was consecrated on 24th March 1858. It has one of the two lynch gates in the Dioceses of Derry and Raphoe, the other being at All Saints, Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal. It was erected by the 2nd Duke of Abercorn in memory of his mother, Lady Louisa Jane Russell. Over the gate are inscribed the words, "I am the resurrection and the life saith the Lord".
The church is more English in style and character. It is entered through a porch in the south wall. The entrance doors commemorate Samuel and Margaret Crompton, 1993 both of whom are buried in the ajoining graveyard. The window in the west wall has coloured lattice glass.
There are two windows in the south wall, which have two lights and geometrically patterned lights above, and richly coloured lattice panes. In the north wall, the first window depicts St. Matthew and St. Mark on the left, and St. John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist on the right. The second window depicts King David and the Prophet Micah on the left, and the Prophets Isaiah and Zechariah on the right. They commemorate James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn (b.1811 d.1885). In the ceiling there are dormer windows of three lights each and lattice panes.
The east section depicts faith and commemorates Lord Ronald Douglas Hamilton. He was born on 17th March 1849, in Camus, Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, his father, James Hamilton 1st Duke of Abercorn, was 38 and his mother, Louisa Jane Russell (b.1812 d.1905) was 36, he was the 10th child of 14 siblings having 7 sisters and 6 brothers. He lived in Madehurst, Sussex, England, in 1851 and Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, 1861. He died on 6 Nov 1867, at the age of 18.
The central section, Charity, is in memory of Beatrix Francis, Countess of Durham ((b.1835 d.1871).
On 23rd May 1854 George Frederick D'Arcy Lambton 2nd Earl Durham (b.1828 d.1879) aged 25 and Beatrix Frances Hamilton Countess Durham aged 19, were married at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London. He the son of John "Radical Jack" Lambton (b.1792 d.1840)
1st Earl Durham and Louisa Elizabeth Grey Countess Durham (b.1797 d.1841).
The right section, Hope, is in memory of Elizabeth, Countess of Edgecombe.
On 26th October 1858 in St James parish Church, Westminster, Middlesex, William Henry Edgecumbe (b.1833 d.1917) 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe aged 24 married Katherine Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess Mount Edgcumbe, age 18. He the son of Ernest Augustus Edgecumbe 3rd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe (b.1797 d.1861) and Caroline Augusta Fielding (b.1808 d.1881), daughter of Rear-Admiral Charles Feilding (b.1780 d.1837) and Elizabeth Theresa (Fox-Strangways) Feilding (b.1773 d.1846).
The vestry room is north of the chancel. In the sanctuary, the Ten Commandments are inscribed on each side of the east wall. These, and the tiling of the chancel, commemorate Lady Louisa Jane, Russell (b.1812 d.1905) Duchess of Abercorn.
On Thursday, 25th October 1832, at Gordon Castle, in Morayshire, Scotland, Louisa married James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn (b.1838 d.1913), the son of James Hamilton (b1811 d.1885), Viscount Hamilton, and Harriet Douglas (b.1792 d.1833).
Louisa and James had fourteen children, seven daughters, all of whom were ordered to marry into the peerage and no one beneath the rank of an earl, and seven sons:
Lady Harriett Georgiana Louisa Hamilton (b.6 July 1834 d.23 Apr 1913), married 10 Aprl 1855 to Thomas Anson, 2nd Earl of Lichfield, and had issue.
Lady Beatrix Frances Hamilton (b.21 July 1835 d.21 Jan 1871), married in London 23 May 1854 to George Lambton, 2nd Earl of Durham, and had issue.
Lady Louisa Jane Hamilton (b.26 Aug 1836 d.16 Mar 1912), married in London 22 Nov 1859 to William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch, and had issue.
James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn (b.24 Aug 1838 d.3 Jan 1913) married on 7 Jan 1869, St. George's Church, Hanover Square, London, Lady Mary Anna Curzon-Howe (b.1848 d.1929), daughter of Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe and his second wife Anne Gore, and had issue.
Lady Katherine Elizabeth Hamilton (b.9 Jan 1840 d.3 Sept 1874), married 26 Oct 1858, William Edgcumbe, 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, and had issue.
Lady Georgiana Susan Hamilton (b.7 July 1841 d.23 Mar 1913), married in London, 16 Mar 1882, Edward Turnour, 5th Earl Winterton, and had issue.
Lord Claud John Hamilton (b.20 Feb 1843 d.26 Jan 1925) married 20 July 1878, Carolina Chandos-Pole (b.19 July 1857 d.21 Sept 1911) a granddaughter of the 5th Earl of Harrington), and had issue.
Lord George Francis Hamilton (b.17 Dec 1845 d.22 Sept 1927) married 1871, Lady Maud Caroline Lascelles (b.26 Nov 1846 d.14 Apr 1938), daughter of Henry Lascelles, 3rd Earl of Harewood, and had issue.
Lady Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton (b.29 July 1847 d.7 Jan 1932), married at the Palace of Westminster, London, 8 Nov 1869, George Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough, and had issue, divorced 20 Nov 1883.
Lord Ronald Douglas Hamilton (b.17 Mar 1849 d.6 Nov 1867 aged 18).
Lady Maud Evelyn Hamilton (b.17 Dec 1850 d.21 Oct 1932), married at Westminster Abbey, London, 8 Nov 1869 to Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, and had issue.
Lord Cosmo Hamilton (b.16 April 1853, died at birth).
Lord Frederick Spencer Hamilton (b.13 Oct 1856 d.11 Aug 1928), never wed, without issue.
Lord Ernest William Hamilton (b.5 Sept 1858 d.14 Dec 1939) married Scotland, 2 June 1891, Pamela Campbell (b.1867 d.1931) a daughter of Capt. Frederick Augustus Campbell and Emma Mary Higgins Brabazon, and had issue.
The pulpit is on the left and the prayer desk is on the right. The brass eagle lectern was presented by Bishop William Alexander (Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and husband to Cecil Frances Alexander, author of many well-known hymns) and others in memory of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, K.G. (b.21 Jan 1811 d.31 Oct 1885).
The beautifully decorated chamber organ also commemorates Louisa Jane, Duchess of Abercorn. It was built by the Positive Organ Company of London.
There are numerous monuments in the church which commemorate the Hamilton Family, Dukes of Abercorn.