St Etchen’s (Church of Ireland), Killucan - internal roof structure
The roof trusses and rafters are clearly visibly along the length of the nave. These wooden trusses are given a more elegant form with the use of curved support braces and the whole structure is further reinforced with iron straps and plates. Further support braces are added to each truss that convey their downward force onto the corbel stones. The wood used appears to be pine but what is not clear looking at the overall structure, is whether the main downward forces are acting against the top of the stone walls or onto the corbel stones? The tie-beams that stretch across from one side to the other appear to be single beams of wood.
The current church of St. Etchen’s (Church of Ireland) in Killucan, County Westmeath dates from 1813 and is located on a more ancient ecclesiastical site whose history stretches back to the 6th century. A monastery was established there in c.545 AD by Bishop Etchen who maintained close connections with Clonard. The earliest visible remains on the site are the mid-15th century medieval church ruins dedicated to St. Margaret and a 13th century carved stone font that was found in Kilbixy and placed in St. Etchen’s by the Rev. William Falkiner (Rector of Killucan Parish 1892-1910). Throughout it’s long history, St. Etchan’s has been supported by local landed gentry families such as those of d’Arcy, Pakenham (Earls of Longford), Vandeleur, Fetherston, Purdon, Crofton-Bayly and others.
The church was built with money loaned from the Board of First Fruits but is larger than most contemporary rural churches which may suggest additional financial aid was provided by local patrons, most likely the Pakenhams of Tullynally Castle. There is a family vault for the Pakenhams underneath the current church and Major Frederick Beaucham Pakenham was the last member of the family to be interred there in 1901. Finely carved wooden furnishings adorn the inside of this church which includes an unusually tall lectern, a pulpit as well as important stained glass, notably the east-window by Sarah Purser RHA (1848-1943). The church also underwent major renovations that were completed 2012 in time for the church’s 200th anniversary celebrations (May 2013). Renovations included a new organ loft with seating gallery, new toilet facilities, wheelchair access and a room used for Sunday School classes during services. The belfry tower was also refurbished with new wooden floors inserted into each of its upper stages.
Photographed 26th August 2014.
References:
www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&... (An architectural appraisal).
www.mullingarunionofparishes.net/killucan.html (Mullingar Union of Parishes website).
www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/roundup/articles/2013/05/16... (Westmeath Examiner website - St Etchen’s 200th anniversary celebrations).
www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/media/Killucan-Rathwire VDS.pdf (Westmeath County Council – Village Design Statement for Killucan/Rathwire).
St Etchen’s (Church of Ireland), Killucan - internal roof structure
The roof trusses and rafters are clearly visibly along the length of the nave. These wooden trusses are given a more elegant form with the use of curved support braces and the whole structure is further reinforced with iron straps and plates. Further support braces are added to each truss that convey their downward force onto the corbel stones. The wood used appears to be pine but what is not clear looking at the overall structure, is whether the main downward forces are acting against the top of the stone walls or onto the corbel stones? The tie-beams that stretch across from one side to the other appear to be single beams of wood.
The current church of St. Etchen’s (Church of Ireland) in Killucan, County Westmeath dates from 1813 and is located on a more ancient ecclesiastical site whose history stretches back to the 6th century. A monastery was established there in c.545 AD by Bishop Etchen who maintained close connections with Clonard. The earliest visible remains on the site are the mid-15th century medieval church ruins dedicated to St. Margaret and a 13th century carved stone font that was found in Kilbixy and placed in St. Etchen’s by the Rev. William Falkiner (Rector of Killucan Parish 1892-1910). Throughout it’s long history, St. Etchan’s has been supported by local landed gentry families such as those of d’Arcy, Pakenham (Earls of Longford), Vandeleur, Fetherston, Purdon, Crofton-Bayly and others.
The church was built with money loaned from the Board of First Fruits but is larger than most contemporary rural churches which may suggest additional financial aid was provided by local patrons, most likely the Pakenhams of Tullynally Castle. There is a family vault for the Pakenhams underneath the current church and Major Frederick Beaucham Pakenham was the last member of the family to be interred there in 1901. Finely carved wooden furnishings adorn the inside of this church which includes an unusually tall lectern, a pulpit as well as important stained glass, notably the east-window by Sarah Purser RHA (1848-1943). The church also underwent major renovations that were completed 2012 in time for the church’s 200th anniversary celebrations (May 2013). Renovations included a new organ loft with seating gallery, new toilet facilities, wheelchair access and a room used for Sunday School classes during services. The belfry tower was also refurbished with new wooden floors inserted into each of its upper stages.
Photographed 26th August 2014.
References:
www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&... (An architectural appraisal).
www.mullingarunionofparishes.net/killucan.html (Mullingar Union of Parishes website).
www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/roundup/articles/2013/05/16... (Westmeath Examiner website - St Etchen’s 200th anniversary celebrations).
www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/media/Killucan-Rathwire VDS.pdf (Westmeath County Council – Village Design Statement for Killucan/Rathwire).