St Adamnan’s Church, Lonan

St Adamnan’s Church, also known as “Lonan Old Church” and originally known in Manx as Keeill ny-Traie, or “the chapel by the shore”, is the former parish church of Lonan in the Isle of Man. The church is situated in an isolated position surrounded by open farmland on the eastern coast of the island, between Groudle Glen and Baldrine. The eastern (and oldest) part of the church has been restored, but it is otherwise in a ruinous, though well-tended, condition.

St Adamnan was the Abbot of Iona between 679 and 704. The site on which the church stands is of ancient religious significance. The churchyard contains Celtic crosses, the oldest of which dates backs to the 5th century AD – evidence of an early keeill. In about 1190, King Reginald of the Isle of Man gave a grant of the land of Escadala in the Isle of Man to St Bees Priory, in Cumbria. It is likely that the site of the church was included in the grant, to which fact its subsequent reconstruction and selection as the parish church (despite its remoteness) are attributable.

In 1733 parishioners petitioned Bishop Wilson for a new church as this old church, dating from around 14th century, was very inconveniently situated and this same year an Act of Tynwald was passed for the building of a new parish church at Boilley Veen. When the new church was finally built – a hundred years later in 1833 – it was almost as remote to the population. The old church, though supposed to be pulled down, was left to fall into disrepair, however, in 1895 and on appointment as vicar, Rev John Quine, a noted antiquarian, rescued the old church from disrepair. The Friends of St Adamnan’s was formed in 1968 to keep the old church in good repair and ensure it remained as a working church and historical site.

Footnote by Bernadette Weyde: What a delight to visit St Adamnan’s – Lonan Old Church . When we arrived there were broody skies filled with chattering crow and jackdaws, it was a lovely welcome. Well done to all who take care of the church and grounds – they are a credit to you and all you do. Highly recommend a lingering visit!

(source: information on the cross slabs from St Adamnan’s Church; all other text courtesy of A Manx Notebook and wiki; photographs by Ber Weyde)

St Adamnan's Church

Cross House

Cross House

Hairdwillagh Cross Slab (early Medieval). Fragments found at Glen Roy in the 1800s at the ruined farm of Ballaleaney; it was re-used as a lintel over a doorway and broken in two, but now restored to show its original form of a wheel-headed slab on which was carved a ‘Celtic’ cross. The lower arm of the cross extends to form a narrow shaft, which is decorated at the top with a spoon-shaped object surrounded by small raised pellets. The cross and ring are both edged with a bead-moulding, and the edge of the slab is similarly decorated with a double moulding so as to frame the cross. The inner mouldings surrounding the slab and that forming the edge of the cross-shaft combine to form two spirals or ‘volutes’ which decorate a pedestal on which the cross stands. The spirals are separated by two groups of three raised pellets. The most prominent decoration on the slab is the spoon-like symbol at the top of the cross-shaft, which must represent the ladle used in the Eucharist. The panels on either side of the shaft suggest other more decorative carving, only the faintest vestiges of which may be present.

Spirals on Hairdwillagh Cross Slab

77. This fragment was found in the churchyard wall c.1895. Only the head of the memorial survives, and part of the face has flaked away. The stone itself is wheel-headed so as to reflect the outline of the sculpture, which comprises an equal-armed ‘Celtic’ cross set within a ring. The cross is edged with a single moulding, the ring with double bead-mouldings. A small ring is carved in the centre of the cross.

27. This small slab was found in the churchyard in 1906. It bears a simple incised cross; short bars cross the upper and lower limbs, the ends of the arms, deliberately rounded. A curious semi-circular frame encloses the upper half of the cross and almost exactly echoes the rounded head of the slab, which seems to have been deliberately shaped.

75. This central portion of a small slab is all that remains of a memorial found in the churchyard: substantial parts of both edges have been lost. The stone bears an equal-limbed ‘Celtic’ cross supported on a ring. The outline of the cross and the ring are edged with a flat moulding. Both are framed within an outer circle which stands on a narrow shaft.

177. This roughly triangular slab was found while ploughing on Baroose Farm in 1959. One face bears a crudely incised crossin an incised oval frame. The arms of the cross cut just beyond the frame.

160. This rounded boulder was discovered in 1926 built into a wall on the west side of Stoney Road opposite the road to Ballamilgin, Laxey. It bears a deep-set cross with expanding limbs.

76. This broken slab was found around 1870 at a mound just north of the churchyard. The carving takes the form of a ‘Celtic’ cross surrounded by a ring. The lower arm of the cross extends below the ring to form a shaft which terminates in a simple flat pedestal. Cross, ring, shaft and pedestal are all bordered by a bead moulding, and the cross is otherwise undecorated.

Detail of Cross 76 (see previous photograph)

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