THE OLD CHURCH SITE

 

The ecclesiastical history of the area is rather complicated although this church was first mentioned in taxation records of 1344. In 1444, the neighbouring parishes of Seagoe and Annaloiste were united and at this time the original ‘Mother Church’ seems to have been located here at Annaloiste, Oxford Island. With the arrival of the Brownlows, during the Plantation of Ulster, the ruined church was immediately repaired and used by them as a ‘house-church’. After their departure from the Lough Neagh shore to the nearby site of Lurgan, it is likely that this church at Oxford Island was once again used by the local people up until 1760, when the nearby church at Raughlan was erected.