Meeting-house, Ramelton, Co. Donegal

Co. Donegal |

Ecclesiastical Sites

Meeting-house, Ramelton, Co. Donegal

In the late 1980s, archaeologists uncovered the fascinating history of one of Ireland's earliest Presbyterian meetinghouses in Ramelton, County Donegal.

The excavation, carried out between August and October 1988, revealed that this twin-roofed structure dates to around 1725, making it a significant piece of Ulster's religious heritage. The building holds particular importance as Ramelton was the birthplace of Francis Makemie, who went on to become a founding father of the Presbyterian Church in America. Originally, the unusual twin-roofed design was supported by a row of arches running across the centre of the building, though these were later replaced during 19th-century renovations with two ship's masts salvaged from the 1811 wreck of 'The Saldanha'.

The excavation revealed several intriguing details about the meetinghouse's construction and evolution. Built on a slope, the east end had been artificially raised by almost a metre using deposited soil, beneath which archaeologists discovered two coins dated 1681 and 1693; likely deliberately placed there during construction. The team also uncovered blocked-in Venetian-style windows at each gable end of the north bay, which had been sealed when galleries were added around 1811, requiring higher windows to accommodate the new seating arrangements. Pottery shards, pipe stems, and fragments of thin greenish glass dating from the late 17th to mid-18th century helped confirm the building's age.

While no historical records of the meetinghouse exist before the early 19th century, its architectural style closely resembles another twin-roofed Presbyterian meetinghouse in nearby Convoy, which was built in 1725 and demolished in 1905. The Ramelton Heritage and Development Association now plans to restore this remarkable building, preserving an important chapter in Ireland's Presbyterian history and a tangible connection to the Ulster Scots who shaped religious life on both sides of the Atlantic.

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