St Lukes, Knockmourne Parish

 

The old church

The old Knockmourne parish church, to the west of Conna village, was falling into disrepair towards the end of the 18^th century. It had endured many assaults at various times such as the Desmond Rebellion 1569-1573 and the Insurrection of 1641. In 1694 it was recorded that “The church of Knockmourne was burnt by the Irish in the late war”. Subsequently the structure needed major repairs. It is evident a new west gable was inserted at some stage and a shallow rectangular chancel was also added to the east gable. Eventually the church was deemed unsuitable for use and a small schoolhouse, close to the churchyard gate, was used for service at the beginning of the 19^th century. The old market house in Conna, which is now the Dispensary, was also used for some time.

 

The new church

Thomas Spread Campion was Vicar of the Knockmourne and Ballynoe parishes at this time. In 1805 it was recorded that six Protestant families resided in Knockmourne parish. The size of the parish was recorded as 4.25 miles long and 2.75 miles wide.

The need for a new church was now urgent and on June 21^st 1814 the Privy Council ordered that the site of the Knockmourne church be changed to one situated two miles east of Conna village, in Curraheen. A new church, dedicated to St Luke, was then built in the corner of a field. It was consecrated in 1815, capable of accommodating 100 people. It was built with stone from a quarry on lands presently owned by the Mangan family. The cost of the building is unknown other than £276-18s-5d was granted as a loan by the Board of First Fruits.  

Records

In 1830 it was recorded that the Protestant population of Knockmourne was 86 and Ballynoe 48.

 In 1837 it was recorded that “One Curate employed at a stipend of £75 per annum, who resides in the glebe-house, with incumbent”.

 In 1860 it was recorded that “21.5 acres of glebe in Vicar’s use. Divine service once on all Sundays and usual holidays. Sacrament monthly; average of communicants 13, and at festivals average 18. Five children attend a school maintained by the Vicar. The Protestant population is 69. The rent charge is £401. The land is worth £23. Total value £424 with residence”.

            The church contained a cup plated on copper inscribed “Knockmourne Church 1845” and two patens plated on copper inscribed “Knockmourne Church 1838”.  Earlier there was a silver cup inscribed “W.H., L.F., for the parish of Knockmourne, 1640”.

 

Alterations

In 1860 it was recorded that “A vestry lately added to the church”.

The following is a report from the Church of Ireland Gazette in 1901;

“During the past few months many important changes have been made in Knockmourne Church, which have added, not only to the comfort of the worshippers, but also to the beauty of the building. Foremost among these is the heating of the church, with small-bore hot water pipes—a system which has worked most satisfactorily. The walls and ceiling have been coloured and the pews varnished. Handsome encaustic tiling has been laid inside the communion rails and also in the small baptistry to which the font has been moved from its former position in front of the rails. A carved oak lectern and a prayer desk of oak have also been provided and new carpeting and kneeling mats. Funds were not sufficient to replace the present pulpit by an oak one but it is hoped that the day may not be far distant when such an improvement may be made. Grateful thanks are due to the many kind friends who have generously helped in the work already done in this little church on the outskirts of the diocese”.

In 1902 the vestry window was moved from the north to the south side of the tower and other improvements were carried out including coping for the churchyard wall. The pews were taken from the Tallow church when it closed in the late 1960’s.

In 1951 it was recorded that a new harmonium was purchased for £12.

According to the Gazette of May 1969, “A meeting of the Diocesan Council was held on Tuesday April 29^th at 7 pm. The Bishop presided and there were 23 other members present. The Representative Body was asked to allocate the proceeds of the sale of Tallow Church back avenue to the parish of Knockmourne, towards the cost of removing the east window from Tallow Church and installing it in Knockmourne Church”. This was a stained glass window which can now be seen on the east wall of St Lukes. This was originally donated to Tallow Church in memory of the Perceval family in 1894.

 

Matilda Gumbleton

An excerpt from the Gazette in 1904:

“Mogeela Union----Auxiliary Fund.

 On Thursday November 10^th the Rev. W.E. Flewett B.D. Organising Secretary for the Union Diocese, addressed a meeting in support of the above fund at Knockmourne Rectory. There was a very representative attendance of parishioners, many of whom came long distances. The Union of Mogeela includes the parishes of Mogeela, Knockmourne and Ballynoe and covers a very large district with a sparse and scattered Church population. Mr Flewett’s able and earnest appeal was listened most attentively. A vote of thanks to the speaker, having been proposed by the Rev J.G. Nason and seconded by R.P.O’Grady Esq. Carrigeen Hall, the chairman Rev S.H. Dorman, Rector of the parish mentioned that since the appeal in aid of the Auxiliary Fund was first issued, Mrs Gumbleton of Glanatore had most generously contributed £500 to the Parish of Knockmourne, for the purpose of increasing the stipend of the Incumbent and his successors. At the close of the meeting subscriptions amounting to over £100 were paid or promised to the Auxiliary Fund”.

The Gazette 1917 under the heading A Handsome Bequest reports : “Under the will of the late Mrs Gumbleton of Glanatore, Tallow, Co Waterford and Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, stands to benefit considerably. After sundry bequests, including £1,000 to Women and Children’s Hospital, £100 and a collection of stamps to the Incurable Home and a legacy of plate, pictures, carriages and furniture to the Distressed Irish Ladies Society, the testatrix said, “I leave the residue of my property to the Protestant Bishop of Cork for the Sustentation Fund, on condition he always keeps a clergyman, a Protestant in every sense of the word, with a salary of £400 a year at Knockmourne”.  The estate of the late Mrs Gumbleton has been proved at £108 4s 5p and after paying family and other private legacies it is estimated the residue conveyed by the above-quoted claim will not amount to less than £70,000, which would produce an annual income of £3,500 per annum. The parish of Knockmourne referred to is part of the Union of Mogeely, Ballynoe and Knockmourne, of which the Rev S.H. Dorman is at present Incumbent”.  

Mrs Isabella Matilda Gumbleton was the daughter of the Hon. Judge Des Barres of St John’s, Newfoundland and was Lady of the Manor of Twyning, Gloucester. She was sister of both Edward Albert Des Barres of Carrigeen Hall and Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres of Mogeely House. On November 4^th 1858 she married Richard John Maxwell Gumbleton of Glenatore.

  Mrs Gumbleton’s two children, Isabella Mary (6) and Richard Augustus Maxwell (4) died in 1866. Her husband Richard died on September 6^th 1889. The three are buried in St Luke’s churchyard. Mr Gumbleton was the possessor of one of the finest herds of Booth Shorthorns in the country and won many prizes at shows in both Ireland and Britain. These Shorthorns were a beefy type of the breed.

 On his death at Malvern, Worcestershire, Mr Gumbleton bequeathed his property to his wife for her lifetime. Mrs Gumbleton spent six months each year at Twyning Manor, taking her staff with her. She died in Gloucester in 1917. The Glenatore estate was then inherited by the son of his late niece, Emma Jane Smith, who was the Right Rev Homfray Maxwell Gumbleton D.D. (1872-1952). Rev Gumbleton was Bishop of Ballarat in the State of Victoria from 1917 to 1927. The estate was divided up and sold off in portions. According to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue the estate and effects were valued at £15,733 16s 10p--quite a lot of money at the time.
 James Dawson purchased the house and some surrounding land c. 1919. This is now occupied by the O’Leary family. The Hill family farm much of the upper section of the original estate.

 

 

The Campions

 Rev. Thomas Davies, Vicar of Knockmourne and Ballynoe, died on 9^th November 1793. On December 24^th 1795 he was succeeded as Vicar by Rev. Thomas Spread Campion, who was born in 1761. He oversaw the building of St Luke’s Church and remained as Vicar until 1848 when he resigned as Vicar of Knockmourne but retained Ballynoe Vicarage until his death in 1852.He was buried in Kilworth on October 11^th 1852, having reached the age of 91. He married Anne, daughter of Alderman Johnson of Cork in 1801.

Rev. Campion resided in Fermoy until he built Knockmourne Glebe-House in 1828 at a cost of £1,223-1s-6p. It was built on 19.50 acres of land owned by the Duke of Devonshire. A loan of £830-15s-4p was granted and £92-6s-1p as a gift by the Board of First Fruits. The residue of £300 was supplied out of private funds of the incumbent. In 1837 it was recorded that “Incumbent and his Curate are constantly resident in the glebe-house”. The building is a fine example of late Georgian classical architecture.

Rev. Campion was succeeded as Vicar of Knockmourne in 1848 by his son Rev. Robert Deane Campion. He had been licensed to the Curacy of Knockmourne in July 1827. He was ordained on 28^th January 1827. On July 1^st 1847 he married Mary Charlotte, only daughter of William Washington Nason of Thornhill, Conna. They had one son, Thomas Spread Campion.  Rev. R. D. Campion died in 1876 and the parish of Knockmourne was re-united with Ballynoe under Rev. William Agar. Between them the father and son of the Campions served the parish of Knockmourne for 81 years. Rev. Robert Deane Campion died on 8^th December 1876 aged 74 years and was buried in St Luke’s churchyard.

Rev R.D. Campion had a brother, Rev Melian Spread Campion (1819-1877), who married Arabella Peard (1829-1916). She was daughter of Henry Peard and his wife Charity (Greene) of Carrigeen Hall.

 

 Rectors who served at St Luke’s Church

1795-1848: Rev. Thomas Spread Campion. He was a native of Kilworth where he was buried in 1852.

1848-1876: Rev. Robert Deane Campion. He died on 8^th December 1876 and was buried in St Luke’s churchyard.

1876- 1881: Rev. William Agar.

1881- 1891: Rev. William Hyde Perrot. He had previously been Curate of Aghabullogue since 1878. In 1891 he became Vicar of Doneraile and in 1901 he resigned and left the Diocese.

1892-1951: Rev. Samuel Hobart Taylor Dorman. He was ordained to the Curacy of Youghal and became Curate of Knockmourne in 1891. He was instituted as Incumbent the following year. He was Rural Dean of Castletownroche and entered the chapters of St Fin Barres and St Colemans as Canon of St Michael and Brigown in 1932. His wife Jane Caroline died on March 11^th 1944 aged 81 and was buried at St.Lukes. He later married Charlotte Emily Aline, daughter of Major General Henry Bond of Castlelyons. He died on 19^th March 1951aged 87 and was buried in St Luke’s churchyard, alongside his first wife. Canon Dorman was a keen gardener and won awards for his tidy Rectory plot. In July 1945 he noted in the Preacher’s Book; “Began paying C. Willis 2/6 per week”. (Mr Willis was church sexton).

1951-1963: Rev. Abraham Hobson. His ministry began with Curacies in Dublin and Belfast, after which he served on the mission field in West Africa, before returning as        Rector of Dingle. He entered the United Dioceses in 1932 as Rector of Innishannon, where he served for 20 years before coming to Knockmourne.  He was the last rector to reside in Knockmourne Glebe-House. He was instituted to the new Incumbancy of Knockmourne and Aghern Union in 1955.For many years he acted as Editor of the Diocesan Magazine, which position he filled with distinction. According to his obituary “He will always be remembered for his forthright statements on Missionary Enterprise. Serving in later years under the disability of failing health he was always loved of his parishioners for his sincerity and devotion to duty”.  He died on 21^st January 1963, aged 69, and was buried in St Luke’s churchyard. His wife Ada Elizabeth died on 29^th March 1981and was also buried at St Lukes.

1963-1972: Canon Charles Foster. He lived in Tallow Rectory.

1972-1990: Canon Gordon Charles Pamment (1931-2010). He was born in Edmonton, Middlesex and was Vicar with the Church of England. In 1965 he took his family to Ireland and was attached to Inniscarra Union of Parishes. In 1971 he moved to the Rathcormac Union of Parishes, which was merged into the Fermoy Union of Parishes in 1980. He served the Fermoy Union of Parishes until 1990 when he retired due to ill health. He resided in Glenville Rectory. He died in 2010.

1990-1996: Rev. John Haworth. He and his wife Rose lived in Fermoy.

1997- 2006: Very Rev. Alan Marley. He resided in Fermoy. Present Dean/Rector of the Cloyne Union.

2006-       :  Rev Eileen (Lake) Cremin. Previously Curate-Assistant with the Douglas Union of Parishes. She is also Rural Dean of North East Cork Deanery and resides in Fermoy.  She is a native of Hackney, East London and moved to Ireland in 2001. Her husband Tom is a native of Passage West, Co Cork.

 

The churchyard

Although St Luke’s church was consecrated in 1815 the first internment did not take place in the churchyard until 1864.

 A feature of the churchyard is the very distinctive broken column monument. It is dedicated to the Des Barres family. The column and other emblems around the monument indicate that Joseph Frederick Wallet Des Barres who died in 1887 was a member of the Freemasons. He was a brother of Matilda Gumbleton who supported Knockmourne parish so generously.

There is also a very poignant memorial to the Creed family. Dr Charles Creed of Ballymurphy Lodge died on January 2^nd 1885. This closely followed the deaths of his two children, Frederick William Russell, aged 5, who died on 21^st December 1884 and Lizzie Lindsey, aged 11, who died on Christmas Day 1884.

Tom Finn  tomtosh2012@gmail.com