Camus-Juxta-Bann St Mary (Macosquin)

History

The parish's own history records that the first known Christian community in the area was established at Camus, on the west bank of the River Bann about 3 miles south of Coleraine, in 580. The foundation of the early Celtic church there is attributed to St Comgall of Bangor. Nothing of that building survives.

About 1172 the Cistercian Order founded an abbey at Macosquin, 2 miles southwest of Coleraine. The name Macosquin derives from the Gaelic Meaghcosgain, meaning plain of the conquest. The abbey was known in Cistercian records as Beatae Marie Clarafonte, the abbey of Blessed Mary of the clear spring. It had fallen into dilapidation by 1539 and was in a ruinous condition by the end of the century.

After the Plantation of Ulster the lands making up the parishes of Camus and Macosquin passed in 1609 to the Merchant Taylors Guild, and a church was built shortly afterwards. Records of 1622 note that the parish church, provided by the Merchant Taylors, was consecrated as the Parish Church of Camus and Macosquin by the Bishop of Derry, George Downham.

Notable features

The north wall of the present church includes part of the north wall of the Cistercian abbey. In the graveyard at Camus, the parish's earlier site on the Bann, stands a sandstone pillar 6ft 6ins high, 1ft 8ins broad and 12ins thick, believed by the parish to be part of a sculptured Celtic cross.