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About Castledawson Christ Church (Moyola Park)
Castledawson Christ Church (Moyola Park) is a Church of Ireland church in Castledawson, County Derry. It is in the Diocese of Derry & Raphoe.
History
A private chapel was built on the Moyola estate in 1694 by Joshua Dawson. It served largely for the worship of estate staff and became known as the church over the Bridge. It was greatly enlarged in 1710 and again in 1760.
The parish of Castledawson was formed as a separate unit in 1875, from townlands ceded from the parishes of Magherafelt and Ballyscullion, and the chapel was handed over to the new parish to be its parish church. It was dedicated Christ Church on 7 November 1876 by Bishop Alexander, husband of Cecil Frances Alexander, who wrote There is a Green Hill Far Away and Once in Royal David's City.
Notable features
A stained glass window by Cootes of Belfast was added in 1851, when oak carvings were placed on the chancel walls, parquet flooring was laid in the chancel and it was furnished with a carved oak communion table, two Glastonbury chairs and communion rails. George Robert Dawson installed a pulpit and a large carved oak eagle.
In 1847 he bought a carved frame which came originally from the Cathedral of St Malines in Belgium and used it to frame a brass tablet inscribed with the genealogy of the Dawson family; the surround was replaced in 1980 after an attack of woodworm. A second carved frame surrounds brass memorial tablets from his tenantry marking his death in 1856. The parish records that some experts consider it was originally the surround for a fireplace.
Clergy
- Curate Rev Thomas Murray
