St. Patrick

History

Cumber Upper and Learmount was the original name of the parish, the addition of Claudy dating from only a few centuries ago. Archbishop Colton, journeying through the diocese in 1397, came across a parish church on an older site in the townland of Cumber, near the meeting of the Glenrandal and Faughan rivers; the ruins of a church stand on that site. Ancient tradition holds that St Patrick built seven churches along the Faughan, one of them at Cumber. During the penal era Mass was said at Barrcraig, Lear and Mulderg.

James Ross gave the site in 1817 to Father McFeely, parish priest of Claudy, who built the first St Patrick's Church there at a cost of £500. It was estimated to hold 600 people, with only the gallery on the eastern side seated. The church was consecrated in 1820 but stood roofless for several years until 1827, when Father Donnelly had it roofed. The parish history records that the Fishmongers Company offered to build a Catholic church if the site on their estate west of Dungorkin Bridge were accepted, and that Father McFeely declined the proposal as not being central.

The church was renovated in the 1930s and blessed by Dr O'Kane, Bishop of Derry, the parish history placing the blessing between 1931 and 1934 and suggesting 1932. The work had been begun by Father O'Mullan, who died on 12 February 1931. The church was re-roofed and given three new galleries, new seating and electric lighting.

Notable features

A sanctuary lamp was presented by John Grant JP, and the tower and bell were supplied by Wm McLaughlin. The old Cumber church graveyard holds the remains of several priests. Near the entrance and along the wall is the grave of Rev John O'Neal, who died on 24 August 1794 aged 66, and that of Rev Manus Divin, who died in August 1799 aged 36. Father O'Neal was the predecessor of Father McFeely, who died in 1824.