Local tradition holds that St. Buadan founded an early Christian church on this very spot, though the original building fell into disuse during the 17th century when Protestant worshippers took control. The church you see today dates from 1739, with its distinctive tower added nearly a century later in 1828. It’s believed this Georgian church was constructed on or very near the site of its medieval predecessor, maintaining an unbroken link to the area’s ancient religious heritage.

The graveyard surrounding the church tells its own fascinating story of continuity and change. The oldest sections lie to the south and east of the church, where weathered headstones from the early 1700s mark the resting places of generations of local families. A later extension to the north accommodated the growing community’s needs. Archaeological evidence suggests the original burial ground may have been even more extensive; human remains discovered by road workers during widening works hint at burials beneath what is now the village road. The nearby townland of Ardmore still contains remnants of what appears to be an old burial ground, possibly connected to the original medieval church complex.

Among the most precious relics associated with this sacred site is St. Buadan’s Bell, a remarkable 9th century artefact that remains in the village’s keeping. This ancient hand bell, likely used to call the faithful to prayer over a millennium ago, serves as a tangible connection to the early Christian community that first sanctified this ground. Together with the layers of history visible in the graveyard and church buildings, it helps tell the story of a place where faith has been practised, in various forms, for well over a thousand years.