Graveyard, Grange, Burt, Co. Donegal
In the graveyard at Grange in County Donegal stands the atmospheric ruin of Burt Church, a medieval structure that tells a fascinating story of architectural adaptation and family legacy.
Graveyard, Grange, Burt, Co. Donegal
The church, which measures 5.6 metres wide with a south wall extending 18.5 metres internally, underwent a remarkable transformation in the early 18th century when the Fergusson family converted its eastern end into their private burial plot. This conversion saw the eastern 9 metres of the church railed off, whilst the western half of the north wall has since disappeared entirely, leaving only some footings to suggest where the western gable once stood.
The architectural details that survive reveal the church’s long history and various modifications. The eastern gable features a blocked two-light window with its transom and central mullion still intact, though its upper section was lost when the gable height was reduced. This window likely dates to the 16th century, offering a glimpse of the church’s medieval origins. A narrow, lintelled window with an internal splay can be found at the western end of the south wall, whilst a blocked, lintelled doorway in the north wall appears to have been inserted later, possibly to provide convenient access to the Fergusson burial plot.
When the church was converted for the Fergusson family’s use, the remaining walls; the eastern gable, north and south walls; were brought to a uniform height of approximately 3 metres and capped for stability. The exterior walls were covered with harling, a traditional Scottish and Irish rendering technique that likely dates to the same period as the burial plot conversion. Today, much of the interior is adorned with memorials, serving as a lasting testament to the generations of the Fergusson family and others who chose this tranquil spot as their final resting place.





