Graveyard, Dunlade Road, Eglinton, Co Londonderry, BT47 3EF

Graveyard at Faughanvale, Dunlade Road, Eglinton

This is an important example of early medieval Irish church architecture, probably dating from the twelfth century when the parish system was being developed. The building plan proportions follow the frequent 3:1 ratio found in early stone churches, and the narrow lancet windows are typical of the period. The antae (projecting gable features) on the west wall are characteristic of Irish church buildings and appear in examples as late as the middle of the thirteenth century, though these gable projections may alternatively be clasping buttresses, possibly supported by a chamfer visible on the stonework at the west corner. The east window, though of later date, is a fine example of medieval ashlar stonework.

The site occupies the east side of Dunlade Road on an elevated undulating position. The road rises steeply from Clooney Road and offers fine views of Lough Foyle. The ruins stand roughly in the middle of the graveyard, which is bounded by a rubble wall. A pedestrian wrought-iron gate set between ashlar piers with curved steps leads upwards to the ruin. The graveyard contains graves and headstones of varying ages, from old to comparatively recent and well-kept examples, with some graves located within the ruin itself.

The church ruin measures internally approximately 19.5 metres by 5.25 metres, with its long axis running roughly southwest to northeast. The gables remain standing with long walls surviving to about a metre high. The west gable is practically covered in ivy with an elder tree growing close internally, making observation difficult. A lancet high on the gable is concealed by ivy, and internally a setback in the wall forms a ledge about three metres high. Externally the west gable has antae with sandstone ashlar quoins the width of the wall, projecting 200mm with chamfered arrises, though the height of the antae cannot be assessed. The east gable is less obscured by vegetation and shows sandstone ashlar quoins without antae. It features a central narrow round-headed lancet approximately 250mm wide and 1500mm tall, with pronounced splayed reveals internally, built of red ashlar sandstone. Whether the window was glazed is difficult to determine. Remains of a curved moulded hood label survive. An opening in the northwest wall approximately three metres from the inside of the southwest gable has wing walls projecting outwards as if forming a porch. No evidence of any other door or window exists. At the north corner externally on the east side are five circular declivities arranged crosswise on the quoin stone, each approximately 25mm in diameter. The walls are generally built of whinstone, some large stones but mostly small, with mortared joints.

Near the pedestrian gate and to the northwest side of it stands a tall crucifix approximately 3.6 metres high on a stepped circular base. The pedestal supporting the cross has Eucharistic symbols on one side and various inscriptions on the top, covered with inset glass sheets that are difficult to decipher. One side of the pedestal has a slate insert without inscription. A white crucified figure of Christ is mounted on the cross. The crucifix was erected around the 1920s.

Historical records indicate this is the site of the old church of Faughanvale, dedicated to Saint Canice. Medieval Religious Houses Ireland lists it as an early site, possibly non-monastic and before 1100, with a reference to "Nuachongbhail" (meaning new ecclesiastical habitation). Erenaghs held it until the early seventeenth century. By 1622, the old church was ruinous, and the Grocers' Company erected a new church at Muff (Eglinton) in its place. The old churchyard was subsequently vested in the Local Burial Board.

John O'Donovan's Ordnance Survey Memoir records the interior dimensions as 68 feet 2 inches by 22 feet 9 inches, with masonry indicating considerable antiquity, the west end wall appearing to be of earlier date than other portions. The building was constructed of rubble stone with ashlar quoins and window stones. O'Donovan noted two windows: a western lancet window 4 feet high and 1 foot wide of inferior masonry style, and an eastern semi-circular-headed window 3 feet 4 inches high and 8 inches wide with plain drip moulding. Windows were splayed internally and not designed to receive glazing. The doorway, no longer evident, was in the south wall. At the time of O'Donovan's survey, the graveyard held only two inscribed tombstones, both of recent date.

Munn's Notes on Place Names references "the Irish map" compiled by John O'Donovan, which indicates the old church site as Nuacongbail. Munn also records "a mitred head cut in freestone on the north west corner of the old Church," though this was not observed during inspection. Griffith's Valuation of 1858 records the graveyard in the lessorship of Reverend Peter Benson Maxwell with a valuation of 5 shillings.

The crucifix monument was erected around the 1920s by a Mr Mullan in memory of the McKinney families of the district.

The ruins and graveyard possess considerable national and local historical and traditional interest.