History of St Mary’s Church, Roundstone (Moyrus)
Roundstone was founded in the 1820s by Alexander Nimmo, a Scottish engineer responsible for building many of the roads and piers in Connemara.
He encouraged his fellow countrymen to settle and develop the fishing industry, and a presbyterian kirk was built in 1840. It was demolished in 1930.
The Church of Ireland was consecrated in 1843. It was renovated in 1891 by Canon McCormick DD, who also added the tower, chancel and porch, and built the rectory. He was rector for over 40 years and a major influence in the area. At the time of the royal visit in 1903, he successfully petitioned the king to grant a pardon to a man about to be hanged.
The parish became part of the Omey group in 1955, when the rectory was sold off. The second font in the porch came from the ruined church at Moyrus. Electricity was installed in 1967, when the chancel windows were replaced. The roof was replaced in 1971. Any money which could not be raised by way of loan or grant was raised by a series of Twilight Robberies inspired by Betty Robb, whose husband, Donald, was Secretary, Treasurer and Organist for many years.
In 2000 oil fired heating was installed, and a boiler house built. The old turf boiler having been long out of service. In recent years a new roof has been put on the tower, and a wooden floor replaced, so that access to the belfry is safer, although there is still a problem with damp from the old masonry. A family of choughs have been nesting there for many years, and parishioners welcome these rare and beautiful birds.
St Mary’s has only a small resident congregation, but is well supported by numerous visitors in the holiday season.
Photo Gallery
St. Mary’s Incumbents
(The Parish was grouped with Omey in 1955)
Rev’d.James Ashe
Rev’d.Richard Goodison
Rev’d.Thomas H Fleming
Rev’d.Charles Henry Pelly
Rev’d. William J.L Paddon
Rev’d. James McCormick
Rev’d. Burton Tracy
Rev’d. James Bartley Shea
Rev’d. Samuel Dallas Manning
Rev’d. William H. Higgins
Rev’d. James Camier
Rev’d. John L. Owen McKeown
Rev’d. George.B.Fairbrother
Rev’d. Edward Constable Alston
Rev’d. Olaf Vernon Marshall
Rev’d. John Percival Lewis
Rev’d. Dirk Ernest Tinne (Aux.)
Rev’d. Anthony Previte
Rev’d Christopher Warren
The Venerable Anthony Previté, Archdeacon of Tuam
Rev’d Canon Denis Sandes
The Very Rev’d Stan Evans1843 – 1861
1862 – 1864
1864 – 1871
1871 – 1876
1876 – 1877
1878 – 1921
1922 – 1924
1924 – 1927
1928 – 1937
1937 – 1940
1942 – 1945
1946 – 1950
1954 – 1963
1963 – 1968
1968 – 1973
1973 – 1991
1975 – 1989
1991 – 1993
1994 – 1996
1996 – 2006
2007 – 2012
2013 – present