Banagher Old Church

Banagher Old Church is a monument in state care, and a scheduled monument, in Banagher near Dungiven in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Local tradition ascribes the foundation of the church to either Saint Patrick, or more commonly, St Muiredach O’Heney. Whilst an inscription etched in the 1730s states that ‘this church was built in ye year of God 474’, there is no evidence that the church is that old. Instead it was likely founded towards the end of the 11th century. Its first definitive reference in recorded history is related to 1121, when it is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster as the site where the king of the Ciannachta was killed by his own kinsmen. It was later noted as the base for Archbishop Colton of Armagh's 1397 visit to the Diocese of Derry. It is unknown when the church was abandoned, but a survey of churches of the area in 1622 noted it was already ruined. Interest in the site as an important ecclesiastical ruin was revived in the late 19th century. In 1880 it passed into state care from the church Temporal Commissioners. In the 1970s the church was fully excavated and underwent a conservation programme.