Collegiate Church of SS Peter & Paul, Medieval church and national monument in Kilmallock, Ireland.
The Collegiate Church of SS Peter & Paul is a medieval church in Kilmallock featuring a nave, chancel, south transept, and three aisles arranged around a central worship space. A northwest tower incorporates the remains of an early monastery round tower, creating a layered structure that blends different building periods.
The church was built in 1241 on the site of an earlier monastery that dated back to the year 600. In 1420, Maurice Fitzgerald commissioned major changes that reshaped the building to match the tastes and power of his family.
The carved tombs in the south transept show how wealthy merchant families of the time wanted to be remembered in stone. Walking through the church, you can see their names and symbols carved into the walls, revealing how important these families were to the local community.
The church sits on the south bank of the River Loobagh with distinct features like a 13th-century doorway on the south wall. Five lancet windows in the chancel bring light into the interior and help you understand the building's age and original design.
A fire in 1935 led the congregation to abandon the church and move to another building, marking the end of active worship at the site. Today the empty structure stands as a reminder of how quickly a community's religious life can shift to a new location.
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