Murlog Old Church

Murlog Old Church

 

image courtesy of the internet

By Anna French

 

Murlog old Church or ‘The Chapel’ as it was called was built in 1760 during a time when Catholic religion was forbidden. The land had been given by Earl of Erne in the 18th century when he saw a large congregation praying in the open air and was moved by their faith.

The three stage gothic, which dates from about 1820 stands today as a link to the past.

The Celtic cross was erected in 1853 in memory of the retreat/mission given by the Redemptories Fathers.

The altar was raised. At communion time a snow white linen cloth, starched to perfection would be placed over the altar rails to ensure the Sacred Host did not fall on the floor.

Men and women didn’t mix in the chapel. Men went in the door at the Ballindrait side and women went in at the Lifford side.

People walked to mass (which was said in Latin) from the four corners of the parish. Coming from Porthall we always tried to be at Tom Friel’s before the bell rung. When we got as far as Rossgier where would be people coming the Cavan Road and Cavanacor. By the time we crossed Kennedy’s Bridge onto the Murlog Road there would be people coming from Lifford and Ballindrait.

The old chapel had a gallery at the rear reached by a set of stone steps. To receive communion you had to come down the steps, go in the main door to receive.  In wintertime the people coming from the gallery to receive, depending on the weather, would be soaking wet, covered in snow or just freezing as they queued.

In 1935 I was baptised in this chapel.  I recall my godmother, years ago, telling me the story of how on that cold winter’s day in February, she carried me, well wrapped up, from Ballindrait to Murlog to be baptised.

The road, she said was bad with snow and ice, so she had to be very careful not to fall with me. it was a slow journey both ways and by the time we got back to Ballindrait she was glad to see the fire, have a cup of tea and get thawed out.

I also made my holy communion in that church and was married there in1958.

I was told also that my father, as a young man worked at Murlog with Father O Neil driving him around the parish in a pony and trap.

 

This short story was first published by Anna French as part of Present & Past a book of story stories by The Gateway Writers Group