St Patrick’s, Lisbane

It has been recorded that, in 1703, Fr Richard McTeggart “stood at the Mass rock in Ballycran.” The following year, 1704, when the Church of Ireland, St Andrew’s, Balligan was erected, the “Act of Registration of Popish clergy” was passed. Among those registered at Downpatrick was the same Fr Richard McTeggart, aged 44 and residing at Lisbane, close to the Saltwater Brig where the Blackstaff River meets Lough Cuan.

He registered himself as “Parish Priest of Ardkeen.” He then had a “Mass House” built at Lisbane, which, like its sister house in Ballyphilip, was a low mud-walled building roofed with thatch. The Parish Priest of Ballyphilip was Fr Patrick O’Prey, who had been ordained by Bishop Oliver Plunkett in 1671. When Fr O’Prey died in 1717, he was not replaced due to the harsh laws and times, so the entire Ards peninsula was under the pastoral care of Fr McTeggart, who was based at Lisbane and travelled throughout the area.

As the century advanced, the Penal Laws were enforced less strictly. Fr James McTeggart, a curate in the Ards from 1735, was appointed parish priest in 1754. From his base at Lisbane, he also travelled throughout the peninsula. He played a key role in having a church constructed at Ballygalget in 1760, and in 1762, he replaced the old “Mass House” in Ballyphilip with the present church. As Parish Priest of the Ards, he would have celebrated Mass in these buildings, as well as at Lisbane and other locations, even as far as Newtownards. By the time Fr Daniel O’Doran took on the role of Parish Priest in 1768, circumstances permitted the construction of a new, permanent church at Lisbane. This was completed in 1777 and dedicated to St Patrick.

In 1780, Fr O’Doran was appointed to Kilcoo. He was the last Parish Priest of the entire peninsula, as in that same year, the parish of Ballyphilip was restored. Fr John Fitzsimons, who had been the curate to Fr O’Doran since 1777, was appointed Parish Priest of Ballyphilip in 1780, and Fr James Killen became Parish Priest of Ardkeen (Lower Ards). Over the next 80 years, there was a succession of Parish Priests based at Lisbane. When Fr John McAuley was appointed in 1866, the population was becoming too large for Lisbane, so a new church was contemplated. Eventually, in 1876, the church of Mount St Joseph’s was opened. Lisbane Church was then used as a mortuary chapel for the funerals of those to be buried in the adjoining graveyard. The building deteriorated over time, so a full restoration was undertaken by Fr Arthur Haughey, Parish Priest, in the late 1960s with the help of volunteer parishioners.In 1780, Fr O’Doran was appointed to Kilcoo. He was the last Parish Priest of the entire peninsula, as in this same year, the parish of Ballyphilip was restored. Fr John Fitzsimons, who had been the curate to Fr O’Doran since 1777, was appointed Parish Priest of Ballyphilip in 1780, and Fr James Killen became Parish Priest of Ardkeen (lower Ards). Over the next 80 years, there was a succession of Parish Priest based at Lisbane. When Fr John McAuley was appointed in 1866, the population was getting too large for Lisbane, so a new church was contemplated. Eventually, in 1876, the church of Mount St Joseph’s was opened.

Lisbane Church was used then as a mortuary chapel for the funerals of those to be buried n the adjoining graveyard. The building deteriorated over time, so a full restoration was undertaken by Fr Arthur Haughey, Parish Priest, in the late 1960s with the help of volunteer parishioners.