Board of First Fruits
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The Board of First Fruits () was an institution of the
Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the secon ...
that was established in 1711 by
Anne, Queen of Great Britain Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714) was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland from 8 March 1702 until 1 May 1707. On 1 May 1707, under the Acts of Union, the kingdoms of England and Scotland united as a single sovereign state known as ...
to build and improve churches and
glebe Glebe (; also known as church furlong, rectory manor or parson's close(s))McGurk 1970, p. 17 is an area of land within an ecclesiastical parish used to support a parish priest. The land may be owned by the church, or its profits may be reserved ...
houses in Ireland. This was funded from taxes collected on clerical incomes which were in turn funded by
tithes A tithe (; from Old English: ''teogoþa'' "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash or cheques or more ...
. The board was replaced in 1833 by the Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners.


History

From the English Reformation in the 16th century, most Irish people chose to remain
Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
and had by now to pay tithes valued at about 10% of an area's agricultural produce, to maintain and fund the established state church, the Anglican
Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the secon ...
, to which only a small minority of the population converted. Protests against this situation led to the
Tithe war The Tithe War ( ga, Cogadh na nDeachúna) was a campaign of mainly nonviolent civil disobedience, punctuated by sporadic violent episodes, in Ireland between 1830 and 1836 in reaction to the enforcement of tithes on the Roman Catholic majority ...
in the early 19th century. In 1711, Queen Anne agreed that the tax on clerical incomes be given to the Church of Ireland for the building of new churches and Glebe Houses. To that effect, with
Jonathan Swift Jonathan Swift (30 November 1667 – 19 October 1745) was an Anglo-Irish satirist, author, essayist, political pamphleteer (first for the Whigs, then for the Tories), poet, and Anglican cleric who became Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dubl ...
's influence, the Board of First Fruits was founded. During the first 70 years of its existence, the board purchased glebe lands for benefices at a total cost of £3,543. It also assisted the building of forty-five glebe houses with gifts of £4,080.Nigel Yates (2006). "The religious condition of Ireland, 1770–1850", p 34 In 1778, the Irish Parliament agreed a grant of £6,000, followed by £1,500 in 1779–1780, £6,000 in 1781–1782, £3,000 in 1783–1784 and £5,000 each year from 1785 to 1800. During the period 1791–1803, the board spent £55,600 towards the building of 88 churches and 116 glebe houses. The grants were maintained after the Act of Union 1800, but the
Act of Parliament Acts of Parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of law passed by the Legislature, legislative body of a jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of ...
in 1808 saw a consolidation of the funds and allowed the board to also repair old churches and glebe houses.Brooks, Chris & Saint, Andrew (1995). "The Victorian church: architecture and society", Manchester University Press, p 133–134 From 1808, the annual grant doubled to £10,000 and massively increased to £60,000 each year between 1810 and 1816. Thereafter, the grant was halved between 1817 and 1821, finally being reduced to £10,000 each year in 1822–1823. In the twenty years following the Act of Union, a total of £807,648 was paid out in grants to purchases glebe lands in 193 benefices, the building of 550 glebe houses, and the building, rebuilding and enlargement of 697 churches. The
Church Temporalities Act 1833 The Church Temporalities Act 1833 (3 & 4 Will. 4 c. 37), sometimes called the Church Temporalities (Ireland) Act 1833, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland which undertook a major reorganisation of the Ch ...
put an end to the Board of First Fruits and The Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners took over.


Architects

Many architects worked for the Board of First Fruits. The following lists a few and is not exhaustive: *
George Richard Pain George Richard Pain (1793 – 26 December 1838) was born into a family of English architects. His grandfather was William Pain, his father James Pain and his brother also James. George Richard served as an apprentice architect to John Nash of ...
*
James Pain James Pain (1779 – 13 December 1877) was an English architect. Born into a family of English architects, his grandfather was William Pain, his father James Pain and his brother George Richard Pain. James Pain served as an apprentice to the ...
*
Joseph Welland Joseph Welland (6 May 1798 – 6 March 1860) was born in Middleton, County Cork and became an Irish Architect for the Board of First Fruits and later the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. He was as a student to John Bowden and became his assista ...
* John Bowden * John Semple * William Farrell


Buildings

Many churches and glebe houses were constructed or improved with funding from the Board of First Fruits.


Churches


In County Armagh

*
Madden, County Armagh Madden (also known as Madden Raparees )Placenames NI
is a small
, (Rebuilt 1816) *St Luke's,
Ballymoyer Ballymoyer or Ballymyre () is a civil parish in the historic barony of Fews Upper, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, 3 miles north-east of Newtownhamilton. Places of interest *Ballymoyer House and estate, once the seat of Sir Walter Synnot (1742 ...
, (Built 1822)http://www.libraryireland.com/Lewis/LewisB/17-BALLYMOYER.php


In County Cork

*Dromagh, near
Banteer Banteer () is a village in north County Cork, Ireland located in the Civic Parish of Clonmeen in the Barony of Duhallow. It is near the town of Mallow. Banteer is within the Cork North-West Dáil constituency. History In 1651, the Battle of Kn ...
, (Built 1822)* *St. George's,
Mitchelstown Mitchelstown () is a town in County Cork, Ireland with a population of approximately 3,740. Mitchelstown is situated in the valley to the south of the Galtee Mountains, 12 km south-west of the Mitchelstown Caves, 28 km from Cahir, 50 ...
, (Rebuild of 1830 partially funded by Board)* *Marshalstown (in ruins), near the
River Funshion The River Funshion (; ga, Abhainn na Fuinseann) is a river in Munster, Ireland, a tributary of the Munster Blackwater. Course The River Funshion rises in the Galtee Mountains at Kilbeheny, near the County Limerick–County Tipperary border. ...
, (Built c1810)* *St Mary’s,
Castletownroche Castletownroche () is a townland, village, and civil parish in the barony of Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland. It is located on the N72 national secondary road. In ancient times, it was known in Irish as ''Dún Chruadha'', meaning Cruadha's Fort. ...
, (Built c1825)*


In County Dublin

*St Brigid's, Castleknock, Fingal, (Re-built in 1810) *Christ Church,
Taney Parish The Parish of Taney is a populous parish in the Church of Ireland, located in the Dundrum area of Dublin. History Early history Taney's origins go back to the early Irish saint Nathi, who in the 6th century established a centre for monastic ...
, Dundrum, (Built 1818) *
St. Philip and St. James Church, Booterstown St. Philip and St. James Church, Booterstown is a church of the Church of Ireland located in Booterstown, Dublin. History Beginning the Parish The area of the parish of Booterstown was founded in 1821, where the area had previously been cove ...
, (Built 1821) *
Monkstown Church, Dublin Monkstown Church is a church of the Church of Ireland located in Monkstown, County Dublin, Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern ...
, (Built 1830s) * St. Marys Chapel of Ease, Dublin, (Built 1830)


In County Galway

*
Portumna Portumna ( - meaning 'the landing place of the oak') is a market town in the south-east of County Galway, Ireland, on the border with and linked by a bridge to County Tipperary. The town is located to the west of the point where the River Shann ...
, (Built 1832)* *Kilkerrin, near
Glenamaddy Glenamaddy () is a small town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies at the crossroads where the R362 and R364 regional roads meet. Glenamaddy became a musical focal point in Connacht during the 1960s during the showband era. To the east of the ...
, (Built 1784)*


In County Kildare

*Saint John’s Church,
Ballymore Eustace Ballymore Eustace () is a small town situated in County Kildare in Ireland, although until 1836 it lay within an exclave (a detached "pocket") of County Dublin. It lies close to the border with County Wicklow. The town's name, which is frequ ...
, (Built 1820)* *
Taghadoe Taghadoe in County Kildare in Ireland is the site of an ancient monastic settlement and Irish round tower, round tower. The site includes a graveyard and the ruins of a 19th-century church. It is situated 5 km from Maynooth, off the Straffan ...
, near
Maynooth Maynooth (; ga, Maigh Nuad) is a university town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to Maynooth University (part of the National University of Ireland and also known as the National University of Ireland, Maynooth) and St Patrick's ...
, (Built 1831)


In County Kerry

*St Cartach's,
Castlemaine, County Kerry Castlemaine () is a small village in County Kerry, southwest Ireland. It lies on the N70 national secondary road between Killorglin and Tralee. History The village takes its name from a castle that once stood on a bridge over the River Maine ...
, (Built 1816)* *
Templenoe Templenoe () is a civil parish in County Kerry, Ireland. It is situated four miles from Kenmare, on the N70 road to Sneem, which forms part of the Ring of Kerry. Templenoe is the location of the Ring of Kerry golf club. There is a Gaelic Athl ...
, (Built 1816)* *Kilcolman, Milltown, (Built 1819)*


In County Longford

*St Thomas', Rathmore near Lough Gowna, (Built 1829)


In County Mayo

* St. Mary's
Crossmolina Crossmolina is a town in the Barony of Tyrawley in County Mayo, Ireland, as well as the name of the parish in which Crossmolina is situated. The town sits on the River Deel near the northern shore of Lough Conn. Crossmolina is about west o ...
(built 1818-9)*


in County Offaly

*
Dunkerrin Dunkerrin () is a small village in County Offaly, Ireland, just south of Roscrea and near the County Tipperary border. It is on the R445 road which was once the main road from Dublin to Limerick. Dunkerrin is now bypassed by the M7, the nearest ...
, (Built 1820)* *St Mary's,
Shinrone Shinrone () is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is in the southernmost part of the county, close to the border with County Tipperary. It lies at the junction of the R491 regional road between Nenagh and Roscrea with the R492 to Sharavo ...
, (Built 1821)* *St Colman's, Cree (Built 1844)


In County Tipperary

*Ballynaclogh, on the
Nenagh River Nenagh (, ; or simply ''An tAonach'') meaning “The Fair of Ormond” or simply "The Fair", is the county town and second largest town in County Tipperary in Ireland. Nenagh used to be a market town, and the site of the East Munster Ormon ...
, (Built 1815)* * Borrisokane, (Built 1812) * *St Burchin's, Ballyhenry, County Tipperary, (Built 1814)* * St Cronan's,
Roscrea Roscrea () is a market town in County Tipperary, Ireland, which in 2016 had a population of 5,446. Roscrea is one of the oldest towns in Ireland, having developed around the 7th century monastery of Saint Crónán of Roscrea, parts of which rem ...
, (Built 1812)* * Dorrha, Graigue, Dorrha, (Built 1832)* * Feigh West, near Borrisokane, (Built 1813)* *Glebe (in ruins), (built c1790)* *
Holycross Holycross () is a village and civil parish in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is one of 21 civil parishes in the barony of Eliogarty. The civil parish straddles two counties and the baronies of Eliogarty and of Middle Third (South Tipperary). It ...
, (Built 1821)* *St Kieran's,
Cloughjordan Cloughjordan, officially Cloghjordan ( , ), is a town in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is in the barony of Ormond Lower, and it is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. The town is situated in the north-western part of T ...
, (Built 1837)* *Kilfithmone, now part of the united parish "
Templemore Templemore () is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty. It is part of the parish of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The 2011 Cens ...
, Thurles and Kilfithmone", (Built 1821)* *
Kilruane Kilruane (''Cill Ruáin'' in Irish) is a townland and civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower, County Tipperary in Ireland. It is located between Nenagh and Cloughjordan. Sport Kilruane MacDonagh's GAA club grounds are located nea ...
, (Built 1820)* *Kilbiller (in ruins), in the
Borrisokane Forest Borrisokane forest in County Tipperary extends from the R445 road (Ireland), R445 road northward to Portumna and from Lough Derg (Shannon), Lough Derg to the County Offaly border. The forest consists of several widely dispersed small areas of wo ...
(Built 1822)* * Johnstown, Killodiernan, near
Puckane Puckane, officially Puckaun (), is a village in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. The village is located 10 km north of Nenagh along the R493 and close to Lough Derg and Dromineer. It ...
(Built 1811)* * Littleton, Bally Beg, (Built 1786) *St Mary's,
Thurles Thurles (; ''Durlas Éile'') is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is located in the civil parish of the same name in the barony of Eliogarty and in the ecclesiastical parish of Thurles. The cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Arc ...
, (Built c1825)* *St Michael's (in ruins), Cloonmore, Ballymackey, (Built 1815)* *
Modreeny Modreeny () is a townland and a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower, County Tipperary in Ireland situated on the R490 road between the towns of Borrisokane and Cloughjordan. Ormond Foxhounds are based at kennels at Modreeny. B ...
(in ruins), (Built 1828)* *St Ruadan's (in ruins) Curraghmore, on the grounds of
Finnoe Finnoe (''Fionnú'' in Irish) is a civil parish in the barony of Ormond Lower, County Tipperary, Ireland. It is located close to Borrisokane. Finnoe is in the Dáil constituency of Laois-Offaly which incorporates 24 electoral divisions that ...
House, near Borrisokane,(Built c1815)* *
Terryglass Terryglass () is a village in County Tipperary, Ireland. The small town is located on the R493 regional road on the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg near where the River Shannon enters the Lough. It is a civil parish in the historical barony o ...
, (Built 1808)*


In County Wexford

St Paul's Church, Kildavin. (Built in 1811) St Peter’s Church, Monart (Built 1805-1810)


Glebe Houses

*
Clondrohid Clondrohid () is a village and civil parish in County Cork, Ireland, four miles (6 km) north of Macroom. As of the 2016 census, the population of the village was recorded as 179, down from 188 people as of the 2011 census. Geography Parish ...
,
County Cork County Cork ( ga, Contae Chorcaí) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland, named after the city of Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. Its largest market towns a ...
*
Clondavaddog Clondavaddog is a parish in the Diocese of Raphoe. Clondavaddog is situated at the northern part of the Fanad peninsula in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland. History The most relevant event in Irish history to have happened locally was the ki ...
, County Donegal (Built c1795) *
Lorrha Lorrha (from ) is a small village at the northern tip of County Tipperary, Ireland. It is located on a minor road between the R489 Birr to Portumna road and the N65 Nenagh to Portumna road about five kilometres east of the point where the Ri ...
, County Tipperary (Built 1816)* * Feigh West, County Tipperary (Built 1816)* * Killeen, County Tipperary (Built 1816)* * Dunkitt, County Kilkenny (Built 1817)* *
Ballymoyer Ballymoyer or Ballymyre () is a civil parish in the historic barony of Fews Upper, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, 3 miles north-east of Newtownhamilton. Places of interest *Ballymoyer House and estate, once the seat of Sir Walter Synnot (1742 ...
, County Armagh (Built 1825) *
Loughkeen Loughkeen (''Baile Locha Caoin'' in Irish) is a townland and a civil parish in the barony of Ormond Lower, County Tipperary in Ireland. It is located south-west of Riverstown Riverstown, historically called ''Ballyederdaowen'' (), is a villa ...
, County Tipperary (Built c1830)* *Monart, County Wexford (Built 1805-1810) * An asterisk indicates that a building is featured on the website o
the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage


See also

*
Ecclesiastical Commissioners The Ecclesiastical Commissioners were, in England and Wales, a body corporate, whose full title was Ecclesiastical and Church Estates Commissioners for England. The commissioners were authorized to determine the distribution of revenues of the Chu ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Board Of First Fruits 1711 establishments in Ireland 1833 disestablishments Church of Ireland