St Runius, Marown ("Old Marown Church") dates to the 12th century and was the

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

Marown Marown ( , rhymes with "gown"; gv, Marooney) is one of the seventeen historic parishes of the Isle of Man. It is the only landlocked parish on the Island. It is located in the centre of the island, in the sheading of Middle, though historical ...

until 1853. Today it only holds services for special occasions.

History

Dedicated to Ma Rooney (St Runius), the church was built in around 1200, but was altered in 1754.St Runius Church
on iomguide.com Evident remains of the original smaller building can be seen in the eastern half of the church today. The original door of the early church was in the south wall, and it is still visible in the outside of the church today. The absence of windows in the northern wall, although notable today, was common in the 12th century.'Old St Runius, Crosby'
on the Church of England's www.achurchnearyou.com The church was altered and extended towards the west by about 5m from 1750 to 1755.
in ''A Manx Notebook'' The moulded jamb-stones in the church were taken for the purpose from the early

St Trinian's ''St Trinian's'' is a British gag cartoon comic strip series, created and drawn by Ronald Searle from 1946 until 1952. The cartoons all centre on a boarding school for girls, where the teachers are sadists and the girls are juvenile delinquents ...

, also in the same parish. Another feature was the western gallery for musicians, including violins and flutes, which would have stood over the modern doorway. The stone steps outside the building gave access to this gallery. In 1853 the church was displaced as the parish church for Marown by the church opened on the main A1 Douglas - Peel Road, which was also dedicated to St Runius. At this time Old St Runius was used as a mortuary chapel; this led to a part of the east end being demolished, and a door constructed.,''Archaeological Sites Guide of the Isle of Man, Up to 1500'' by Andrew Johnson and Allison Fox, Douglas:

Culture Vannin Culture Vannin is the trading name for the Manx Heritage Foundation, established in 1982 by the Isle of Man Government to promote Manx culture, heritage and language. It was rebranded in February 2014, having previously been known as the "Manx Her ...

, 2017, pp. 147-148 Although the church continued to be used for special services, it fell into disrepair and it was only after restoration by volunteers that it could be reopened on 9 August 1959. Although no regular services are now held at the church, it remains open and services are held for special occasions. It a

registered building Registered may refer to: * Registered mail, letters, packets or other postal documents considered valuable and in need of a chain of custody * Registered trademark symbol, symbol ® that provides notice that the preceding is a trademark or service ...

Features

The church holds a number of early examples of Christian crosses, dating back as far as the 7th century. The best preserved of these crosses was only discovered when the doorway was heightened and the slab was found to be in use as the lintel.

Significant persons connected to the church

* Captain John Quilliam was baptised here.'A Cool Manxman who Caught Nelson's Eye'
''Isle of Man Examiner'', 01/01/1954 *

Thomas Christian Thomas Christian (1754–1828) was the translator of John Milton's ''Paradise Lost'' into Manx language, Manx, an author of Manx carols, and vicar of Marown, Marown parish, Isle of Man. Life Thomas Christian was the second son of John Christian ...

was vicar here. * Bishop Lonnan was possibly buried here. * Bishop Connaghan was possibly buried here. * Bishop Runius was possibly buried here.

Gallery

File:Marown Old Church - geograph.org.uk - 3125.jpg, File:St. Runius, Marown (entrance).jpg, File:St. Runius, Marown.jpg, File:Norse-era carved cross, Marown.jpg, Image:St Runius.jpg, File:St Runius, Marown, Isle of Man - geograph.org.uk - 176633.jpg, File:Sign at St. Runius Church Marown - geograph.org.uk - 1317907.jpg,

References

{{reflist Churches in the Isle of Man 12th century in the Isle of Man Registered Buildings of the Isle of Man Church of England church buildings in Europe