/ Christian Heritage
due to the close proximity of the graveyard to the
Waterside House
church walls, it was decided to relocate to a new site at
Oxford Island Nature Reserve, Lurgan, Craigavon,
the current location. Some of the stone from the old
Co.Armagh
church at Shankill has been used in the construction
The Philip B. Wilson Local History Library at
of the steeple.
Waterside House, Oxford Island houses almost 6,000
reference books relating to the history of the local
Old Seagoe Church
area, in particular two unique Christian Heritage book
Seagoe, Portadown, Craigavon, Co. Armagh
collections:
The ancient church of Seagoe, is associated with the
The Quaker Book Collection: recognised as one of
house or monastery of St Gobhan. Very little is known
the most extensive libraries of Quaker Books in Ireland
about him, except for the fact that he was associated
and records the history of the Religious Society of
with this ancient church, possibly as its founder.
Friends from their earliest beginnings.
During the Plantation of Ulster in 1610, the church
The Methodist Book Collection: This collection of
was taken over by English settlers. It was replaced in
books dating from the middle of the 18th Century
1666 and these are the ruins which remain today in
covers the rise and development of the Methodist
Seagoe Cemetery.
Church in Britain and Ireland and focuses on local
congregational histories.
The Old Church Site
For further information and a leaflet on the trail
– Oxford Island
contact Craigavon Museum Services on:
Oxford Island Nature Reserve, Lurgan, Craigavon,
T: 028 3834 1635
Co. Armagh
E: museum@craigavon.gov.uk
The ecclesiastical history of the area is rather
W: www.craigavonmuseum.com
complicated although this church was first mentioned
in taxation records of 1344. In 1444, the neighbouring
parishes of Seagoe and Annaloiste were united and at
this time the original ‘Mother Church’ seems to have
been located here at Annaloiste, Oxford Island. With
the arrival of the Brownlows during the Plantation of
Ulster, the ruined church was immediately repaired
and used by them as a ‘house church’. After their
departure from the Lough Shore to the nearby site of
Lurgan, it is likely that this church at Oxford Island
was once again used by the local people up until 1760,
when the nearby church at Raughlan was erected.
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