Tullanisken Parish Church
Newmills, County Tyrone
Tullanisken Parish, is located in Newmills just outside Dungannon, a great community village that is worth a visit.
A Christian community may have been living in Ballyclog for over a thousand years. Churches associated with St Patrick have existed in Ballyclog since the 11th century. The 17th century ‘old’ church was used until 1865. It had been built on the site of previous churches and an older monastic establishment. A ‘new’ church was then built across the road and remains in use. Rowan describes it as ‘a roguish little building wilfully adapting Irish architectural elements to jazzy ends’. It is a stunningly beautiful building inside and out.
Some 900 years of history are displayed in records and artefacts by Museums in Dublin and Belfast, and in displays and architectural drawings in the ‘new’ church. 'Ballyclog' means 'place of the bell'. 'St Patrick’s Bell' was found in St Patrick’s tomb in 522 and was transferred into the custody of generations of the O’Maelchallan family, the Keepers of the Bell. The location of this bell disappeared from public awareness from the middle of the 15th century until a O’Maelchallan Keeper, the last of his line, bequeathed it to a friend in 1819. It was acquired by the Royal Irish Academy and is in the National Museum in Dublin.
In 2008 a silver replica of St Patrick’s Bell was presented to Her Majesty the Queen when she visited St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. Another was presented to Her Excellency the President of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese, when she addressed the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. A bronze replica is displayed in St Patrick’s, Ballyclog.
In 2016 'The Ballyclog Bell' and artefacts dating from the early Christian period were discovered in Ballyclog. This bell and the objects found with it are on display in the Ulster Museum, Belfast.
The Friends of Ballyclog guides offer walks and talks. They can guide you around the old church and talk about the ruins, the artefacts and the history. They then show visitors the new church, its history, its beauty and the architects drawings dated 1864, and you can ring the 1865 bell. Parties and single visitors are equally welcomed.