and District Local History Society

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Acton Parish Church, Poyntzpass >en & nk Drawing of Acton Parish Church by Una Waiters. ton Parish Church, situated at the entrance to Poyntzpass Village from the Newry side, was built in 1789.

1 Acton Parish Church, Poyntzpass >en & nk Drawing of Acton Parish Church by Una Waiters. ton Parish Church, situated at the entrance to Poyntzpass Village from the Newry side, was built in This church was a replacement for the church built n 1684 by Sir Toby Poyntz, on the site now known as "Acton Old Graveyard/'just south of Acton village 3n the Poyntzpass road. The 1684 church may have Deen a replacement for a much earlier church on the jame site. Before the canal was made the lowlying country between Portadown Newry consisted of bogs woods that separated the O'Hanlons' ls in Co. Armagh from the Magennnis territory in Co. Down. lit some few places it was possible to cross the bog, [80] hence the names Poyntz pass Scarva pass. The Pass, now Poyntzpass, formerly known as "Fenwick's Pass", was an important military position held by Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone. Led by Lieutenant Charles Poyntz, the position was captured by a few English troops after a fierce encounter. For this bril liant feat of arms, Lieutenant Poyntz was given a grant of 500 acres by James 1 in This l was part of the forfeited estates of the O'Hanlons, Charles Poyntz quickly set about the task of securing it. He erected a bawn 100 feet square, a house of brick lime for his own residence, twenty four cottages, which were given to English settlers. He called the place "Acton" after his own native vil lage of Acton, in Gloucestershire.

the wall of the church built by Sir Toby, as described by Lewis in 1838, was inscribed as follows: " THS CHURCH WAS BULT AT THE SOLE EXPENSE OF Sr. TOBY POYNTZ Knt., THE SON OF Sr. CHARLES POYNTZ Knt.

A stone on Sir Toby was buried in a vault under the chancel, in 1685. He was survived by his three children a son Charles, two daughters, Sarah Christine.

2 the wall of the church built by Sir Toby, as described by Lewis in 1838, was inscribed as follows: " THS CHURCH WAS BULT AT THE SOLE EXPENSE OF Sr. TOBY POYNTZ Knt., THE SON OF Sr. CHARLES POYNTZ Knt. OF ACTON anno 1684 AND DEDCATED TO THE BLESSED AND UNDVDED TRNTY " Acton House. Charles Poyntz his wife Christina Puleston had a son, Toby, who was knighted in A stone on Sir Toby was buried in a vault under the chancel, in He was survived by his three children a son Charles, two daughters, Sarah Christine. Charles married Lucy Lucas from Castleshane, Co. Monaghan had a son Lucas Poyntz who died without issue in Sarah married Charles Stewart of Ballintoy, Co. Antrim. Christine married Roger Hall of Narrow Water Castle, Warrenpoint. ullbb^lp 1jM^J1W11H MBMBMBMWl jbm. i' A J*? >* >4croA? Old Graveyard. [81 ]

CHARLES POYNTZ m. CHRSTNA PULESTON TOBY (DED 1685) m. Mary 1684 built first Church of Acton,, CHARLES SARAH m. m. m. CHRSTNE Lucy Lucas Charles Stewart Roger Hall of of Ballintoy Narrow Water Lucas Poyntz Rose d.

n 1724, Sarah's son Rev. Archibald Stewart paid his aunt?2,000 for her interest in Acton Manor, became rector llord in Ballintoy with estates in Acton.

3 CHARLES POYNTZ m. CHRSTNA PULESTON TOBY (DED 1685) m. Mary 1684 built first Church of Acton,, CHARLES SARAH m. m. m. CHRSTNE Lucy Lucas Charles Stewart Roger Hall of of Ballintoy Narrow Water Lucas Poyntz Rose d no issue Rev. Archibald ALEXANDER m. Capt. T ALEXANDER THOMAS m. a sister of Sir Hugh Hill of Derry + ALEXANDER THOMAS Jnr. C. Stewart Following Charles' death the Poyntz inheritance was divided between the sisters, Sarah Stewart Christine Hall. n 1724, Sarah's son Rev. Archibald Stewart paid his aunt?2,000 for her interest in Acton Manor, became rector llord in Ballintoy with estates in Acton. He was succeeded by a younger brother, Alexer, who died in The latter's son, Alexer Thomas Stewart, who was still a minor, inherited the family estates in Ballintoy Acton. Alexer Thomas had an adventurous spirit. He was also very publicspirited attempt ed to develop a colliery quay at Ballintoy over the period The project seems to have made him bankrupt, for soon afterwards, he sold the entire Ballintoy estate for?20,000 went to reside at Acton Manor. This was probably the Alexer Thomas Stewart who granted the lease for the site for the first Ballyargan Chapel. t is said that there had previ ously been a Mass Garden in the hills nearby that Alexer Thomas Stewart of Acton, passing by one Sunday morning finding certain of his ten ants kneeling in the snow, decided to grant a lease for the building of a chapel. The temporary chapel at Ballyargan, known from Ordinance Survey mate rial to date from 1769, lasted until 1806, when it was rebuilt at a cost of?600. ^J^^^^BBBBB^MBSB^^^BBm^% At X> T, STEWART, ACTUM, FRl**i A MNATURE Of im 77?e Vault where Toby Poyntz is said to be buried. Alexer Thomas Stewart. [82]

4 BjBfffi^ HBBMbhbHBm ^BW 5f Josephs Poyntzpass. Alexer Thomas Stewart seems to have carried a burden of debt with him from Antrim to Armagh because he mortgaged the Acton Estate to Samuel Hanna, a wealthy merchant of Newry. Alexer Thomas was married to a sister of Sir Hugh Hill of Deny, they had one son also called Alexer Thomas. Alexer Thomas Stewart jnr. inherited his father's adventurous spirit seems to have as he moved n the 1790's too, Stewart became sympathetic to the cause of the United rishmen. By 1798 the Governments' security forces would seem to have been closing in on Stewart as he was reported then as living in Engl. He was arrested on a charge of high treason but released due to insignificant evi dence pressure from Parliament. Following his release from prison, he returned to rel where he died from typhus fever in the early 1800s his Acton property passed to Samuel Hanna. in the circle of a fastliving set in Dublin associating with notorious gamblers rakes with a reputation for outrageous dares duels. He also seems to have inherited a mortgaged property on his father's death that led, ultimately, to the Stewart dynasty for feiting the Acton estate around the turn of the cen tury. This Alexer Thomas Stewart Junior was the last of the Stewarts in Acton. The burden of debt did not stifle his generosity to the poor in the area or curb his building of a new mansion a parish church at Poyntzpass. n 1792, Alexer Thomas Junior also granted a lease to Father John Maguire, then parish priest of Ballymore, to build a Catholic church at Poyntzpass. [83] The Parish Church of Acton, built by Alexer Thomas Stewart junior in 1789, was not consecrated until October This reason for this long delay is not clear. A tower spire were added between , a side aisle in The chan cel was built in 1890 a stained glass window was placed in it to the memory of Robert Quin Alexer, J.P, of Acton House. Their children added another window, to the memory of his wife, Gertrude Harriet, in n 1899 a new vestry was built. The Communion Plate a chalice, paten flagon is inscribed "Acton Church 1792."

Poyntzpass The carved oak pulpit prayer a in 1923, desk memorial to those who fell in the 1914 1918 war the carved oak chancel chair, by Mrs. presented FredWiley of Acton in 1923.

$oak chair presented by the Reverend in 1944. Mrs. Nelson carved Nelson ' '? * emttt W&&1K&& <j9g$ ' ' '? tvsm.''\^. '%& J&H ** " l lflfbm' * g ' JJBH?? *>/ Hfc :' v, J*,i.^vi,.TlKa.$ Vftt, <, FmHEK&^H gr^hp1&:&,w~^ il?,* 111* s#? 1111 t#a, ( w?:v"^ BBb^:::'''':>, *"""'.:".^^P ^^HKJK ^ Canon Hk&* * 1118113 tmmin.' r flsbt&sm *;**^ SB **:*:.

Vftt, <, FmHEK&^H gr^hp1&:&,w~^ il?,* 111* s#? 1111 t#a, ( w?:v"^ BBb^:::'''':>, *"""'.:".^^P ^^HKJK ^ Canon Hk&* * 1118113 tmmin.' r flsbt&sm *;**^ SB **:*:.

5 Poyntzpass The carved oak pulpit prayer a in 1923, desk memorial to those who fell in the war the carved oak chancel chair, by Mrs. presented FredWiley of Acton in 'jbi'k: P^^^^aP^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B^B^r '^HP9^H^^^^^^^h^B^^Be?H1^^ The brass book rest for the Holy Table, presented Sjj^^^^^^^^HPH^r ^BifflBKi 3^HHB^ ^r^bswk^ i^^^^^bl^^^limffill^^ Mrs. Nelson. by the Canon E.A. Nelson brass Communion rails, presented by William James in memory of their brother Bennet, F. Bennet, John Reverend Rector the of Tinahely, who died in oak chair presented by the Reverend in Mrs. Nelson carved Nelson ' '? * emttt W&&1K&& <j9g$ ' ' '? tvsm.''\^. '%& J&H ** " l lflfbm' * g ' JJBH?? *>/ Hfc :' v, J*,i.^vi,.TlKa. Vftt, <, FmHEK&^H gr^hp1&:&,w~^ il?,* 111* s#? 1111 t#a, ( w?:v"^ BBb^:::'''':>, *"""'.:".^^P ^^HKJK ^ Canon Hk&* * tmmin.' r flsbt&sm *;**^ SB **:*:.^** v^*& Hmfc'W^ ^^ a&^bb Stained glass window inacton Parish Church. Other additions improvements include: the Chancel tiling, which was presented by the Alexer Misses their brother, of Acton Lieutenant House Colonel in memory of W.F. Alexer, in ?eLectern. n 1952 a secondh a J.W. Walker pipe organ was installed Sons Ltd., Organ at a cost of?900. Transport? (for a weight charges ping 18cwt. From London Port to Poyntzpass). Middlesex, A second flower hymn pedestals board made pair presented of by of Builders of ship 1 ton carved oak by Mr. Fred Liggett. The clock on the tower, dedicated in 1994 to the memory of Mrs. Baptism Best. of Jesus 0. M. Best. n 1999, a stained glass window The Pulpit. [84] in memory of Don depicting the Margaret

Acton was originally part of the parish of Ballymore, better known as Tragee, consisted of nineteen townls. Until 1921, when they were amalgamated, Acton Drumbanagher were sepa rate parishes.

The parishes were reunited in the 1950s. 1868 Rev. John Phillips Bushe also the first incumbent after Disestablishment in 1870. NCUMBENTS 1873 1885 Rev. Paul Lyster Jamesom 1885 1895 Rev.

6 Acton was originally part of the parish of Ballymore, better known as Tragee, consisted of nineteen townls. Until 1921, when they were amalgamated, Acton Drumbanagher were sepa rate parishes. n 1946 this union was dissolved to enable the Parish of Acton to benefit by a legacy of about?6000, left to it under the will of Mr. J.A. Gillel J.P., a retired school principal of Poyntzpass. The parishes were reunited in the 1950s Rev. John Phillips Bushe also the first incumbent after Disestablishment in NCUMBENTS Rev. Paul Lyster Jamesom Rev. Charles Frederick Archer Rev. William Frederick Johnson Rev. Canon Ernest A. Nelson Rev. James Andrew O'Brien Rogers Rev. Dr. Michael C. Casella Rev. George Long Rev. Canon Arthur Parkinson Rev. Canon Frank Noel Rev. Dr. John Clyde Rev. Maurice Harvey 1997 Rev. Canon Michael Barton Alexer Thomas Stewart his son of the same name, between them, were largely responsible for the building of Ballyargan Chapel, (1769), St. Joseph's Church in Poyntzpass, (1790's), Acton House, (1790), Acton Parish Church (1789). Stained glass window in Acton Parish Church. ACTON PARSH CHURCH PERPETUAL CURATES Rev. John Creery Rev. Alexer Macauley Rev. Richard Dodds Rev. Henry Ashe who with his brother, the Reverend saac Ashe, opened a school in Tragee in "He discharged faithfully the duties of the parish of Acton for 25 years." Rev. Savage Hall Rev. Jonathan Lovett Darby Rev. John Henry King The Sundial, Acton Parish Church. The three churches have another link as each has a sundial made by Thomas McCreesh, schoolmaster at Poyntzpass. The sundial at Ballyargan, dated 1826, is inscribed : Memto Mori ' Years following years steal something every day At last they steal us from ourselves away This plainly shows to foolish man That this short life is but a span.' [85]

7 Poyntzpass Qockwise from top left:rev CF. Archer, Rev W.F. Johnson, Rev EA. Nelson, Rev G. Long, Rev AN. Parkinson [861

8 Poyntzpass ahfl^^^^^^^^^^^ll Hi; _,,^ ;.il ^^^BBBBSBmBMBBBB^B^BBW''^^ ^Bf MBl^^. J^^^^^^^B^m ^^r ^^^^^^^^^HJ^hB^^^^^^^^H^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B ^v^^ ^^^^H^^^^BHBBBiH^^^BB^^^^^HBB^^^^^^^B ;;^^Hv 1 *'f^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^bf'' jn^^^h^^^hr ': Y^/^v J ^d^h %'^^Pw^^***3^fc^PBt> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B^HBHB^^^^^^Hfl^^^H^^^^H^H^S^^Bliifi" ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B^B9BB^H^^HHl^^^^^^^HBfiJ^liiiPl^^ *^^Ek, Jj^^^B ^^H^iKBBVHnHfV^i^mHHBBBk. ^^^HHHHBHHBBBH^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^HBHBB Clockwise from top left: Rev Canon F.Noel, Rev Dr. J. Clyde, Rev M.Harvey, Rev Canon M. Barton. [87] fm^^km*\uitmu^kkm^m

TANDRAGEE Some Historical Notes

TANDRAGEE Some Historical Notes By K. KILPATRICK The town of Tkndragee was the ancient headquarters of the O'Hanlon family. The name usually interpreted as meaning "back to the wind" probably derives from