St Paul’s Church of Ireland, Banagher

 Arthur Bell Nicholls and his family worshipped at St Paul’s Church of Ireland church in Banagher. No doubt, Charlotte would have attended the church when she was there in July 1854 on her honeymoon with Arthur Bell Nicholls.

St Paul’s Banagher.

The church was built in 1829 and stands at the top of the hill overlooking the town of Banagher. It has an attractive spire rising out of a tower and has pre-Raphaelite stained-glass windows designed by Rev. A.L. Moore of London whose work can also be seen in Ely Cathedral.

Internally there are wonderful timber box pews.

Timber box pews.

James Scully, a Banagher local historian, showing Joanne around St Paul’s Banagher. 

    There is an upstairs seating gallery by the organ.

The organ was manufactured by a company called Conacher & Co from Huddersfield just 18 miles (29 kms) from Haworth! Small world! A little bit of West Yorkshire in Arthur’s church! I wonder if he knew?

The East chancel window was paid for by Mary Anna, Arthur Bell Nicholl’s second wife. It dates from 1909 and was designed by A.L.Moore. It remembers all of her family.

The Bell family memorial window dedicated to Mary Anna’s parents, siblings and husband - who were also Arthur’s uncle Rev. Alan Bell, his aunt Harriet and 8 of his cousins, and finally Rev Arthur Bell Nicholls of Hill House, Banagher.

In typical Mary Anna style her memorial is a small, discrete brass plaque on the back wall. 

Outside we went in search of Arthur Bell Nicholl’s grave.

Arthur’s and Mary Anna’s grave is the end one to the right of the row of 4 headstones.

                        The Bell Family Graves.

Arthur and Mary Anna’s grave in need of some gentle conservation.

A photo of the headstone before it became weathered.

Arthur’s aunt Harriet and some of her children are buried in the adjoining graves. His uncle Rev Alan Bell is buried in Dun Laoghaire where he died.

The Offaly history group have erected a super timeline Brontë information board in the church grounds with excellent text from James Scully.

                 Sections of the Brontë timeline board.

Arthur was 88 when he died. I wonder if he ever considered having his mortal remains transported back to Haworth to be buried in the Brontë family tomb alongside Charlotte, or whether he was happy, 51 years after her death, to rest in peace in Banagher alongside the family and his second wife who offered him peace and sanctuary when he arrived 45 years earlier raw from bereavement and sore from being rejected for the post of Perpetual Curate at Haworth. 

We enjoyed our visit to St Paul’s church, Banagher,  walking in the footsteps of Arthur, both his wives and his loving family.