Church of The Immaculate Conception

At the end of the 19^th century, the idea of a new Church had already been mooted and a decision was taken to build it on a newly acquired site in the townland of Artasooley. In March 1910, a meeting was held in Tullysaran School under the chairmanship of Very Rev Michael Quinn Adm, to consider building the new Church and In 1915, a building fund was launched so that the work could be started after the Great War. The building began in 1920 under the direction of Very Rev John Ward Adm. The architects employed were Messrs. Ashlin and Coleman, Dublin, the contractors were Messrs. Mallon and O’Hare, Armagh. The Parish of Armagh bought a wing of Roxborough Castle near Charlemont which was being dismantled and it was bought to obtain a supply of dressed stone. The inside of the Church was built in red brick. The Foundation Stone was laid by Cardinal Logue on the 3^rd October 1920. 

All the oak used in the roof was donated by The Terris Family from their farm at Knappagh. As a recognition of this and many other services to the new Church, a special seat was reserved in the Church for the Terris Family.

On September 10^th 1922, the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception was officially opened. At the opening ceremony, the preacher paid a warm tribute to the generosity of the subscribers who helped build the Church. In 1930, work started on the Bell Tower and the stone that was used on the tower was bought from Carland, Dungannon.

The original Marble Altar which was renovated in the 1984 renovation of the Church is now in St John’s Church, Galbally, Co Tyrone. It was replaced by a new Mourne Granite Altar and Tabernacle designed by Christopher Ryan. In the renovations in 1997, an Ambo and Celebrant’s Chair were installed in the same stone.

The Tullysaran District of Armagh Parish extends from Lisadian and Tullygarron in the East to Ballymacully and Corr-Aughatarra in the West; from Aughrafin in the South to Tullymore Otra in the North. This territory has been part of the Parish of Armagh for a few hundred years, although it was a separate parish in the Middle Ages known by a variety of names such as Clanawle, Eglish, or Glenaul. This district consists of 52 townlands. These were sub-divisions of two ancient precincts, Clenaul and Tuaghy, which had been largely Primatial lands. Certain clans had immemorial rights as tenants. In the rentals of 400 years ago some septs are spoken of as having lived on their lands from the very earliest times. Wars came, confiscation and famine, but it is of interest that the same families can still be found in Toaghy and Glenaul today.

In 2022, the Church celebrated it’s centenary year with a programme of events celebrating the rich history of the Church and it’s community in Tullysaran. The year concluded with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Router on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8th December 2022.