Northsider Dave suggested that I spend my current period of inactivity researching the history of our new Church House, so I have been following his advice over the past day or so.
I stumbled upon a very informative site ... manxnotebook ... which goes into quite a lot of detail about our little chapel. An abbreviated extract is copied below for anyone who may be interested.
[From Churches of South Ramsey,1923]
Ballure Chapel stands within the "Treen" of Ballure, on the site of one of those earlier structures known as "Keeills," which were in existence before our present parishes were formed. In Maughold there are remains or sites of fifteen.
The "Keeills" were built by the Culdees, or "Servants of God," who never married but lived alone, teaching and ministering to the people.
We do not hear of the Diocese of Sodor and Man till 1154. It consisted of the southern islands of Scotland, extending from the Hebrides to Arran, and Man, and it was then placed under the Archbishop of Drontheim in Norway. The word "Sodor" is derived from two Norse words meaning "southern isles," so that Sodor and Man means "The Southern Isles and Man" ; it is, in fact, the Ecclesiastical name for the Kingdom which was then called "Man and the Isles" . The connection of the Kingdom of Man with the Isles, or Sodor, came to an end in 1266, but the Diocese still bears the title of "Sodor and Man."
When the lands in the Isle of Man were divided into "Treens," one of these "Keeills" seems to have been kept in repair in each division, and in several instances more than one.
In 1712 the occupant of the Treen of Ballure, which consisted of the quarterlands of Ballure, Ballastole, Ballacowle, and Clenaigue, was together with the inhabitants of Ramsey, assessed to keep the Chapel in repair.
What the original dedication of the Chapel was is not known, but it has been called "S. Catherine’s," and the name has been attributed to Bishop Parr. It is generally referred to as "Ballure" or "Ramsey" Chapel.
At various times the Chapel was allowed to fall into a dilapidated condition.
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A "Reader" had been appointed to Ballure, whose duty it was to read Prayers and sometimes a Homily. The reader was also Master of the Ramsey School. It would seem that "school was kept" in the Chapel.
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At the beginning of the last century some old Yew trees were to be seen standing near the Chapel yard. This is interesting, as the name of the Treen, Ballure, or, as it is in the Manorial roll, ‘ ‘Ball-y-ure," means "the place of the Yew." As this tree lives to a great age, it is not impossible that these were the last of the number from which the name had been derived before any building had been erected on the ground now occupied by the Chapel. And Feltham in his "Tour," written in 1798, says, "Yew trees, which are generally found in our churchyards in England, are not to be found in those of Man."
A stream of water flowed from the highlands, passing the Chapel on the East, somewhere near the spot where the tram lines now pass. From this stream may have been taken the water for the Font, as in the case of the old Church of Marown where, after a dispute about the water flowing by the Church, it was settled "that the said water was to serve for the Baptizing of Infants."
Many baptisms are recorded after 1746. And several marriages took place in the time of Rev T. W. J. Woods and, though the rings were not of gold from Ballure, it has since been found near there.
The small burial ground round the Chapel corresponds to the raised platform on which some of the "Keeills" were built, but it has been slightly enlarged on the south and east sides. This would be done when the Chapel was lengthened to 61 feet in 1743, at the restoration of that date previously referred to. Many of our Churches at that time were from 50 to 60 feet long, and from 14 to 19 feet wide, and the average population of the parishes where they stood was about 800.
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After S. Paul’s Church had been consecrated in 1822, the old Chapel fell into ruins, but it was again restored by the Rev. William Kermode in 1851 . A sum of £300 was raised by voluntary subscriptions and a grant of £45 was made by the ‘ ‘Incorporated Society for Promoting the Enlargement, Building, and Repairs of Churches and Chapels, "on condition that "the whole of certain seats described in the plan should be set apart and declared to be free,"
The Tradesmen’s Club, called the Ramsey Amicable Society, in which Mr Kermode took very great interest, used to turn out and march to Ballure for an annual service. These services were afterwards continued at S. Paul’s until the year 1889, when the members met for the last time immediately before ‘dissolution. The sermon at the last service (July 11th) was preached by the (then) present Archdeacon of Man.
...... The East (stained glass) window was erected through the instrumentality of the Oddfellows Society to the memory of Rev. George Paton. The other windows were the gift of Miss King, except the two small circular lights in the West end, which were put in to the memory of Jessie Theodora, daughter of Rev. G. Paton.
In 1913 Canon Harrison purchased the field in front of the Chapel and planted it with various trees, much improving the appearance of the spot.
The first recorded burial, within the Church, was in 1611. Since then several other interments have taken place within its walls. At one time burials within the Church were common, not only in the Chancel but in the body of the Church. Pews were introduced instead of benches at the beginning of the XVII. century, and, as late as 1737, when the pews in Braddan Church were re-arranged to accommodate "intak" as well as "quarterland" holders, the latter were permitted to bury under their seats. And a few years earlier, when a new Church was built in Lonan, the parishioners had reserved to them their ancient rights and place of burying in the old Church, as well as the Churchyard. This custom has been abolished by law.
The earliest dated stone to be seen in the graveyard is that of Margaret Martin, 1750. At one time the Martins and MacCowles owned Ballure. Both these names were common in Galloway, and the MacGoilla Martins are said to have gotten their name from the patron Saint of the Church at Whithorn, S. Martin of Tours.
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On the west side of the Chapel is the tomb of two sisters, Martha and Elizabeth Fricker, well-known as. the sisters of the wives of three poets, Southey, Coleridge, and Lovel."
On the north side is the tomb of Sir Henry Claude Loraine. He was descended from one Robert Loraine who was murdered by Moss Troopers in the reign of Elizabeth, and of whom it is said that they "cut him in pieces as small as flesh for the pot." Near this tomb is that of Sir John Macartney, who had been knighted for assisting in the inland navigation of Ireland. His son Edward was lost from the "Hawk" on her way from Dublin to Douglas.
On the right-hand side of the entrance gate is the vault of the "Frissell" or "Fraser" family. This name, so well-known in many parts of Scotland, was at an early period connected with the Isle of Man. In the XII. century Oliver Fraser was "Thane" of Man. Thanes were at first stewards over the King’s land, but afterwards they became hereditary tenants of the King. John Frissell was Attorney-General in 1757 and 1758, and John Frissell, junior, was a member of the House of Keys in 1777. In this year the office of "High-Bailiff" was constituted, taking the place of the ancient one of "Captain of the Town," and the latter John Frissell was High-Bailiff of Ramsey. The Hill under Albert Tower is still known as "Lhergy Frissell."
The Rev. George Paton and Mrs Paton are buried here.
These are some of the names to be seen in this quiet little spot which, with its hallowed associations, is one link in the long chain that binds the present with the past.
