Kilmore combines a long ecclesiastical tradition with a village setting whose traditional rural character is centred on the crossroads and the church. St Aidan’s Church was founded around AD 422. According to tradition, St Patrick visited Kilmore in 444 on his way to Armagh. This gives visitors a clear focus for planning their trip: early church history, later building phases and historical traces in the village.
St Aidan’s Church and its history
The church’s building history can be read in its different architectural features: the nave was rebuilt in 1814, while the tower survives from an earlier structure. The Norman bell tower contains a hand-rung bell. The church also houses a historic Hill organ, built by William Hill in 1865 for Trinity Church in Dublin. The tower, nave, bell and organ thus represent different chapters in the church’s history, which cannot be reduced to a single building phase.
The present site of St Aidan’s Church is probably an early Christian or medieval ecclesiastical site. The graveyard also preserves historical connections: an early Christian brooch, a 13th-century silver penny and a 12th-century silver ring were found there. The church, including its gates and boundary wall, is a listed building.
Historical details in the village setting
Different periods can also be identified beyond the church’s history. Kilmore Cottage has existed since at least the early 18th century and is already shown on a map of the village from 1707. The former thatched house at 66 Kilmore Road is also listed. At the corner of Kilmore Road, the stoop stones remain that once protected Cottage 66 from the wheels of passing carts. The 19th-century wrought-iron village gates are listed, and an initiative is dedicated to their careful and complete restoration.
The wider historic setting includes Kilmore House and its grounds, together with their associated vegetation, which are designated as a Local Landscape Policy Area. Foundations of a monastery near the church may be incorporated into Kilmore House. A holy well lies east of the former rectory garden. These places and connections add to the history of the church and village, without needing to be linked into a set sightseeing route.
Village character and practical information
Kilmore’s historic village centre lies around the crossroads, where the village’s traditional rural character and church are also concentrated. Pavements run along Kilmore Road and through the modern housing developments. Walkers and cyclists are welcome at St Aidan’s Church. The nearest bus service to Kilmore runs along the A3, the road between Portadown and Armagh. If you plan to travel by bus, check the transport operator’s latest information in advance.
If you plan to attend a church service, check the current schedule before travelling. Services at St Aidan’s Church take place at 12 noon on Sundays: Holy Communion is held on the first Sunday, Morning Prayer on the second, third and fifth Sundays, and a Family Service on the fourth Sunday. This allows you to time your visit to suit the Sunday in question.
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