St David’s Church Naas

St David’s Church of Ireland pictured in the early 20th century. The church is located in the centre of the town on the site of an early medieval church. It retains some medieval material in its structure, including two 13th century window openings with colonnettes dating from its rebuilding following the Norman invasion, when it was also rededicated to St David. The unfinished tower dates to the late 18th century.

By Paddy Behan

St David’s Church was built on the site of an earlier Irish Celtic Church dedicated to the local St Corban or St Patrick. The Norman Barons who settled in the Naas area rebuilt the church and dedicated it to St David, the Patron Saint of Wales. The first historical reference to St David’s occurs in 1212 when it was listed as one of the possessions of the Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem. It was the parish church of Naas, well endowed and a place of ecclesiastical importance. For the next 400 years it continued to flourish, and by 1606, when St David’s featured in the inquisition of James I, it had grown to contain three chantries – the Holy Trinity, St Mary, and St Catherine.

In 1767 the original church Steeple was in a ruinous state and it was decided to pull it down. Some time later Lord Mayo decided to replace it. But the new tower was never completed. A plaque on the inside wall of the tower states “I found a ruin and left a steeple, Mayo 1783″.The bell dates from 1674 and originally hung in the old steeple. The Baptismal Font is a relic of the early Irish Christian Church and most probably was in use in the pre-Norman church of Saint Corban.