Lonan Church Crosses

Lonan old church (Kirk Lonan or Keeil-ny-Traie) lies 1 mile south of Ballakilley on the A2 east coast road, 1 mile south of Baldrine, and 1 mile east of Onchan 4 miles to the south is Douglas. The church is now mostly wrecked, but the historic churchyard and nine Celtic-style crosses and slabs make it a fascinating sight.

The small church, dedicated to St Adamnan or Eunan, dates from the 12th-14th centuries, but there was an older 7th-century structure on the site that stood on a pre-Christian, pagan site; its eastern wall is presumably the earliest section of the church. St Adamnan, an Irish monk, was abbot of Iona in western Scotland from 679 to 704, albeit it was St Patrick's nephew St Lonan who was the first to reside here in the late fifth century. After St Maughold, he was the third bishop of Mann. Just to the south of the church is St Lonan's holy well (Chibbyr Onan). The church was saved from total demolition in 1895 because of the Rev John Quine, a local antiquarian.

The most impressive of the nine crosses (no 73) is still in its original location on the kirkyard's south side. It has a massive equal-limbed Celtic wheel-head cross that is almost totally covered with interlacing, knot-work, and plait-work motifs and stands 8 feet tall. This was created in the 5th century AD. All of the other cross-slabs are located in the roofed section on the east side of the church, against the north wall. The remaining eight cross-slabs and fragments, numbered 23, 27, 71, 75, 76, 77, 160, and 177, are badly worn, with only faint carvings visible; one has been repaired and reveals half of a miniature wheel-cross and two remnants of 'The Glenroy Cross.' These are newer, dating from the 8th to 10th century AD, and display Celtic and Norse craftsmanship. The casts of these cross-slabs can be seen at the Manx Museum in Douglas.

Location: Baldrine