Synod of Kells-Mellifont

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The Synod of Kells-Mellifont took place in AD 1152, and continued the process begun at the Synod of Rathbreasail of reforming the Irish church. Although sometimes known as the Synod of Kells, the sessions were divided between the abbeys of Kells and Mellifont.

The diocesan system was further reorganised, with the number of metropolitan provinces being increased from two to four, by raising the dioceses of Dublin and Tuam to archdioceses. The four provinces of Armagh, Cashel, Dublin and Tuam corresponded to the contemporary boundaries of the provinces of Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht respectively.

The diocesan structure established by the synod largely survived until the sixteenth century, and still forms the basis of the territorial structure of both the Roman Catholic church and the Protestant Church of Ireland, with many of the sees now merged.

Contents

[edit] Provinces and dioceses

[edit] Province of Armagh

  • Ardagh: reduced in size by creation of Diocese of Kells
  • Armagh
  • Clonard: confirmed as see for East Meath
  • Connor
  • Dar-Luis: status of area uncertain
  • Down
  • Duleek
  • Kells: established as see for the Kingdom of Breifne. Absorbed by Diocese of Meath in 1211
  • Louth: see moved from Clogher and area extended at the expense of Armagh. See returned to Clogher by 1192
  • Maghera: see transferred to Derry in 1254
  • Raphoe: created in the late 12th century subsequent to the synod

[edit] Province of Cashel

  • Ardfert: lost territory to Scattery Island
  • Cashel
  • Cloyne: formed from part of Cork
  • Cork: lost territory to Cloyne and Ross
  • Emly
  • Kilfenora: formed from part of Diocese of Killaloe; corresponded with the sub-kingdom of Corco Mruiad
  • Killaloe: lost territory to new dioceses of Kilfenora, Roscrea and Scattery Island
  • Limerick: lost territory to Scattery Island
  • Lismore: formed from part of Waterford
  • Roscrea: formed from part of Killaloe, only existed until the 1160s
  • Ross: formed from part of Cork
  • Scattery Island: formed from parts of Ardfert, Killaloe and Limerick. Incorporated into Limerick by end of 12th century
  • Waterford: lost territory to create Lismore

[edit] Province of Dublin

[edit] Province of Tuam

  • Annaghdown was created c1179

[edit] Sources

  • Peter Galloway, The Cathedrals of Ireland, Belfast 1992

[edit] External Links

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