Parish History

Rasharkin is one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese of Down and Connor.

 

Old people said that it extended from the Bann to the Bush from Portglenone to Portrush. This is hard to believe at first as a large part of Loughguile lies west of the river Bush but as the river flows west from Stranocum to Dervock which is part of Ballymoney and as Ballymoney was under Rasharkin this would be correct.

 

Ballymoney remained part of Rasharhin until 1825 when Rev. Dr Crotly became bishop of Down and Connor. Dunloy also belonged to Rasharkin and remained so until 1864 when it became an independent parish.

 

In penal times when Catholics were forbidden to practise their faith Mass was celebrated at the Mass Hill on the Glenbuck road in the townland of Granagh and also at the Broadstone in the Craigs Mountain. Fr Brennan was parish priest of Rasharkin in 1780's until his death in 1795 and he is buried to the right of the east end of the church.