The Oxburgh Chalice
Encyclopedia
The Oxburgh Chalice
is preserved by the church authorities in the parish of Templeport in Co. Cavan
, Ireland. It bears the date 1665 and is inscribed in Latin
with the following inscription (in translation):
Pray for the soul of Heward Oxburgh and Clare Oxburgh alias Coghlan who had this made in 1665.
which was summoned by King James II
in 1689. The Oxburghs were strong supporters of James II and several officers of the family fought at Derry
, Aughrim
and the Boyne
. Colonel Heward Oxburgh was killed at the Battle of Aughrim
on 12 July 1691 . After the Williamite War
the Oxburgh estates were confiscated. Clare Oxburgh made a claim on her late husband’s property and this helps to establish the donors of the chalice. She belonged to the Coghlan family who also had estates in Offaly and whose lands were confiscated by William of Orange
.
A synod of the Irish church was held in Baunbuidhe (Bawnboy
) in the parish of Templeport
at Pentecost
1669, four years after the Oxburgh Chalice was made. Tradition says that the chalice had been in the possession of a friar named O’Coghlan who attended the synod as a representative of a northern Franciscan
friary and that this is how the chalice came to Bawnboy.
The base of the chalice shows Christ crucified, with a ladder on either side of the cross. There are figures of two animals and a bird that resembles a pelican with its young on its back, being fed with the mother’s flesh and blood, a symbol for the Eucharist.
The chalice is only used on rare occasions, most recently during the funeral service for historian and teacher Chris Maguire in February 2007.
Chalice (cup)
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. In general religious terms, it is intended for drinking during a ceremony.-Christian:...
is preserved by the church authorities in the parish of Templeport in Co. Cavan
Cavan
Cavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
, Ireland. It bears the date 1665 and is inscribed in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
with the following inscription (in translation):
Pray for the soul of Heward Oxburgh and Clare Oxburgh alias Coghlan who had this made in 1665.
History
Heward Oxburgh was High Sheriff of Offaly (Kings County) and represented the county in the Patriot ParliamentPatriot Parliament
The Patriot Parliament is the name given to the session of the Irish Parliament called by King James II of Ireland during the War of the Two Kings in 1689. The parliament met in one session, from 7 May 1689 to 20 July 1689, and was the only session of the Irish Parliament under King James II.The...
which was summoned by King James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
in 1689. The Oxburghs were strong supporters of James II and several officers of the family fought at Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Aughrim
Battle of Aughrim
The Battle of Aughrim was the decisive battle of the Williamite War in Ireland. It was fought between the Jacobites and the forces of William III on 12 July 1691 , near the village of Aughrim in County Galway....
and the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
. Colonel Heward Oxburgh was killed at the Battle of Aughrim
Battle of Aughrim
The Battle of Aughrim was the decisive battle of the Williamite War in Ireland. It was fought between the Jacobites and the forces of William III on 12 July 1691 , near the village of Aughrim in County Galway....
on 12 July 1691 . After the Williamite War
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
the Oxburgh estates were confiscated. Clare Oxburgh made a claim on her late husband’s property and this helps to establish the donors of the chalice. She belonged to the Coghlan family who also had estates in Offaly and whose lands were confiscated by William of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
.
A synod of the Irish church was held in Baunbuidhe (Bawnboy
Bawnboy
Bawnboy is a small village in a valley at the foot of Slieve Rushen, between Ballyconnell and Swanlinbar, in County Cavan, Ireland). The current population is about 250. A bawn is the defensive wall surrounding an Irish tower house...
) in the parish of Templeport
Templeport
Templeport civil parish is situated in the Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Republic of Ireland. The chief towns in the parish are Bawnboy and Ballymagauran...
at Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
1669, four years after the Oxburgh Chalice was made. Tradition says that the chalice had been in the possession of a friar named O’Coghlan who attended the synod as a representative of a northern Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friary and that this is how the chalice came to Bawnboy.
The base of the chalice shows Christ crucified, with a ladder on either side of the cross. There are figures of two animals and a bird that resembles a pelican with its young on its back, being fed with the mother’s flesh and blood, a symbol for the Eucharist.
The chalice is only used on rare occasions, most recently during the funeral service for historian and teacher Chris Maguire in February 2007.