Drumballyroney church sits on top of a hill with views across county Down into the Mourne mountains.

One view from the church carpark.

The church is also known as The Bronte church. Patrick was born in the parish of Drumballyroney and this was the family church. He was born in 1777 and died 1861. He was the father of the writers Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte.

He was a teacher until 1802 when he won a scholarship to study theology at St John’s collage, Cambridge. It was here he changed his name from Brunty to Bronte, the Greek word for thunder.

He taught at the school beside the church for a short while before going to Cambridge after which he ordained as a Deacon of the Church of England in 1806 and entered the priesthood in 1807.

The school and a photo taken through the window. https://sevenov.com/patrick-bronte/?amp=1

Theres more history in the above link on the life of Patrick Bronte.

Next are some photos taken for around the graveyard in the evening till the sun started to set.

This church is the first stop on The Bronte Homeland trail.

Thank you for joining me on this visit to the Irish part on the Bronte story.

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