Long ago on a windswept Manx hill stood St Mary’s Chapel and Burial Ground. This wasn’t just any chapel. It was a place steeped in history a witness to centuries of Manx life.
St Mary’s Chapel and Burial Ground lies about a mile from Peel. You can find it on the Poortown road a short distance from Ballalough. The area is known as Cronk Keillaune. This translates to Keeill of the Bell a fitting name for a place once filled with the sounds of worship. The highroad passes through a ridge of sandy land. In the sides of this cutting you could once see the ends of stone-lined graves.
Archaeologists believe St Mary’s Chapel and Burial Ground is of very remote antiquity. It was likely an important church even before the 12th century. At that time the Isle of Man’s diocese was reorganized. Old Celtic lands were then reassigned. Some remained devoted to their original purpose supporting those preparing for the ministry. Other lands formed the Bishop’s Barony. Others still were given to religious orders. A small portion was used to create glebes for parish clergy. The Bishop’s Barony in Kirk German included Ballakilmurra meaning the land of St Mary’s Church. This suggests St Mary’s Chapel and Burial Ground was central to the community’s religious life.
Imagine the lives lived around St Mary’s Chapel and Burial Ground. Think of the people buried there. Their stories are etched in the stone. Their faith is woven into the very fabric of the land. Their prayers echoed within the chapel walls.
The land surrounding St Mary’s Chapel and Burial Ground extended far beyond the chapel itself. It likely included the ridge and the nearby keeill excavated by Mr Kermode. This keeill was possibly the church that gave Ballakilmurra its name. A charter of 1505 confirms that Baly Mary refers to the lands of Ballakilmurra. This further highlights the importance of St Mary’s Chapel and Burial Ground.
Today St Mary’s Chapel and Burial Ground stands as a testament to Manx resilience. It is a place of quiet reflection. It’s a reminder of a rich past. It is a window into the heart of Manx history. The site’s history is an important piece in the complex puzzle of Manx heritage. Let us remember this place and all it represents.