Glenullin has always been influenced by Religion. The stone circles high up in the Drumbane mountains and the various Raths and Cairns, the Holy Well and Chambered Graves sit as a reminder of how our earliest ancestors worshipped.

Our stone circles may well be older and of greater significance than Stonehenge. It is thought that the stones formed a special pattern so that at special times of the year (the solstices) the sunlight lit up the circle in a straight line. The bronze age with its fierce Celtic Warriors was replaced with the Christian Age and when the O’Connors and O’Cathains roamed around the hills of Glenullin they brought their own brand of religion.

Ballintemple Monastery was founded by St.Colmcille himself and the Church was founded by St.Adhamnan who became Abbot of Iona after St. Colmcille. 

Errigal Chruch and its Souterrain are the medieval remnants of that period. The Vikings arrived in the 9th century and we know that Errigal church and the priories in nearby Maghera and Dungiven were attacked and sacked by them. When the Normans invaded Ireland they brought monks of their own. There followed a period of relative calm for the Normans had a healthy disregard for the “wild wood kernes” of Glenullin and called the area “Terra Incognita” or unknown Country. The Plantation of Ulster meant that the native chieftains lost both their land and powers and after the rebellion of 1643 the British decided to take control.

The vicious penal laws were introduced in the early 1700s. The Catholic religion was outlawed and a price was put on the head of every Catholic Priest who did not register with the British forces. Out of 2300 Priests in Ireland at the time only 30 registered. The Yeomanry, better known as the Redcoats, were set up to capture them. A force was set up in Garvagh but even they were unable to prevent the local people attending Mass at the Mass Rock in Dunavenny.

Eventually things eased a little and an enlightened local landlord George Sampson sold a plot of land in the townland of Brockagh for a mill. The mill was a clever disguise for a chapel and although Mr Sampson clearly knew the hidden intentions of the local people, he kept their secret safe and the residents were able to worship and to hear mass without fear of persecution.

The faith of the Glenullin people is still strong and by 1879 they had built a church for the entire area of Brockaghbuoy. The natives of Glenullin still remain proud of their religion and the Church is still a major source of influence in the district.