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The first church on the site is thought to have been founded by St Patrick in the 5th century. In 1606 Sir Hugh Montgomery, of Ayrshire, was granted substantial lands in and around the Ards Peninsula. In 1626 he rebuilt the church by adding a cruciform church to an existing tower. The present tower dates from 1833 although there were plans, some 50 years earlier, for a new one. There were further alterations in 1877-78. The clock dates from 1892. A notable feature is that the front of the church faces a side entrance. The surrounding graveyard has many headstones from the 17th century – some of which are in an excellent state given their age.