Glebe Houses

Posted on 16. Feb, 2017, in Church of Ireland, Community, Faith Groups, FamilyComments Off on Glebe Houses

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The Representative Church Body (RCB) Library has a small but significant collection of architectural drawings of glebe houses from various parts of the country. A glebe house is a residence provided in each parish (or parish union) for the clergy man or woman and his or her family. In the past glebe land (farm land) was also provided for the rector/vicar/curate of rural parishes, the clergyman up to the late 19th century was often also a farmer or leased out farmland.

Glebe house were typically a two–storey, three–bay house with a basement, a hipped roof and either two stacks or a single stack, well set about with trees and with a yard at the back. They were often imposing houses meant to add status and significance to the rector who was living there. Dr Susan Hood, the RCB archivist explained more to Miriam Gormally. To see these and other drawings go to archdrawing.ireland.anglican.org.