The site on which Donaghadee's old church stands has been a centre of worship since the days of the Druids. It is believed that a Druid temple existed here on the hill overlooking the town and the harbour, and that the Druid priests performed their rites and ceremonies at this spot. Later St. Patrick marked the site as a place for a Christian church and a stone church was erected. It became known as the Church of "Dofnachti". and came under the jurisdiction of the Monks of the Black Abbey.

John De Courcy erected a more substantial building on his arrival, and Hugh Montgomery along with his hardy Scottish settlers, rebuilt it in 1626, as well as one at Portpatrick in Scotland. Viscount Montgomery furnished each of the churches and provided a bell for each church.

Our parish church is of early English architecture with Gothic windows, and before the enlargement in 1881 it was cruciform in design. Then by the provision of extensions with pillared arcading on each side of the chancel, the interior was much improved. Two rows of columns of Newry polished granite support the roof extension. The arches are of Dundonald stone and the capitals and bases are of Dungannon stone.

The stone tower was built in 1833 by Captain Daniel De Lacherois and the fine bell which weighs over a ton was donated by the same family. Hugh Montgomery's bell is believed to have been given to the Church in Groomsport . The clock was donated by the friends and inhabitants of the people of Donaghadee as a memorial to the Lady of the Manor in 1891.

By kind permission of Bill Pollack