CONNOR,
a parish, and the head of a diocese, in the barony of LOWER
ANTRIM, county of ANTRIM,
and province of ULSTER, 4 miles (S. S. E.) from Ballymena ;
containing 8682 inhabitants, of which number, 289 are in the village.
A
religious establishment was founded here at an early period, of which
little beyond the names of some of its abbots is now known. It was
made the head of the diocese of Connor.
The
village consists of about 50 houses, and contains a dispensary. Fairs
are held on Feb. lst, May 2nd, Aug. 2nd, and Oct. 28th.
The
parish, which is situated on the river Glenwherry, comprises,
with Kells, according to the Ordnance
Survey, 17,135¾ statute acres, about one third of which is
arable, one-half pasture, and one-sixth bog.
The
living in a vicarage, in the diocese
of Connor, united, with part of the rectory, by charter of
the 7th of Chas. I., to the rectories of Killagan and Killyglen,
and the vicarage of Solar, which constitute the union and corps
of the prebend of Connor in the cathedral of St. Saviour, at Lisburn,
in the patronage of the Bishop; the remainder of the rectory is impropriate
in Viscount Ferrard. The tithes of the parish amount to £151,
of which £86 is payable to the impropriator, and £65 to
the vicar ; and the gross tithes of the benefice amount to £279.
19s. The glebe-house was built by a gift of £400 and a loan
of £400, in 1820, from the late Board of First Fruits ; the
glebe comprises 40 acres, valued at £40 per annum. The church
was erected by aid of a gift, in 1815, from the same Board.
In
the R. C. divisions this parish is united with those of Drummaul
and Antrim, forming the union or
district of Drummaul ; there is a chapel in each.
There
are two places of worship for Presbyterians, the largest of
which is in connection with the Synod of Ulster, and of the
first class.
There
are national schools at Tannybrack, in which are 47 boys and
14 girls, and at Tannaghmore, of 80 boys and 54 girls; two
schools in which are about 200 children, are partly maintained by
Lord Ferrard, who subscribes £15. 15s. annually; and
there are several private pay schools, and some Sunday schools. In
the vicinity is an artificial mount with out-works.
