DRUMCREE, a parish, in the barony of O'NEILLAND
WEST, county of ARMAGH, and province of ULSTER;
containing, with the post-town and district parish of
Portadown, 12,355 inhabitants. According to the Ord
nance survey, it comprises 13,385¾ statute acres: there
is a very large tract of bog, most of which is valuable.
The weaving of linen and cotton is carried on to a great
extent. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Ar
magh, and in the patronage of the Lord-Primate: the
tithes amount to £650. A large and handsome glebehouse
was erected by the Rev. C. Alexander, in 1828,
aided by a gift of £100 from the late Board of First
Fruits: the glebe comprises 567 acres, of which 93 are
bog. The parish church is a large ancient building, with
a tower and spire; and a chapel of ease was built at
Portadown, in 1826. The R. C. parish is coextensive
with that of the Established Church, and has a small
chapel at Drumcree. There are places of worship for
Wesleyan Methodists at Portadown and Scotch-street,
and for Primitive Methodists at Derryanville, Scotchstreet,
and Drumnakelly. Two large and handsome
schools have been erected and endowed by the Rev. C.
Alexander, who also principally supports three others.
The school at Mullantine was built and is supported
by Lady Mandeville; and at Ballyworken, Sir F. W.
Macnaghten, Bart, has endowed one with a house and
four acres of land for the master. In these schools
about 370 children are educated, and about 60 are edu
cated in two private schools. Roger Marley, Esq.,
bequeathed £30 per annum to the poor, payable out of a
farm at Drumanally; and Mrs. Johnston, in 1809, left
for their use the interest of £100. At Battentaggart are
considerable remains of an extensive mansion, erected
by the Bolton family, in the reign of James I. A very
ancient bell was found some years since in the church
yard of Drumcree.–––See PORTADOWN.