There are four places of worship - the Roman Catholic Church (Church of the Assumption), the Church of Ireland (St. Catherine's), the Methodist and the Presbyterian Church.

Church of the Assumption

The Roman Catholic Church stands in the northern portion of the town, and occupies the site of the old Church. The foundation stone was laid on the 7th January, 1902, and it was completed in 1906, at a cost of £30,000. The dedication ceremony took place on Rosary Sunday, October 1906, the ceremony being performed by the Most Rev. Dr. Gaughran, the present Bishop of Meath. The pontificial High Mass was celebrated on the occasion by the Most Rev. Dr. Hoare, Bishop of Ardagh, and the preacher was the Rev. P. Brady, P.P., Dunboyne. It was the third Church which had been built in the parish within a space of 200 years, the first one which was a thatched mudwall Chapel being erected in 1704, at Ballyduff, to which a reference will be found in this sketch. The second Church, which was in a dilapidated condition when the present one was commenced, was begun under the pastorship of the Very Rev. James Murray, and completed in 1804, the site having been given by the then Earl of Charleville. The remains of Father Murray, to whom the parishioners of Tullamore were indebted in Durrow. He died three years after the completion of the Church, in his 49th year.

In 1900 the old Church, which had now withstood the ravages of a century, was considered unsafe for public worship. The roof had begun to show signs of sagging, and the overhanging ceiling gave indications of tumbling down, and Father Callary, the present venerated pastor, entertained grave fears lest it should collapse on the congregation some Sunday. Building experts were brought on the scene, who, having examined the Church, condemned it as unsafe. The new Church project was at once launched, and at a cost of about £500 a wooden Church was erected at the entrance from Harbour Street, in which the Sacrifice of the Mass was offered up until the new Church was completed. The new sacred edifice was designed by the well-known architect, Mr. McNamara, of Dublin, and the contract was entrusted to Mr. Wynne, builder, Dundalk. It is of Gothic design, and is acknowledged as one of the most beautiful Churches in the Diocese of Meath. From the outside eastern wall to the west door it measures 172 feet; the nave is 36 feet in width, and the side aisles 18 feet each. The sanctuary is a spacious one with two ornate chapels on each side of the High Altar, which is richly carved from Sicilian marble interspersed with panels of Cork and Connemara marble. The work of the High Altar was executed by Messrs. Malone of Dublin, natives of Tullamore.

On Holy Thursday, 1906, a large gathering of the faithful attended to witness the uplifting of the last stone of the spire to its position, and the placing of the bronze Celtic cross which stands eleven feet in height over the stone in its socket. The stone having been laid, the cross, which had been previously blessed by Father Callary, was placed in position by Rev. Father Fitzsimons, the present pastor of Lower Kilcloon, who was for many years on the mission in Tullamore. The spire, including the cross, is 209 feet in height, and is visible from any point of the compass ten miles distant. The Church, which was painted and decorated by Mr. William Johnston a couple of years ago, is fitted with an electric light and gas installation, and is well heated and ventilated.

Methodist Church

The Methodist Church stands on the southern bank of the river Clodiagh, and connection with it is interesting to note that the foundation stone of the first Methodist Church in Tullamore was laid in 1788, Methodism having been introduced into Tullamore as far back as 1747 by brothers named Samuel and Alexander Handy. In the following year Charles and John Wesley, the founder of the Methodists visited the town for the first time, sermons having been preached by both to large audiences. The first Methodist preacher in the neighbourhood after the Wesleys was a gentleman named Joseph Causeley, and Methodism in after years flourished to such an extent that it was found necessary to provide better accommodation for the services and for the Sunday School. In 1888 the first step towards the renovation of the then existing Church was taken, such prominent advocates of Methodism as the late Mr. William Lumley, Mr. Henry Burgess, Mr. J. A. Bradley, and Mr. Thomas Graham threw their whole energy into the project. A sum of £900 was subscribed there and then, and a building committee appointed to proceed with the work immediately. The new Church was designed by Mr. Beckett, C.E., under whose supervision the work commenced in March, 1888, was completed by the late Mr. John Egan, of Church Street in April, 1899. The opening of the new Church took place on the 25th April, the ceremony being attended by Methodists from different parts of the province. In connection with the opening ceremony it is interesting to quote portion of the statement read by the late Mr. William Lumley who, like his popular son, was one of the leading townsmen of the town of Tullamore of his day, and a gentleman who possessed a remarkable flow of eloquence:-

"Four great events occurred within the last four centuries," he began. "In 1588 the defeat of the Spanish Armada; in 1688 the coming of the glorious, pious, and immortal King William; in 1788 the foundation stone of the first Methodist Chapel was laid, and in 1888 the beautiful sanctuary we have just worshipped in was built. A few weeks ago an old man was passing the building. I asked him in to see it. After looking round about him and above him, he expressed wonder at the grandeur of the building compared with the one his father brought him to when a boy. When my old friend had finished his inspection he remembered coming to preaching the first Chapel that was built. It was a two-storey dwelling-house, and a very small room inside for worship. The Episcopalian Church was on the other side of the street where the Shambles now are; that the graveyard was exactly opposite; that he saw the clay and even the bones of the dead carted away and spread on the fields for top-dressing. There was no street here; all around was planted with fine oak trees. You will be surprised to hear it was a swarm of B's that principally erected this new building. The first was a Mr. James B., who planned the whole structure, and came from Dublin several times at his own expense, and helped us most generously in carrying on the work. We come next to Mr. Henry Burgess who gave a subscription amounting to the fourth of the whole cost of the building. After him Mr. John A. Bradley in whose parlour we made the first financial start when we raised £900 in a few minutes, and who, in addition to £100 gave a second subscription, and put an elaborate cornice round our Lecture Hall - all amounting to £160. Next comes our tried friend, Mr. William Beckett our inspector of works, who watched the growth of the building with the affection of a father who watches the development of his eldest boy. We come now to Mr. P. John B., who gave £50, no doubt, as a thank-offering for the best wife (in his opinion) that is in Tullamore. Next is Mr. Thomas Burgess, brother to Mr. Henry B., who sent me a cheque for £...0. Mr. Stephen B., and Mr. James B., gave as much in proportion as wealthier men. With them may be mentioned Miss Ellen B., and her sister. I come now to the Queen B., viz., Lady Emily Howard B., who sent me an order for £5 all the way from Austria with her good wishes for the success of our opening services.

The King B., I left for last and, namely, the Rev. John B., who, in the most brotherly and generous fashion acceded to the joint request of the committee, and rendered his valuable assistance on this the most important occasion of our Church history.

Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church, which is a comfortable building of a neat design, was erected in the year 1857, those prominently identified with its founding being Messrs. Oliver Dobbin, Agent of the Bank of Ireland in Tullamore; James Coulter, uncle of Dr. MacMichael; Robert Law, John Dixon, Robert Wyber (father of the late Rev. John Wyber), David Graham, John and George Richardson, Mullacrew, and William Ramsey, all of whom were leading members of the congregation. The church, which is capable of seating a congregation of 150, and to which is attached a school, was opened by Rev. Dr. Edgar, Belfast, in the year in which it was completed, the first minister having charge of it being Rev. Samuel Kelly, who remained in Tullamore for three years. He was succeeded by Rev. James Cuffy, whose mission lasted five years. Then came Rev. Andrew Burrows, who was the Congregational minister until 1868, when he was succeeded by Rev. Robert H. Smyth, who ministered for eleven years. Rev. David Mitchell succeeded, and remained for about a year. His successor was Rev. W. S. Freckleton, who came to the parish in 1880, and continued to discharge the duties until '84, when Rev. H. P. Glenn was appointed. He was succeeded by the present minister, Rev. J. Humphreys, in 1892. Opposite the church is the Manse, all the church premises being free of any congregational debt. In connection with this church, service is held in Clara, where a church was erected some years after the Tullamore one was opened, for the benefit of the workers in the Jute Factory, who came from Scotland, and who were members of the Congregation.

St. Catherine's Church

St. Catherine's Church, on the beautiful prominence known as Hophill, and from which the town derives its name, was erected in 1818, the design being Gothic, and the architect Mr. Francis Johnston, who was the designer of Charleville Castle and the Irish House of Parliament. In early times the Protestant community worshipped at Durrow, and at Kilbride. In or about the year 1773 [in fact 1726] a "chapel of ease" was erected in the Shambles, opposite the Methodist Church, and it served for a century almost when the people decided on building a more spacious and suitable place in which to worship God. The Rev. Ponsonby Gouldsbury, who was rector in 1799, presided at a meeting of the vestry on the 18th July, 1806, at which the first steps were taken for the building of the church. The site was given by the second Earl of Charleville, first of the second creation and the Lord Lieutenant was petitioned showing that the old parish church was in ruins, and that a sum of £500 had been subscribed by the parishioners, as well as £500 by the Earl towards the proposed new church. The following committee was appointed to collect funds and carry out the work:- The Earl of Charleville, Rev. Ponsonby Gouldsbury, Thomas Acres (treasurer), Richard Deverel, Samuel Collins, George Slator, and Francis Berry. The church cost £7,000 of which the Charleville family appears to have contributed £6,000.

In 1823 owing to the distance of the church from the town, it was decided to utilise the Town House for evening service, a room in which was fitted up with pews. The morning and evening services were conducted here, when the weather was inclement, and when it was an inconvenience to go to the church at Hophill. In 1869 it was customary for a bellman to go round when the weather would be bad, shouting out, for the information of the Protestants of the town. "Prayers in the Market House today." Rev. Mr. Gouldsbury was succeeded in the rectorship in 1830 by Rev. John Lever, brother of the famous novelist, Charles Lever. The church contains in the South transept, a monument to the memory of the first Earl of Charleville, who, with all the other deceased members of the Charleville family, sleep in the family vault beneath the church. The monument contains a recumbent figure which is supposed to represent the deceased nobleman, and is flanked by two upright female figures, one carrying a sword and the other an open book. There is also a handsome mural tablet in the end wall of the transept, to the memory of the second Earl, who died on the 31st October, 1835. Rev. J. S. Joly, who was rector from 1861 to 1869, embarked in the latter years of his office on the project of renovating the church, but before it took practical shape, he was appointed to Athlone. Rev. Graham Craig, father of the present esteemed rector, and he began the work on a much larger scale than was intended by his predecessor. Many internal improvements and alterations were effected, and the church rendered more handsome and dignified for worship. A new bell was provided, and the work which was begun in September, 1870, was completed in the spring of the following year, when the church was re-opened by Lord Bishop of Meath.

The late Countess of Charleville had further improvements effected in 1877. The church is adorned with several beautiful stained-glass windows, the first of which was erected in the eastern end of the chancel by Lady Charleville at the restoration. The next is to the memory of Dr. Ridley, a prominent member of the congregation. The third is in memory of Mr. Harry G. Craig, who died at Pozzuoli in 1896, the fourth is to the memory of the late Admiral Robert Coote, and was presented by his son, Mr. Stanley V. Coote. There are two beautiful windows in the south transept to the memory of the late Dean of Clonmacnoise, Rev. Graham Craig. In the west end are two very artistic and magnificent memorials of stained glass, the gift of Lady Emily Bury. One, which is in the Baptistry, is to the memory of her daughter, Marjorie, who died at Charleville about five years ago, and the other to that of the late Countess of Charleville.