A bust of James Agar and a holy water font, known as the Gowran Holy Water Font, which were in the church before it closed, were taken to St. Laserian’s Church in Old Leighlin, Co. Carlow, Ireland. 1988 The Gowran Development Association was founded. One of its aims was to enhance and develop St. Mary’s Church and surrounds. 1992-1995 Restoration of the boundary wall surrounding the graveyard was completed by the Gowran Development Association with support from the Fas (now Intreo) community employment scheme (CE scheme). 1995 Restoration of the chancel roof and stabilisation of the timber structure, which began in 1994, was completed. Stained glass windows were storm glazed. Representation was made by the Gowran Development Association to government ministers with a view to providing funding to the OPW for further improvements. Following these meetings the government committed a further £300,000 for improvement works on the church. Following stabilisation work on the roof, the interior of the chancel was renovated. The interior walls of the chancel were replastered in the traditional style using lime mortar and goat hair. Cracks in the tower were monitored and the tower found to be stable. Some of the monuments were rearranged in the chancel to make the building suitable for visitors. A number of monuments were brought in from the nave and positioned in the chancel to prevent weather erosion. 1996 The Upper Garden and Millennium Garden between the boundary wall to the front of the church and the main street were built by the Gowran Development Association with support from the CE scheme, Barrow Nore Sure Leader, (now Kilkenny Leader Partnership or KLP), and Kilkenny Co. Council under the Village Renewal Scheme. 2000 Flood lighting was installed around the building. 2010-2012 of the wall to the rear of the graveyard was restored by the OPW using traditional skills and lime mortar mix. Parts of this wall are medieval. The wall was part of a wall surrounding the walled town of Gowran. 2013 Restoration work began on the nearby Gowran Castle. Oldest inscribed burial monument The effigy of Ralph (Radoulfus) in his priestly vestments, the portrieve (priest) of Gowran in 1218, is believed to be the oldest burial monument in Ireland with a date on it. The inscription is carved in Latin around the edge of the monument in Lombardic lettering. The monument is dated 19 March 1253. Butler of Ormonde connections Gowran