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Many prominent Irish historians dispute the existence of St Patrick, claiming he was an invention by early spin doctors 'to borrow a modern phrase' of the early church in Ireland and perhaps more importantly and contentiously the Irish Church after the Norman Invasion, which resulted not only in the native Irish losing control of their destiny and their land, but the Irish church which had developed along its own lines for some 700 years being suppressed and subjugated to Rome.

It is believed that St. Patrick landed in east County Down in 432 AD, it was at Saul near Downpatrick he built his first church and began his mission to convert Ireland. The county has a special association with him, he is said to be buried in the grounds of Downpatrick Cathedral, as too are St. Colimille and St. Brigid of Kildare.

The cathedral stands on a hill overlooking the town, which takes its name from the Irish Dun Phadraig (Patrick's Fort). The first cathedral to stand on the site was burned down, and the present one dates from the 1100's, although it has undergone many modifications in the intervening centuries and no doubt bears little resemblance to the 12th century church.

In early Christian times, there were important monastic centre's at Aondruim (Nendrum), Dun Leathglaise Downpatrick) Magh Bhile (Movilla, Newtownards) Beannchair (Bangor) Rath Murbholg (Maghera), Druim Mand (Dromore), Domhnach Mand (Donaghmore) and Linn Duachaill (Magheralin). It is interesting to note that many of the aforementioned ecclesiastical sites are associated with pre Christian Druidic colleges.

During the reform of the Irish church in the mid 12th century and in the early years of the Anglo-Norman colonization of the region, most of the local Early Medieval monasteries were suppressed by the Roman Church as it imposed Cannon Law throughout Europe. The local foundation’s such as Bangor, Movilla and Saul, became Augustinian, Inis Cumhscraigh and Comber, Cistercian, Nendrum and Down, Benedictine, with the latter being reconstituted as the Chapter house of Down Cathedral. In 1193 by Affreca daughter of Godred King and wife of John de Courcy, built Greyabbey monastery on the Ards peninsular County Down. It is said Affreca decided to found the Abbey after enduring a particularly bad sea crossing from the Isle of Mann, it too was populated by English monks

All of the above monasteries existed until the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII which began in 1536, the monastic lands were confiscated and granted to English soldiers and nobles loyal to Henry.

Downpatrick Cathedral was reputedly burnt by Edward Cromwell in the early years of the 17th century, Cromwell the grandfather of the famous or infamous depending on your view, Oliver Cromwell, had obtained title to a large portion of the McCartan estate which consisted of a considerable part of south eastern County Down, by promising an English education to Phelim McCartan's son. Cromwell appears to have kept his bargain regarding the education, although McCartan's son disappeared from the historical record shortly thereafter. The McCartan's were to lose the title to what remained of their estate when it was confiscated by the English under Oliver Cromwell after the 1641 rebellion which culminated in 1653 when some 11,000,000 acres were confiscated and distributed between Cromwell's supporters.