In 1881, Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun, who already held certain rights in the parish, notably the right of presentation of the rector, made a proposal to construct a new church, on a site he would provide at the village end of his St. Anne's Estate, and this was agreed by the parish in 1885. Lord Ardilaun's father, Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness, had previously agreed with the parish to build a new church, but the plans did not come to fruition.