The parish of Rathclaren has existed from at least 1291, the present church is either the third or fourth to have existed within that parish. The 1302 taxation list mentions Rathclaren together with the other churches in the Deanery of Kinelethe (ultra). The parishes of Rathclaren and Burren were combined as one parish by 1478. The church in Burren would have gone into disuse and there is no record of a location or signs of ruins.
The present Rathclaren church which stands in the townland of Farrannagark was built by the Church of Ireland. The previous church on this site which would have originally been Catholic fell into disrepair after the 1641 rebellion. The Church of Ireland erected a new church in 1650 as it is today without the tower. This was modified and repaired with a grant of £314 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1835 and the belfry tower was added to the west porch between 1860 and 1875. The bells were put in place in memory of the Sealy brothers of Burren. This church is part of the Church of Ireland Bandon Union of Parishes.
The parishes of Rathclaren and Kilbrittain were united by 1731. The official stamp of the parish has the words "Ecclesia Sti Patritii apud Kilbrittain et Rathclareen".
A winter view of Rathclaren Church showing the lych gate entrance
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