It is located on the east of the island (part of the traditional South Side division) in the sheading of Garff.

Lonan parish is part of the Garff constituency, which elects two Members to the House of Keys.

It is an upland district, being hilly and barren in parts, and dropping sharply into the sea, with the exception of a few small deep, sheltered glens.

Henry Skillicorne, a Bristol sea captain who was later instrumental in developing the spa waters at Cheltenham, was born at Ballaragh in this parish in 1678 or 1679.

It was built in the 19th century as a more conveniently located substitute for the ancient structure of St Adamnan's Church.