St Mary’s Church (R C)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A simple early decorated neo-gothic design. Happily sited on rising ground above the River Faughan, on the side of Altinure Road among mature trees on land given by the Beresfords of Learmount. A medium sized barn church with high random rubble stone walls and steeply pitched slated roof with the Victorian preference for banded colours. There is a gabled porch to the south west now distorted, projected chancel with lower ridge line and a stone bellcote to the west gable.A wheel window high up in the gable lights the gallery and 4 quatrefoils punctuate the lower wall and provide light under the gallery.

The site of the present church is not far removed from the pre-emancipation predecessor. To the east of the church is the graveyard and to the west is a new single storey parochial house which replaced a 2 storey edifice. The church lost much of its original character in renovations carried out in 1967 e.g. barge copings, natural slate, entrance porch gable aswell as the post Vatican II internal changes.New sacristies were added at north east corner and car parking provided to rear of church and layby at road side.

Historical information

Ordnance Survey Memoir states “The Roman Catholic chapel in Upper Altinure is in the western extremity of the parish on a by-road, joining the main road from Claudy to Moneymore, which by-passes Learmount. It is supposed to have been built about 1730 and is in very bad repair. Its shape is rectangular and measures 60 feet by 16 feet. Having no seats it can accommodate 400 persons. The present slate roof - having been put on it in the year 1800, is not sufficient to guard against the inclemency of the weather”. It was then in such a dangerous state, as to require the support of 5 upright pillars for its safety.

Present church was dedicated 22 October 1871 Architects O’Neill & Byrne, Belfast. Builder, Mr McClay, Strabane.

Church renovated and rededicated October 1967 Architects Corr & McCormick, Derry. Builder, Mr McMenamin, Strabane.

References:

Primary Sources:
1. 'Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol. 30. Parishes of County Londonderry X', ed Angelique Day & Patrick McWilliams (QUB, 1995) p 29
2. Records of Corr & McCormick.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A late 19th. Century Gothic revival church with bellcote. Was originally a good example of the work of O’Neill & Byrne. Modern alterations partly resulting from post Vatican II requirements mean that it can no longer be seen as of "special" architectural or historic interest.