Glendermott Parish Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A typical small neogothic church, four bays long erected in 1753 to replace the former church at the S E lower end of the parish and embellished with several extensions later. The square plan tower with shallow clasping buttresses, three stages high containing belfry and surmounted by crenellations and simple pyramidal pinnacles at each corner was erected in 1789 ( proclaimed in stone high up on the west side.) At that time it may not have had a parapet as a copper covered wooden spire is recorded as being blown down in 1831. In 1861 major extension and repairs were carried out and these included a north aisle, chancel and insertion of sandstone plate tracery in the nave windows and re-roofing of nave complete with trusses. In 1981 the entrance porch was enlarged being extended to the north of the tower and the entrance door changed from the S side of the tower to the west of the enlarged porch. A window has been inserted in lieu of the door. The work has been tastefully done except for unfortunate stonework around the replacement window.

The walls are built of local whinstone and slated with natural blue slates. The bold sandstone surround to the main entrance has a continuous cavetto moulding giving good prominence to the portal. Each stage of the tower is marked by a thin band of tooled sandstone. The roof pitch of the chancel, nave and vestry is much greater than that of the nave but typical of Welland’s church extension work, whereas the pitch of the late 1980s porch roof follows that of the nave. A stone plinth is formed to the nave, aisle, chancel and vestry walls.

Situated on a prominent location overlooking the Faughan valley, where it runs south east, and on a ridge of high ground between the main Derry/Belfast road (A2) and what was the former coach road, now Church road. When the church was built the A2 was non-existent. Around the church and extending to the east a well filled graveyard with one plain mausoleum to the Knox family and immediately in front of the west end a 1914-18 war memorial in the form of a life size bugler on a tall pedestal, presumably playing the ‘last post’.
In front of the church there is a short length of whinstone wall, piers and gates giving access to a small forecourt in the centre of which stand the war memorial carried out by J Robinson. The gates are of the period of the church, in a combination of black wrought and cast iron. The walling is in rubble schist with whinstone coping. Pillars are square in rubble with sandstone quoins. The square pointed caps are in sandstone.

Historical information

Church replaced former church located in S E of parish and erected in 1753 at cost of £500, accommodating 330 persons. Tower added 1789. Ordnance Survey Memoirs describe a spire on the building which blew down during a storm in the 1820's. The church was extended in 1861 and Divine services recommenced August 1862 Architect J Welland. Porch added 1989 Architect C Dickson

References:

O S Memoirs of Ireland Vol 34
Leslie Parishes & Clergy of Derry and Raphoe
Present Rector Canon Moore

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Alistair Rowan in Buildings of North West Ulster describes the church as ‘primitive georgian gothic’. Good example of mid 18th century 'Planters' Gothic with sympathetic extensions carried out in mid Victorian era.