St Peter’s C of I Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A simple hall church orientated east west with NW porch and NE vestry, white rendered walls, low pitched copper roof and copper clad fleche towards W end. The west end has a breakfront containing large pointed 3 light stained glass window. The centre light dominant. Walls on each side of breakfront splayed. Generous overhang to verges, simple wooden barges. S wall 7 bays long with 6 pointed tall lancets and the chancel expressed by a large stained glass window divided into 4 panes by mullion and transome forming a Roman cross. Dark painted plinth stepped down slope of ground. 2 copper downpipes, no applied gutter, assume concealed, reasonable roof overhang. Soffit sheeted.

E gable, windowless but wall splayed on each side which effect gives great roof overhang at corner: Barges as before. There is a door giving access to underfloor space. The vestry projects E beyond the church gable and because of the fall of ground becomes 2 storeys with door access to basement. The N and S walls of the vestry have high parapets, why? looks ridiculous, but then the flat roof to the vestry is not quite right either.

The N elevation has 3 tall pointed lancets between church porch and vestry. The porch looks quite pedestrian, ill proportioned with ill-chosen window shapes. The entrance door has 2 leaves square headed no adornment and the gable barges simple with minimal overhang. The vestry wing is similar with similar double door and domestic type windows.

The copper welted roof lifts the church out of the ordinary though the peculiar shaped fleche has little subtlety, set diagonally on ridge and crowned with a slim gilded metal cross.

The church has a prominent site on the Culmore Road near the Foyle Bridge Roundabout though the ground falls away from the road. The grounds have little planting, much space devoted to bitmac car park and the remainder paving and lawn. A church hall with axis at right angles to church is sited to the N. Similar in character to the church but with concrete tiled roof.

Historical information

The church was designed by A T Marshall who combined his architectural practice with that of city planning officer. The foundation stone was laid by Col. Sir Basil A.T. McFarland Bt. CBE ERD HML, a great friend of the architect, on 28th July 1965 and dedication took place the following year.

References

Primary Sources
1. Foundation Stone

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A simple contemporary church of modest design with crisp clean lines and fine copper roof. Does not merit listing.