St Matthew’s R C Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A six bay long medium size hall church. Tall pointed lancetwindows, smooth rendered walls with imitation quoins, projecting plinth, and barge stones to gables. Natural slated high pitched roof with tiny bellcote. Circular opening but no bell. Recent projecting glass canted porch with zinc pitched roof set in gable. Above a pair of lancets set high in the gable as if to light a gallery within. Above, in the gable apex is a small oculus to the roof space with hood moulding. Gutters on the long walls are supported on chamfered corbels with a minimum of overhang. Chancel is approximately half the width of the nave with a lower ridge line and a three light Gothic window in gable with stone mullion. Cinquefoils and quatrefoil are contained in the tracery, and a hood moulding with terminations. There is a single small lancet on either side of chancel. Projecting from nave is a single storey sacristy block with pitch roof at right angles to the nave with centre chimney emerging from ridge. A small recent extension to one side of the sacristy contains a reconciliation room. Each nave lancet has label moulding formed rather high above the window head, each with termination and a decorative keystone. There is a corresponding oculus in opposite gable to entrance but in this case without a hood moulding.

The building is set well back from the Drumsurn Road with a fine straight avenue approach lined with mature trees. At the end, are three broad flights of steps which rise to the entrance porch making a handsome entrance to the gable porch. On either side an expanse of well kept lawn and more to the rear the filling graveyard encompasses the church on three sides.

Historical information

St Matthew’s Church replaced the ruinous remains which are close to Drumsurn Village (HB02/08/003). The foundation stone was laid 24 June 1900 and dedicated on 19 October 1902 by Bishop O’Doherty. Architect E J Toye, builder Mr McClean and cost £2,300. The church was renovated in 1983-4 when liturgical alterations were made to sanctuary. Glazed porch added, reconciliation room added and modern decorative glass. Fire occurred during construction work and roof timber work renewed as before. Contractor Murphy Construction, Dungiven. Architects - Corr & Associates. Glasswork N Shawcross. Granite sanctuary fittings by Architects.

It is a curacy in the parish of Dungiven.

References:

Parish Records
M Hegarty (F M Corr and Associates)
Notes of Bishop J K O’Doherty (1833-1907)
Bishop of Derry 1890-1907

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Originally a typical neo-gothic style church of the turn of the 19/20th century finished in sand cement render externally and painted sand cement render internally. There is an absence of any external articulation of the walls by, for example, buttresses. It has a fine approach with its tree lined avenue at right angles to the county road. In the past decade it has been renovated and liturgically reorganised, in this case successfully. An excellent work has been made of its timber ceiling and trusses and the modern decorative glass has added greatly to its internal light and airy quality. The modern liturgical items of tabernacle, altar, ambo, chair and font in Annalong granite are well designed and executed.
However very little, apart from the stone walls of the 1902 building remains. It should really be seen as a modern church in a historic idiom and located within a mature eccliastical landscape. As such the " special" architectural quality required to justify listing could not be said to be present.