Balteagh Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Demolished and replaced by a new church. Before demolition is was surveyed and recorded as follows;

A six bay deep simple hall church with natural slated roof, gabled, with flat roofed projecting porch at east gable end and pitched projecting minister’s room at other gable, walls finished with dry dash Carmean ( limestone ) chips with smooth rendered plaster band to each tall lancet with Tudor arched heads. Clasping plaster quoins at corners. Projecting porch faced with artificial stone. Entrance gable finished with heavy plastered shaped barge with curved/wavy top surface, bottom edge modestly decorated. Date stone of 1823 below apex. Rear gable has two similar windows, one of less length than the other, and one on each side of the pulpit. Windows are filled with leaded and decorative glass. Two large ventilators protrude from the roof. Beyond the minister’s roof is a small well plastered store with natural slated roof and two gable brick chimneys.

Siting

The church is sited at the junction of Drumsurn and Ballyleagry Roads with the main entrance from the former. Around the site a neat well kept graveyard bounded by a rendered wall with painted iron gates and piers. Beyond the church is a hall recently done.

Historical information

A church was established at Lislane on the site granted by the Marquis of Waterford and the foundation stone was laid in 1823 by Mr Henry Oliver. Prior to this the Presbyterians of Balteagh attended Drumachose Presbyterian Church (HB02/15/003) where they occupied the “Balteagh aisle”. The Rev Samuel Templeton was ordained the 1st minister on 16 Nov 1824. The Ordnance Survey Memoir of 1834-35 states “It was built in 1822 at an expense of 245 pounds, raised by subscriptions. The Marquis of Waterford gave the ground in perpetuity containing nearly 1 statute acre, and 30 pounds towards the building. Marcus McCausland Esq., some of whose tenantry were benefited by the work, contributed 5 pounds 5s and the rest was chiefly raised among the members of the congregation, many of whom gave their labour instead of money. The building, which lies east and west, measures 44 feet by 40 and contains 46 single pews….. and there is accommodation for about 350 persons. The house is not well build, and the roof, which is double and supported by a double row of upright wooden pillars connected with the rafters, is in such bad repair as to admit the rain in several places. The seats also are too slight, and the whole work appears to have been executed on a scale too extensive for the allocated sums”. Church was in poor repair in 1863 and repaired by 1865 when new pews were installed. A manse was built in 1877.

In 1906 after the installation of Rev Joseph McKee work of renovating the church began which amounted to almost a rebuild and the building was extended in length i.e. its present length. Some of the former roof members can be seen in the roof space. In 1973 repairs and alterations were carried out, including a new organ to replace that of 1958. In 1983 the Margaret Whyte stained glass was installed.

The present congregation is contemplating replacing the church.

( Building demolished June 1998 to make way for construction of new church. Architects:Alan Hamilton Associates.)

References:

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol. 9
Mr Irwin of Grain Mills (HB02/08/020)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A good example of small hall Presbyterian Church of the late Georgian period later extended and renovated to the end of the Victorian era. Good forceful interior with vigorous joinery work in pews and pulpit.
Building demolished June 1998 to make way for construction of new church. Architects:Alan Hamilton Associates.