St Aidan’s R C Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A simple hall church measuring 20½ metres by 9 internally, natural slated roof, central gable porch, rendered externally with white and black dry dash chippings. The long axis of the church runs north south with the small entrance porch in the north gable. In the centre of the east wall a projection which contained the high altar prior to 1931. On the west wall are two buttresses which strengthen the walls where the gallery beams rested though one gallery was removed in 1931. At the south west corner is a sacristy block which has been extended in 1989. The building is five bays long with five pointed Y traceried windows on the east wall and two on the west wall. Six of the windows have been renewed. Prior to 1931 the exterior walls were basalt.

The church is concealed by the little hill on which stands the ruins of the restored mediaeval church of St Aidan and enjoys tranquil seclusion on a most historic place. Around the ruins the old graves of parishioners, Protestant and Catholic. Around the “new” church the later graves of the catholic parish which are now beginning to encroach over the ridge to the south of the ruins. However it is maintained in a good manner.

Just outside the graveyard and to the north east of the present church is a well called Tobar Easpuig Aidin (the well of bishop Aidan). At the south east corner of the graveyard a steep path leads up the wooded hill slopes to a mass rock (half an hour’s walk up) used by the catholic parishioners before the kindly offer of the earl of Bristol’s of the old church in 1776. A niche in the wall to the car park now with a statue of the Virgin has a plaque stating “To the Glory of God 1826”.

Historical information

As referred in the description of the old church ruins (see HB02/09/029B) the present church of St Aidan was built in 1826/27. At that time the altar was placed in the recess in the south wall (now the criery) and the pews arranged accordingly. There were two deep galleries facing each other with access to them gained by external steps. The interior remained unfinished for several years. In 1931 there was major renovation when the sanctuary was changed to the south end of the building and the gallery there removed. New entrance porch formed in the north gable. (There had been two entrances previously on the west wall). The architect was probably J P McGrath d. 1948. In 1989 the church received a major renovation both internally and externally with the boundary wall being rebuilt architect H M D of Derry. Behind a small grotto is the original date stone

References:
Topographical Dictionary Vol. II by Lewis
Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. II.
Souvenir Booklet of Limavady Bazaar 1929

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A good example of late pre emancipation vernacular catholic church which has retained its basic proportions. Unfortunately internal and external alterations carried out in recent years have degraded the architectural quality to the point where listed status is no longer approprriate.