St John’s Church (C of I)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A small 13 century style early neogothic church seating about a hundred people. Sited on a rectangular site on Lomond Road bound by hedge on 4 sides with W I. Gates and stone pillars. It looks forlorn in a flat landscape with few dwellings nearby. Nevertheless it is a charming Welland and Gillespie project opened as a Chapel of Ease on 22 October 1863 and has been little altered since.

A small hall building measuring approximately 14 metres by 7 externally, i.e. a double square, with a diminutive N W porch, its ridge fitting neatly under the principal eaves line, a tiny vestry at the S E end and above the west gable a sturdy bell cote. Each corner is strengthened with diagonal buttresses with double shouldering and the long walls are divided into 3 panels by further buttresses. Adorning the E. gable there is a large Early English 3 light pointed window with cusping. Single and 2 light pointed lancets light the nave and vestry while a pair of cusped lights with quatrefoil above articulate the W gable.

Walls are built of random rubble basalt and sandstone trim to buttresses, windows and doors. Windows are filled with diamond panes, cast iron frames with clear glass, and doors are all original framed and sheeted except door leading from porch to nave which is an incongruous flush door. Doors retain their ironmongery with fine rimlocks. The bellcote houses the former bell from the parish church which transfer took place in 1864 and the chapel consecrated by the Bishop on 1 September of that year. The church was re-roofed in 1988 with asbestos slates.

The porch has been added at a later date.

Historical information

Architects Welland and Gillespie (Ecclesiastical Commissioners architect)

Opened as chapel of ease on 22 October 1863.

References:

Representative Church Body
D Girvan, Buildings of North Derry UAHS

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
E. Spatial Organisation
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Small neo-gothic 13th century style rural church set in a flat landscape close by a country road.