2nd Presbyterian Church Limavady

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A pedimental gabled neo-classical galleried hall, three bays wide in the gable and six bays deep with pitched slated roof. The entrance front has sandstone ashlar facing while the other walls are built of random rubble iron stained stone.The front elevation consists of three bays defined by shallow plain Ionic pilasters supporting a simple entablature and above a moulded pediment with tympanum unrelieved apart from the date stone of 1840 within a moulded lozenge. The central bay, wider than the other two, contains the semi-circular headed doorway with flat pilasters and curved moulded architrave with a small keystone. There is above a small blank oculus with circular architrave and inscribed ‘Church of Scotland’. The windows on either side are treated as aedicules with moulded pediments, elongated scrolls and moulded architrave. The pitch of these pediments is different from the main pediment which has an exaggerated slope. Above each aedicule there is a moulded rectangular panel. The diagonal timber sheeted doors have a plain fanlight above. The corner pilasters are clasping.

The side walls have two rows of windows each emphasising the gallery arrangement within. To the rear, where the walls are smooth rendered, a small pitched roof outshot contains the boiler room. There are back doors leading towards the hall and minister’s room.

Cills of two blocked up windows can be seen.

The church building is set well back from the frontage of Irish Green Street. Originally a school house and a hall occupied the ground between church and front boundary wall. The plot is rectangular in shape bounded by hedges and boundary wall to road consisting of low wall, gate piers, gates and railings. These are modern. To the south contiguous to the hedge there is the two storey manse and behind it a modern hall, all part of the Presbyterian Congregation complex.

Historical information

Foundation stone of church laid on 17 March 1840 by Mr Robert Conn. Work ceased in 1841 when only the walls were erected. Church completed in 1844, seats allocated in that year and Rev. Steen installed 31 March 1845. The builder was James Alison and works cost £800 to which the Irish Society contributed £50. A school house was built in front of the church at the expense of Robert Conn, a local linen merchant, (of the Lodge HB02/12/008) completed early in 1846. In 1876 the church was re-opened after renovation and repairs. The manse was built in 1884 on ground adjacent to the church given by Henry Tyler and cost £800. The organ and pulpit were completed in 1923 as part of that work. The War Memorial tablet was dedicated in September 1921. At the same time the church was extensively renovated at cost of £1000 which included heating and electric lighting. At the rear of the church is a framed seating plan of the church carried out by M A Robinson architect, Derry, signed and dated 1907.

Recently renovations included stone replacement work to the entrance facade carried out under the supervision of Albert
Wallace & Partners, architects, Derry.

References:
Primary Sources:

OS Map 'Newtown Limavady' (1848 revision with notes of 1858 valuation) PRONI: 058/120/1/1 & T2933/3/140
OS Map ' Town of Limavady' (1895) PRONI:Val 2D/5/4 & 293/4/261
OS Map ' Town of Limavady' (1907) PRONI:058/120/2/3
Griffiths Valuation 1858

Secondary Sources
D Girvan, 'The Buildings of north Derry' UAHS 1975 p17
Lewis Topographical Dictionary Vol. l & ll
'Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol 9 Co Londonderry II' QUB 1995 p90
J E Mullan, The Presbytery of Limavady

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A good neo-classical building. Typical of the early Victorian era and the Presbyterian liking for galleried churches..