St Mary's Roman Catholic Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical, free-standing double-height Roman Catholic Church with a domed, two-stage tower over north-east gable. Constructed in 1842, rectangular on plan and located within a graveyard on an elevated site to the north side of Drumagarner Road to the south west of Kilrea. The original vestry to the south-west gable has been extended in recent years and the roof has been extensively refurbished.

Pitched, artificially tiled roof with roll-moulded black/grey ridge tiles; raised verges on kneelers with stone coping to gables; elaborate stone cross finial surmounting south-west gable, similar crosses to outer copings on north-east gable. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods and square down pipes; uPVC to vestry. Walling is squared greytone rubble built to courses with sandstone to raised quoins, window and door dressings. Square base to tower with quoins; rising to second phase of ashlar sandstone which has louvered pointed-arches to four primary faces, chamfered corners; surmounted by ashlar dome topped with a plain stone cross. Pointed-arched window openings with rubble voussoired stone heads, sandstone surrounds and sills; windows are replacement Y-traceried, leaded stained-glass in masonry surrounds with additional storm-glazing fixed to the exterior.

Principal elevation faces north-east and comprises a segmental-pointed central doorway with voussoired stone heads and sandstone surrounds; replacement square-headed timber door and fixed tympanum; lancet windows to each side having hood moulds. Large pointed-arch four-light window above door; sandstone surrounds, hood-moulding with decorative stops and sill brackets. Sandstone inset to tower base, bearing the date 1842 in Roman Numerals.

South-east elevation is lit by five equally spaced windows.

South-west elevation has a segmental-pointed window to centre with horizontal glazing bars. A modern twin gable fronted single-storey stone-faced return (sacristy and vestry) to centre of ground floor. A portion of the walling and doorway of the original return, which dated from the mid 19th century has been retained at the right cheek and matches that of the main church. Main elevation having three windows and left cheek abutted an additional flat-roofed extension to the north-west containing two modern doors.

North-west elevation is as south-east with small concrete block wall to right side.

Setting
Located in a rural
setting to the south-west of Kilrea, within a graveyard and enclosed by coursed rubble stone walls. On an elevated site set back from the junction between Drumagarner and Drumsarragh Road, with a small number of houses to the east and south . Access is via a bitmac path from Drumagarner Road; two square-stone piers with pyramidal stone caps and quoins, support cast-iron gates at the entrance. Wall along Drumagarner Road is coursed and squared stone with saddleback stone copings; pedestrian entrance to south-east side.

Roof: Artificial slate
RWG: Cast-iron
Walling: Coursed & squared greytone rubble
Windows: Pointed-headed Y-traceried stained glass

Historical information

St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church at Drumagarner is dated 1842 and was built to the designs of an unknown architect. This replaced an earlier church, which was constructed on the site in 1778 (OS Memoirs 1830-39).

The existing Gothic-style building is first shown captioned ‘R.C Chapel’, on the second edition OS map (1853), located a short distance to the north-west of the previous chapel and surrounded by trees, with a ‘Burial Ground’ to the south-east. Leased by Rev. Paul, the chapel, graveyard and offices were first recorded in Griffith’s Valuation (1857) at £24.

Drumagarner National School was also listed with the chapel at a value of £2 10s and was located to the eastern edge of the boundary. As indicated by the Annual Revisions (1864-1929) and the third edition OS map (1905) the school continued to operate until sometime between 1905-25.

The combined value of the chapel and graveyard was noted in the Annual Revisions (1864) as £142 10s but the original valuation of the actual building did not significantly change. A Sexton’s House was added to the grounds in 1892, marginally increasing the value; the valuer noted that the occupier had the house “…in consideration of cleaning the chapel.” (Annual Revisions 1886-94).

Captioned ‘St Mary’s R.C Church’ on the third edition OS map (1905), ownership of the church and graveyard had been transferred to the Trustees of the church by the Annual Revisions of 1935. Since this time the associated buildings have been demolished but the main building continues to function as a Roman Catholic Church.

In recent years the roof has undergone major refurbishment and the vestry accommodation to the rear has been extended.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/27/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey map (1830)
2. PRONI OS/6/5/27/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey map (1853)
3. PRONI OS/6/5/27/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map (1905)
4. PRONI OS/6/5/27/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map (1925-33)
5. PRONI OS/10/5/27/5/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey County map (1905)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/5/6A – Griffith’s Valuation (1856)
7. PRONI VAL/2/D/5/5 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1859)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/3A – Annual Revisions (1864)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/3B – Annual Revisions (1865-78)
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/2C – Annual Revisions (1879-85)
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/2D – Annual Revisions (1886-94)
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/2E – Annual Revisions (1895-1910)
13. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/2F – Annual Revisions (1911-29)
14. PRONI VAL/3/B/6/2 – First General Revaluations (1935)
15. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/5 – Second General Revaluations (1956-72)

Secondary Sources

1. Lewis, Samuel ‘A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland’ S. Lewis & Co, London (1837)
2. ‘Ordnance Survey Memoirs; The Parishes of Co. Londonderry, VIII [Vol. 27] - Desertoghill, Errigal, Killelagh and Kilrea, 1830-39’ Institute of Irish Studies, Queen’s University, Belfast (1994)
3. Curl, James. S. ‘The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914’ Phillimore & Co, Chichester (1986)
4. Kernohan, J.W. ‘The Parishes of Kilrea and Tamlaght O'Crilly A sketch of their history, with an account of the Boveedy Congregation’ Coleraine, (1912)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A symmetrical, free-standing Roman Catholic Church, dated 1842, on the site of a previous chapel, with pitched roof surmounted by a domed tower to the north-east gable. Located within a graveyard, on an elevated site, set back from Drumagarner Road to the south west of Kilrea, and bounded by stone walls. Occupying a prominent and elevated site, the plainly detailed church is characterised by the domed tower and dominates the surrounding landscape. The building has undergone some renovation work in recent years, however the interior layout and detailing remains largely intact. The church continues to provide an important social role within the community and is of local interest.

General comments

Additional listing criteria apply- S- Authenticity