St Mary's Roman Catholic Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A free-standing gabled blackstone Roman Catholic church with square bell tower; dated 1855 and situated to the west side of Grove Road in the townland of Craigavole, south of Garvagh. Rectangular plan with square tower and sacristy (later) to west.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles (leaded in part and to gable); stone verges with metal cross-finial to gable. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods on projecting boxed eaves. Walling is squared blackstone built to courses with flush pointing, having sandstone dressings and quoins; roughcast render to west gable. Interlocking Y-tracery multi-pane lancet windows with multi-paned timber casements, in chamfered ashlar sandstone surrounds with chamfered sills and blackstone voussoirs.

East-facing gabled front has two lancets over a central pointed-headed entrance comprising replacement double-leaf timber-sheeted door with fixed timber-sheeted tympanum, in chamfered sandstone surround with blackstone voussoirs. Pierced quatrefoil to apex of gable with slate datestone under, having Latin inscription reading “IN GLORIUM DEI. / SUB B.Y.MARLE PATROCINIO/ H/ED EDDLESIA edificala esl/ ANNO DOMINI MDCCCLV / REV D AD M S A OTERSON. P.P”

The south elevation is five evenly spaced lancets wide.

The west gable is abutted to centre by the engaged square bell-tower, which is flanked by an M-profile sacristy with undercroft. Tower has parapet with pierced quatrefoils and crocketted corner pinnacles; sandstone drip mould between stages. Belfry stage has pointed-headed louvered opening with hood mould to four sides. First stage has narrow pointed-headed blind opening, with multi-paned Y-tracery window under at west face. Sacristy (built in two stages having visible seam in masonry) is detailed as church, opening to north with a modern timber-sheeted door accessed by two concrete steps; flanked by louvered and timber-sheeted door to store-room and a double-Y-tracery timber casement window at right. Similar window also to south elevation. M-profile gable has modern timber casement window at left bay; steps down lead to modern timber door with metal vent panel to undercroft at right bay.

The north elevation is detailed as south.

Setting:

Situated on a mature rectangular plot to the west side of Grove Road, accessed via a narrow tarmacadamed road, terminating in entrance to neighbouring farm. Set of eight concrete steps with modern metal handrails to front entrance. Small graveyard to southeast of the site with headstones dating from the mid-nineteenth century. Lawned to three sides and bounded by mature trees and hedges. Bounded to road at east by a modern timber fence. Roughcast rendered curved entrance walls to front terminate in square piers supporting modern “Northburn Steel” gates. At north is a large tarmacadamed car park.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Squared blackstone built to courses with flush pointing and sandstone dressings
Windows: Y-tracery timber casements
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The present church is dated 1855 but is shown on the second edition OS map of 1853, presumably under construction, captioned ‘RC Chapel’. Basalt is used as the primary building stone with Barony Glen sandstone at the upper reaches of the tower. (www.stonedatabase.com)The building has not altered in plan form since it was built and the architect is unknown. The church replaced an earlier chapel of 1734, a simple thatched, unpewed structure of stone and sods, which was gradually improved and extended. Prior to the building of this early mass house the catholic congregation had worshipped in a fort or rath in the same townland. (OS Memoirs)

The Worshipful Company of Mercers, on whose estates the church is situated, contributed financially towards the building fund, as it did to other Catholic and Presbyterian churches in the area. According to Curl, donations were also given to Catholic and Presbyterian clergy on the estates provided they ministered to tenants of the Company. (Curl) Prior to the building of the new church, the Mercers had been accustomed to give money towards the re-thatching and repair of the old chapel. (OS Memoirs)

The new ‘RC Chapel and yard’ is listed in Griffith’s Valuation of 1856-64 at £15 and 5s for the yard. The building was revalued in the early 1930s at £60 and a plan is shown in valuer’s notes depicting the nave with tower, vestry and store to the west. The church, gates and walling were listed in 1977. (HB file)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/26/1 First Edition OS Map 1831-2
2. PRONI OS/6/5/26/2 Second Edition OS map 1853
3. PRONI OS/6/5/26/3 Third Edition OS Map 1905
4. PRONI OS/6/5/26/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1925-7
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/54B Townland Valuation (1828-40)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/1A-D Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
7. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/3 First General Revaluation 1933-57
8. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/3/W/2 First General Revaluation 1933-57
9. Griffith’s Valuation online
10. HB file – 03/02/021

Secondary Sources

1. Curl, James Stevens “The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914” Chichester: Philimore, 1986
2. Day, A., P. McWilliams, English L., eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Londonderry VIII, 1830, 1833-7, 1839, Vol. 27.” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1994.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

A gabled blackstone Roman Catholic church with engaged square bell tower; dated 1855 and situated to the west side of Grove Road in the townland of Craigavole, south of Garvagh. Simply detailed, this is a good example of a modest mid-Victorian Gothic Revival rural church, with quality stonework and situated in a picturesque setting. Some alterations and refurbishments, but essentially retaining much of its original character. Of considerable social interest to the local community

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; S - Authenticity and T - Historic Importance also apply.