Old Presbyterian Church (Non-Subscribing)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A rectangular single-storey building with gabled roof and a gabled and columned porch, which is a remodelling of the previous church to the extent that all original details have been removed except for the retention of a sundial mounted on the front wall. Walls rendered using wet dash, with a smooth cement rendered plinth; roof of concrete tiles; PVC rainwater goods; PVC windows of rectangular form in moulded cement surrounds; concrete cills; PVC columns in Tuscan style to porch with smooth plastered soffit to canopy and rendered gable. Main entrance, facing south-east: modern double doors with vertical slat glazing and modern handles. Wall-mounted sundial is of rectangular shape and bears inscription “By Andw [ie Andrew] Snoddy 1779”.

SETTING: The building stands within a small hamlet in a rural location, in its own grounds, facing the road and set back from it with a lawn in front of it. The front boundary comprises low rubble walling with a hedge above, with a gateway comprising a pair of large circular piers, smooth cement rendered, containing plain iron gates of modern manufacture. The churchyard memorials are not of special architectural interest.

In the first survey in 1970 the church was described as “A rectangular building with rendered walls and slated roof. Double-hung windows glazed with coloured glass are set in moulded segmental-arched openings surmounted by cornices over plain spandrels. The double panelled entrance doors are recessed in a similar segmental-arched opening with incised pilasters rising to consoles supporting a cornice. Plain interior. A few memorials in grounds.”

Historical information

The year of construction of the church as listed is uncertain although its sundial was inscribed with the date 1779, and it appeared on the first OS map of 1833. Remodelled in the 19th century as can be determined by stylistic evidence, and again in the 1980s. This building was previously listed, but was delisted in 1990.

References - Primary

1. OS Map 1833, Co Antrim 35.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A plain building thoroughly modernised and of no historic architectural interest.