The Old Presbyterian Church (Non-Subscribing),

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey church of rectangular plan with an organ projection at the rear behind the pulpit.

Main Entrance fases east. Walls smooth cement-rendered, lined and blocked. Roof hipped with Bangor blue slates in regular courses, the centre bay of ecclesiastical west front broken forward and topped by a pediment containing a circular datestone. Yellow brick chimney c.1900 behind pediment roof. Raised rusticated quoins dress extremities. Tuscan columns support entablature and pediment to form porch, columns with pointed scagliola finish c.1987; concrete steps. Three windows to first floor, 8 over 8 sliding sash wooden with horns. One window each side of porch to ground floor, 12 over 8 sliding sash wooden with horns, with lower panes translucent. Original cast iron guttering with plastic replacement downpipes. Cast iron oval end plates for tie rods appear on the breakfront.

Side elevations lit by two rows of four windows similar to west front, each floor. Organ projection has smooth render; red sandstone haunches and grey sandstone coping to gables. One semi-circular headed window with stained glass to each side of organ projection.

The building stands on an island side bounded on all sides by public roads, and shares the site with a late Victorian manse alongside and a modern church hall at a distance in front; lawns and trees to each side and a tarmac area in front; two iron-railing graves to one side; rubble basalt boundary wall to rear of site; cement rendered boundary walls and piers with ornamental iron railings and gates to each side of site; and concrete post and wire fence to front of site.

Historical information

Built as a Unitarian church to replace an earlier church on the site which was cruciform; plan for rebuilding approved in 1828; built by William Agnew, stone mason, of Kilwaughter; opened 1st November 1829; organ chamber added c.1886; boundary walls, railings and gates added in 1893 and manse in 1892 to designs of S.P. Close, architect; heating system installed 1900; original pulpit replaced in 1955; stained glass inserted in organ projection in 1993; ground floor pews all replaced with wider aisles and cubicles in 1987.

References - Primary
1. OS map of 1832, Co Antrim 40 (appears marked as a Unitarian church).
2. Plan of pews, signed D. Pinkerton 21.1.28, in possession of church in 1997
3. Information from the minister in August 1997.
Secondary
1. R.H. McIlrath and J.W. Nelson, ‘Congregational Memoirs. The Old Presbyterian Congregation of Larne and Kilwaughter’, (Larne, 1975).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

This is a building of distinct classical proportions which retains its late Georgian character both inside and outside, despite inappropriate changes to its front façade and later furnishings.