Reformed Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

T shaped, single storey, Reformed Presbyterian church, originally constructed in 1789 but with late Victorian (1887) gabled bay extension to front and decoration to windows. The building is set close to, but slightly lower than, the pavement, on the S of Main Street, on the SE of Cullybackey town centre.

The N front elevation is symmetrical and has a lean-to entrance porch either side of the projecting gabled bay. Each entrance has sheeted timber double doors set within a segmental arch headed opening with archivolt moulding. The porches each have slated lean-to roofs. To both the left and right edges of the elevation is a tall semicircular arch headed window with wooden frame and horizontal divisions and margins. The windows have moulded reveals. To the centre is the projecting gabled bay which has a semicircular arch headed window, as before, either side of the front gable. To the centre is a small moulded plaque which is inscribed R.P. Church A.D.1789. Directly above this is a semicurcular arch headed louvred opening. To both the E and W faces of the bay is a semicircular arch headed window, as before , but smaller.

The main E and W gables are symmetrical, each with two semicircular arch headed windows, as before.

The S rear elevation is symmetrical with four windows, all as before. The two central windows are more widely spaced.

The main building and the front bay are all gabled, with slightly overhanging eaves. The main corners are all finished with in/out quoins. To the main roof are two small gabled, wooden ventilators. The roofs are all covered with Bangor blue slates. Cast iron rw goods.

To the W side a lecture hall was constructed in 1929.

The N side of the site is bounded by a set of decorative cast iron railings.

Historical information

Cullybackey Reformed Presbyterian Congregation traces its origins back to c.1670, when locals who adhered to the Solemn League and Covenant gathered for open air worship at Laymore, to the east of the town.

In 1789, during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Gibson, the church was built. This original building was a simple rectangular structure with end galleries. It was know initially as the 'Pound Meeting House' having been built on ground immediately adjoining the old village pound, and is shown on the first edition OS map of c.1833. The contemporary OS Memoirs describe the church 'a simple old building 51 feet long and 24 wide, and has a gallery with stone staircases outside. It contains 50 seats and would accommodate 350 persons'.

In 1887 the structure assumed much of its present form, with the removal of the galleries and the addition of the 'transept' bay and the lean-to porches.

The lecture hall, to the west side of the church was erected in 1929 and replaced a single storey school room of 1869.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/1/32/1 OS map, 1st ed., 1833
2 'Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland; Parishes of County Antrim VIII', ed.Angélique Day, Patrick McWilliams and Nóirín Dobson
(QUB 1993), p.11
3 PRONI OS/6/1/32/2 OS map, 1st rev., 1857
4 PRONI OS/6/1/32/3 OS map, 2nd ed., c.1901

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This Reformed Presbyterian church, originally constructed in 1789 was substantially altered and extended in 1887. This has reduced its architectural integrity and importance.