Dunaghy Independent Church, beside 30 Killygarvin Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This is a plain Gothic revival church, built 1861-2. It consists of a long and rectangular nave with a single-storey flat-roofed return to the rear South. There is a further pitched two-storey church hall to the rear Southeast. This is connected by a single-storey flat-roofed link block. There is a two-storey manse to the Southeast. The Church is set on the South side of Killygarvan Road within Donaghy townland.

The front elevation is three bays in width, whereas the side elevations are also three bays, they are wider.

The front North elevation is gable ended and faces onto Killygarven Road. It has a long lancet pointed-arched window to the left, a square-headed doorway to the centre, and a long lancet pointed-arched window to the right. There is a large double pointed-arched lancet window with above the doorway to the centre. Stone dressings to windows and doors match the stone on the front elevation. Protective external uPVC screens have been added to the windows on the front facade. There is a continuous projecting cut-stone cornice at eaves level. The door has a chamfered surround with paired panelled timber doors and a timber and glazed overlight. They are set on concrete pavoirs to the entrance.

The side East and West elevations are three bays in width. Windows are long pointed-arched lancet timber set on chamfered cut-stone sills. Most window openings have external protective uPVC frames. The attached single-storey link block is to the left, leading to the Church Halls to the Southeast.

The rear South elevation is gable-ended. It has two pointed arched lancet windows set on cut-stone sills. Windows are original timber. The elevation is partially obscured by the single-storey vestry return to the right.

External walls to the front elevation are dressed stone with matching cut-stone dressings. It has a projecting chamfered cut-stone plinth. The side and rear elevations are of plain painted roughcast render. Walls rest on a projecting cut-stone plinth; this is painted to the rear portions. The roof is pitched in natural slate. Rainwater goods are replacement extruded aluminium.

Returns:

The Church Hall to the Southeast is largely rectangular in plan. The single-storey link block attachs to the rear and side of the Church. The Hall is gable-ended to the North and has a single-storey entrance bay to the centre. Windows throughout the hall are an assortment of square-headed timber casement windows set on painted concrete sills. There is a further square-headed timber door to the Southwest elevation, at the rear of the Church. External walls are painted roughcast render to match the main Church. The roof is pitched, the roof covering is not visible. There is a flat roof to the link block.

Setting

The Church is on the South side of Killygarvan Road within the Donaghy townland. There is a low wall with cut-stone capping and a vehicular entrance to the centre. Gates are replacement galvanised metal. There is an access road to the East of the church leading to the attached church hall and manse. The manse has lost most of its historic interior and original windows and the roof has been replaced and is of no intertest.

Historical information

This church was built in 1861-2. The manse was erected at the same time, the cost of both buildings amounting to £700. The existence of the church was largely due to the efforts of Hugh Kelso, a publican from Tullyhogue, who ‘Coming under the influence of the Revival of 1859…found peace with God through personal trust in Christ Jesus as his Saviour.’ He sold his business and ‘became involved in Christian work in the local area’ organising a church fellowship which originally met in the home of Mr. James Little of Spamount. Following the building of the church Mr. Kelso became the Donaghey congregation’s minister, remaining in the post for a decade.

The large church hall appears to have been added c.1980s, with the church renovated c.2000.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL/12B/37/21A Annual valuation revision book, Tullaghoge ED, 1860-63
2 PRONI VAL/12B/37/21B Annual valuation revision book, Tullaghoge ED, 1864-80
3 PRONI OS/6/6/38/3 OS map, Co Tyrone sheet 38, 1905

Secondary sources
1 www.donagheychurch.com

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is a plain and unadorned later nineteenth century Gothic revival church. The over sized Gothic window over the main entrance gives an unusual character to the composition of the front façade and the detailing of the front façade was well executed. However, it is later date, common type and renovation mean that it does not meet the statutory and policy tests as a building of special architectural or historic interest.