Second Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 4 bay long hall church, gabled, slated, projecting gable porch, single storey at rear.

The entrance elevation, which has a westerly aspect, has a central small pedimented projecting porch with pair of 4 fielded panel door. 3 steps ascend to entrance. Above the doors a plaster pediment, flanking and return walls finished in rusticated rendering painted. Roof slated. Over porch and on main gable of church a semi-circular 15 pane metal window with moulded architrave and keystone. On each side single tall semi-circular headed 51 pane metal window with moulded architrave and keystone. A large unmoulded pediment in plaster dominates the gable with tympanum in plain smooth rendering. Wall below in rusticated rendering with shallow clasping plaster pilasters at quoins. Plinth, all painted.

The N wall, 4 bays long, with 4 semi-circular headed 51 pane metal windows, with moulded architrave and keystone. Walls smooth rendered, lined, painted, shallow pilaster quoins, plinth. ½ round metal gutter, 2 downpipes, natural slated roof, no barges.

The S wall is similar to N but retains its original metal windows.

To the rear a hipped slated low return which has a flat roofed and lean-to roof extensions added. The main church gable has a plaster pediment with small louvred circular roofspace vent. Wall smooth rendered, unpainted.

The church is sited at right angles to Circular Road, more or less observes the general building line. Surrounded by a sea of bitmac with a metal railed front boundary with vehicular and pedestrian gates combined with cast iron posts. Gates and posts may be original.

Historical information

The O.S. Memoirs describes the building “The Seceders’ meeting house is prettily situated in Hammond Street, (Circular Road) on the east side of the town. It is a very neat but plain building, stone finished, 61 feet long and 40 feet wide, neatly fitted up internally and containing accommodation for 300 persons. It was erected in 1831 at an expense of 800 pounds, of which 250 pounds was contributed by the Drapers Company and the remainder by subscription”. It is no longer referred to as the Seceders, now referred to as the Second Presbyterian Church and services takee place every second Sunday rotating with the First in Stonard Street. Curl suggests that “Booth appears to have had some say in the appearance of the main front”. The church gained its projecting porch some time prior to 1970 and probably the exterior was rendered at the same time. A new hall has been erected to the rear of the church building. The metal windows on the S side were replaced to match original.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1832 Londonderry sh. 46.
2. O.S. Map 1832 Rev. 1856 Londonderry sh. 46.
3. O.S. Map 1906 Rev. 1875 Londonderry 109-5
4. O.S. Memoirs, Parishes of Co Londonderry XI, 1821, 1833, 1836-7 p. 38.
Ed by Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams Q.U.B.
5. Curl J.S. Moneymore and Draperstown UAHS p. 34, 35, 43, 48, 68.
6. Curl J.S. The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914 p. 205, 206
7. Notes, 1st Survey, E.H.S. Hill Street, Belfast

Secondary Sources
1. Lewis, Topographical History of Ireland p. 388
2. Rowan A, North West Ulster, Buildings of Ireland p. 424

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

An externally dull pedimented Presbyterian hall church but with a pleasing nave interior with good fittings and box pews. Contemporary with the erection of the pair of semi-detached houses in Circular Road and part of the Draper’s Company plans for the improvement of Moneymore. Forms a good vista from Market Street.