Castlederg Methodist Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Free-standing double-height rendered church, built c.1870. Rectangular on plan facing west, on the east side of The Diamond, set back from the building line of the neighbouring buildings with an enclosed front lawn and a lean-to entrance porch to its north gable.

Pitched fibre cement slate roof, black clay ridge tiles, cement verges and replacement metal rainwater goods on timber fascia. Painted pebble dash rendered walling. Pointed-headed lancet window openings with hood mouldings, painted sills and replacement hardwood window frames with Art Nouveau-style leaded glazing.

Four-bay west nave elevation with principal entrance to left, occupying lean-to entrance porch behind parapet wall with cement coping. Pointed-headed door opening with hood moulding and replacement double-leaf hardwood door and leaded overlight.

Rear east elevation has only two lancet windows and is abutted by single-storey extension to the north end.

The south gable has two lancet windows (as per above).

Front entrance opens onto cobbled footpath to front lawn, enclosed to the street by a low rendered wall with coping and cast-iron railing, matching cast-iron pedestrian gate on pair of octagonal masonry posts.

Roof Fibre cement slate
Walling Pebble dash render
Windows Replacement leaded
Rainwater goods Replacement metal

Historical information

A ‘Methodist Meeting House’ first appears on the second edition OS map of 1855, but was rebuilt c.1870.

Griffith’s Valuation lists a ‘Wesleyan Methodist Meeting House and Yard’ leased from Sir Robert A Ferguson Bt and valued at £10. Post 1860 the lessor is revised to John G Smyly (undated change).

By 1934 the occupiers are the Trustees of Castlederg Wesleyan Methodist Church and they lease the building from Cecil F Smyly. The valuation is amended to £25 (undated change), which may be a very belated reflection of the rebuild in 1871. The frontage is 48 feet and there is seating accommodation for about 140. The average Sunday congregation at this time is 50 in the morning and 12-15 in the evening. A plan and dimensions of the meeting house, porch and heating chamber and fuel store is given.

In a history of Methodism in Ireland, Cole states that the meeting house in Castlederg was built in 1871.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/16/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1855)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/16/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1905)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/16/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1939)
4. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/16 – Griffiths’ Valuation Map
5. PRONI Printed Griffith’s Valuation, Union of Castlederg (1859)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/35/6A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1924)
7. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/1D/4 – Valuers’ RV Binders (1933-57)

Secondary Sources

1. Cole, R. L. “History of Methodism in Ireland, Volume IV” Belfast: Irish Methodist Publishing Co Ltd, 1960.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This simple rectangular Methodist church from 1870 has been refurbished twice during the twentieth-century with the loss of much original fabric. However, the façade composition remains intact and presents an attractive element on the town's main public space, with the railed front lawn adding considerable charm to the streetscape of the Diamond. The alterations have lowered its architectural interest.

General comments

HB10/LQ024