Ardstraw Presbyterian Church, Deerpark Road, Ardstraw, Newtownstewart BT78 4LL

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Free-standing gable-fronted double-height stone church, dated 1862. Five bays deep, rectangular on plan, facing east set back on the west side of Deerpark Road surrounded by bitmac car park with a gabled community hall to the south, built 1978.

Pitched artificial slate roof with synthetic ridge tiles, felt-covered verges to either end and replacement steel rainwater goods to projecting rendered eaves course. Random coursed squared rough-hewn sandstone walling with chamfered sandstone ashlar to plinth and openings. Pointed-arched window openings formed in chamfered ashlar stone with keystones, stone sills and Y-tracery masonry window frames with single transom, cast-iron quarry glazing, coloured glass margin lights and weather glazing.

Front gabled elevation is three windows wide having a moulded cement cornice below the verge with a Lombardy frieze below. Coursed rubblestone walling with cement pointing, rusticated stone quoins, projecting stone plinth course and a large roundel plaque stating…'Founded.Before, 1656, Rebuilt.In, 1863'. A central pointed-arched door opening has a cut stone deeply splayed moulded reveals with keystone and replacement double-leaf vertically-sheeted hardwood doors with leaded coloured glass overlight. The entrance is flanked by pair of windows with a further window above, (as per above).

South nave elevation is five windows wide with cement rendered eaves course, rough-cast rendered walling, rusticated stone quoins and stone plinth course. The windows are detailed as above with an impost moulding spanning the elevation.

Gabled rear elevation is abutted by a flat-roofed extension with a pair of truncated lancet windows above and pair of vents to the roof space. Rough-cast rendered walling with rusticated stone quoins.

North nave elevation, as per south elevation.

Bitmac surface covers entire site enclosed to road by replacement concrete wall and steel gates. A further pointed-arched pedestrian entrance is located to the west set into a rendered wall filling a gap in the terraced houses of Carnkenny Road.

Roof Fibre cement slate
Walling Random coursed squared rough-hewn sandstone and ashlar
Windows Pointed-arched with Y-tracery and quarry glazing
Rainwater goods Replacement metal

Historical information

A Presbyterian Meeting House has been present in Ardstraw since at least 1695, according to the church website. Ardstraw and Urney were the first two Presbyterian Churches in the area, although the date of Ardstraw’s founding is uncertain. Ardstraw itself is an ancient religious site. A monastery was founded here in the 6th century and in the early thirteenth century it was the head of a diocese, later united with Derry. The ancient burial ground is still in existence, close to the present church.

The current building was constructed in 1862, during the ministry of Rev. Leslie Lyle, on the site of the previous meeting house. The church was renovated extensively in 1956, the late 1970s and in 2006. (www.arstrawpresbyterian.org, Gebbie, p.110).

A ‘Meeting House’ is captioned on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1833. The current building is captioned on the third edition (1905) as a Presbyterian church.

The previous building is listed in the Townland Valuation (1828-40) as a Presbyterian Meeting House and yard valued at £7.8s. Griffith’s Valuation of 1859 records it at a valuation of £12.15s and 5s for the land. The lessor is the Rev. Matthew Clarke (Minister 1821-61). Annual revisions do not reflect the building of the new church.

It is not until much later in 1934 that the valuation of the church is increased to £60. At this time the occupiers are the Trustees of Ardstraw Presbyterian Church in fee. There is seating accommodation for 580 approximately including seating in the gallery. The average congregation on a Sunday is 150. It has central heating and the valuer describes it as a ‘very fine church’. He also comments, ‘hall over stables disused. Room in Black’s house used by committee’. A plan and dimensions are given for the church and vestry, a stable and disused hall to the south west and an open store to the north. There is a heating chamber below the vestry.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/17/1 – First Edition OS Map (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/17/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1854)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/17/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1905)
4. PRONI OS/6/6/17/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1936)
5. PRONI VAL/1/A/6/17 – Townland Valuation Map
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/637A – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/17 – Griffiths’ Valuation Map
8. PRONI Printed Griffith’s Valuation, Union of Strabane (1859)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/42/12A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1924)
10. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/10J/1 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This austere mid-Victorian gable-fronted presbyterian church is has had a major refurbishment resulting in a new roof and ceiling but retains its fenestration and outward appearance. Renovation works have also lead to the loss of much internal joinery and the front door, however the original gallery and its pews survive and together with the impressive semi-circular pulpit allude to the original overall scheme and its quality. These internal alterations detract from the buildings architectural interest as does the loss of the original softer landscaping.