Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A clay brick and rendered Roman Catholic church, dated 1937, located on the west side of Derry Road, Strabane. The church is rectangular on plan with two-storey vestry to west end; flat-roofed single-storey confessional outshots to either side and secondary single-storey porch to east.

Roof is pitch natural cement slate with angled ridge tiles. There is a raised lead-capped fractable to east gable with cross finial to apex with upright section of cross extending down to a stepped motif; terminating at either end with raised semi-circular kneelers also with stepped decoration. The west gable has raised cement rendered verges on moulded kneelers with plain cross finial. Rainwater goods are ogee cast-iron on moulded cornice, with decorative box hoppers to confessional outshots. Walling is Flemish bonded red brick to east gable with projecting V-channelled quoins, rendered plinth and moulded sill course. Remainder is painted ruled-and-lined rendered. Windows are round-headed leaded coloured glass with hood moulds and painted masonry sills, those to east gable with stepped rendered reveals.

East gable is dominated by two semi-circular plan projections, consisting of a canopy framing central entrance surmounted by a narrower statuary niche containing a plaster statue of the Sacred Heart. Each projection has a half-dome copper roof over a deep cornice; the entrance canopy also has a plain frieze and is supported on two rendered columns with half-engaged responds over two semi-circular concrete steps. Doors are double-leaf painted timber with bronze pull handles, each with four diamond-pointed panels. Entrance is flanked by circular windows in painted stepped surrounds to lower level; tall round-headed windows above; large marigold window to apex.

South elevation is seven windows wide, each window separated by two-stage rendered buttresses with decorative arcade motif and moulded quadrant offsets. The outshot is plainly detailed with deep roundel to south.

West gable is abutted by the two storey vestry; exposed section is blank. Roof is hipped natural slate with angled clay ridge and hip tiles; windows are 2/2 timber sashes with horns and plain reveals. Each elevation has a opening at each floor, including a four-panelled timber door with brass knob to left cheek; west elevation also has a basement door accessed by concrete steps.

North elevation is detailed as south, with additional flat-roofed single storey porch offset to right. Porch has double doors (as before) accessed by a concrete ramp.

Setting:
The church is set back from the road with tarmac forecourt and carpark; there is a churchyard to north containing twentieth century gravemarkers and separated by hedging. Access from the road is via a pair of ornate vehicular wrought-iron gates flanked by matching pedestrian gates supported on reconstituted stone gableted gate piers with brick panels, all contained in alcoved entrance bounded by brick plinth walls with cast-iron railings. Grass and hedge boundaries to north and south.

Roof: natural slate
Walling: Flemish bonded red brick / ruled-and-lined render
Windows: Round headed with modern stained glass; painted masonry sills
RWG: Ogee cast-iron

Historical information

This twentieth-century church built in the Romanesque style bears a date plaque of 1937 and is shown on the fourth edition of the OS map (1951). Strabane was noted for a number of Roman Catholic churches, boasting three by 1868 (Kennedy, p.39).

“While the inhabitants of Strabane were worshipping in a barn, the parishioners of Leckpatrick, had, from 1829, been going to Mass at Cloghcor, and from the 1840s, at the Workhouse situated on the Derry Road. Other churches had been built in other parts of that parish, at Cloghcor and Glenmornan, but the Catholics to the south of this parish were not catered for. The job of securing a house for worship fell to Father Kerlin, who dealt very capably with the problem of raising the necessary money. The church of the Sacred Heart was completed in 1939 and it was a structure of Romanesque style with three altars. The floor was of terrazzo and the seats were of pitch pine. On the front exterior there was a portico, supported by four pillars of hemispherical shape. The portico is surmounted with a finely sculptured statue of the Sacred Heart set in a niche.
”The church was dedicated on the feast of Christ the King, 29th October 1939, by the Lord Bishop of Derry, the Most Rev. Dr. Farren. Father Kerling received a very generous sum from the Bishop himself, another helpful subscription from Mr. John Devine and the collection in the parish the week prior to the dedication amounted to £2000. After the sermon he thanked his parishioners, announcing how grateful he was for their splendid cooperation and assistance. The Workhouse now ceased to be the place of worship and the Sacred Heart church became the third Catholic place of worship in the town” (Kennedy, p.43).

References:

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/6/4 –Fourth Edition OS Map (1951)

Secondary Sources
1. Kennedy, Michael G. “By the Banks of the Mourne: A History of Strabane.” Strabane, Co. Tyrone: Strabane Historical Society, 1996.
2. “The Sperrins: A Hidden Beauty.” Omagh: Tyrone Constitution, undated.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A brick and render Roman Catholic church dating from the 1930s and retaining most original detailing and fabric intact, both externally and internally. The church occupies a prominent urban setting, enhanced by a complementary gate screen, and dates from the early twentieth century development of Strabane which is evident on this stretch of road. The exterior is characterised by Romanesque and classical references enlivened with distinct twentieth century ornamentation. Like the exterior, the interior contains references to several architectural styles and these contribute positively to the buildings character. The church has social interest for the local community.