Methodist Church,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A double-height single-cell Methodist church, built c.1860, located on the north side of Craigavon Road, Fintona. The church is simple rectangular-on-plan accessed through a central gabled entrance porch; attached hall at west built c. 1890, extended to north by single-storey flat-roof extension built c.1990.

Pitched natural slate roof, angled clay ridge tiles, stone finial to south gable. Stone verges, replacement ogee profile uPVC rainwater goods supported on corbel table. Walling is ruled-and-lined render with exposed stepped stone quoins, window dressings and projecting plinth unless otherwise stated. Windows are pointed-arched-headed diamond lattice lancets with stepped stone quoins and flush splayed stone cills.

Principal road-facing elevation faces south and is abutted at centre by single-storey gabled entrance porch, flanked by window at each side, paired windows over, diminished in height. Porch is detailed as nave with exposed squared-and-snecked rubble stone. South gable contains double-leaf pointed-arched-headed timber sheeted doors withing stepped stone surround and accessed via single masonry step. Single window to each cheek containing leaded stained glass.

Left (west) elevation is abutted at left by (slightly lower) hall, built c. 1890. Exposed section at right contains two windows.

Rear (north) gable contains two windows.

Right (east) elevation is three windows wide.

Hall has artificial slate roof, blue/black clay ridge tiles, replacement uPVC eaves boards and rainwater goods (some cast-iron downpipes remaining). Walling is exposed roughly coursed squared-and-snecked rubble stone with boast mortar and splayed plinth. Windows are detailed as nave. Entrance is located at south, replacement timber sheeted door at right contained within what may have been an earlier paired window opening (two small paired windows located above existing door). Paired windows at left. West gable contains two windows. North elevation is abutted entirely by a single-storey flat-roof extension.

North extension built c.1990 is of no interest.

The church currently has two entrances, that at north gives access to the rear of the church and the adjacent manse; a second independent access is located at the south of the church; access via replacement mild-steel gates and railing on rendered plinth wall.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Ruled-and-lined render
Windows Pointed-arched lancets
Rainwater goods UPVC

Historical information

The ‘Methodist church’ first appears on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1905-6. A ‘Manse’ is also captioned nearby. The church was built in 1863 and extended in 1893.

An undated addition is made to the Annual revisions fieldbook dating from 1860-63 identifying the ‘Site of Wesleyan Methodist meeting house’. In the subsequent fieldbook, dating from 1864-76, this entry is altered to make it clear that the building is now in existence and it is valued at £14 for the building and £1 for land. A Manse is inserted in the fieldbook dating from 1882-96, valued at £13. The previous meeting house on another site in Fintona is deleted in 1907.

In 1934 the Trustees of Fintona Methodist Church are the owners in fee. The building valuation is subsequently raised to £35 (undated change), reflecting the extension of the building many years before. It has seating accommodation for 207 and electric light. A plan and dimensions are given for the church, porch, church hall and boiler house. All is of coursed rubble masonry and slate.

A local history pamphlet states that Methodism was first introduced to Fintona in 1775 when Methodist preachers from Enniskillen visited the town. Later the Church of Ireland rector invited Mr Jeremiah Brettel to preach in Fintona parish church. “A circuit was then created in Fintona which consisted of three congregations, Cavan Primitive (1820), Fintona Primitive (1828) and Fintona Wesleyan (1863)…Fintona Primitive church was built in 1828, mainly through the efforts of James Robinson, a Primitive Methodist Local Preacher of Fintona, who emigrated to Australia shortly after the church was opened. This church seated 120 people, but no trace of it now remains.” (p.27)

It should be noted that OS Memoirs make reference to a Wesleyan Methodist meeting house in Fintona holding 250 people. (p.69)

“The present church in Fintona was constructed in 1863. The original cost of construction is not known but in the earliest surviving circuit schedule book for Fintona (1880) it is valued at £400, and seated 150 people. In 1882 it was decided…to amalgamate the two Fintona churches and close the Cavan church which was at that time in very poor repair…In 1878 Fintona was transferred from the Londonderry District to the Enniskillen District and in the latter part of the century had around 300 members. In 1893 the church was extended by the addition of a new transept costing £300 to house Sunday Schools, prayer meetings and also to provide 100 additional seats for the increase in the congregation.” (p.27)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/51/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1906
2. PRONI OS/6/6/51/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1938
3. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/23A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1929)
4. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/8Q/4 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)
5. Day, A. and P. McWilliams, eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Tyrone I, 1821, 1823, 1833-36, Vol. 5.” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1990.

Secondary Sources

Fintona Development Association, “Fintona and the Rare Oul’ Times” (undated)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An early Methodist church constructed in a simple vernacular style and well-maintained to present an early aspect with most original fabric remaining intact. Although in some need of decorative attention, the interior is well preserved with original timber sheeted ceiling to the adjoining hall. This is an appealing building of considerable charm, which has long been the focus of the Methodist Church community.

General comments

The Methodist Church, Craigavon Road, Fintona is not deemed to meet the criteria required to be worthy of a full survey. (Duplicate of HB11/02/003)
New Listing Submitted in Submission 5 as D1. Also submitted in submission 5 as dummy record Hb11/02/003, as site had been duplicated in first survey.