Clogherny Parish Church (C of I) (St.Patrick's)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached double-height Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland, built c.1780, located to the north side of Church Road, Beragh. Rectangular-on-plan with chancel to east, built c. 1855; two-stage bell tower with crenellated parapet to west, built c.1794; single-storey vestry with pitched roof to north.

Roofs are pitched natural slate with blue/black clay ridge tiles; flat stone verges supported on cavetto moulded kneelers; square rendered chimney to east gable. Corbelled eaves course supporting half-round cast-iron rainwater goods. Walls are uncoursed random rubble; windows are paired gothic containing leaded lattice glazing divided by single chamfered mullion within stepped stugged finish chamfered stone surrounds, unless otherwise stated.

Principal elevation faces west and is abutted to centre by two-stage tower with crenellated parapet; exposed section to right is blank, with continuous eaves course; exposed section to left is abutted by double-height lean-to extension.

Two-stage-tower; first-stage south elevation contains principal entrance comprising a gothic opening with square headed timber sheeted doors and fanlight over with replacement etched glazing, contained within chamfered sandstone surround; west elevation is blank; north elevation is abutted by double-height lean-to extension (containing stair to organ gallery). Second-stage contains central pointed-arched-headed timber louvred belfry opening to each face; surmounted by cavetto string course and crenellated parapet.

Extension north elevation contains square-headed chamfered sandstone surround containing timber-sheeted door with decorative ironmongery intact including strap-hinges and handle; accessed by two stugged finish stone steps; single window to west elevation.

North (nave) elevation is abutted to left by single-storey vestry with pitched roof; exposed section is blank.

Vestry is detailed as nave with roughly coursed random rubble walling; accessed at west elevation through shouldered segmental-pointed opening containing timber-sheeted door with decorative ironmongery intact including strap-hinges and handle. North gable contains single window; east elevation is abutted to left by basement-level lean-to boiler house; exposed section contains dipartite window.

East gable contains central tripartite lancet chancel window with leaded stained-glass (added 1875); within flush roughly stepped stugged finish sandstone surrounds with rubble voussoirs over. Left cheek is blank; right cheek is abutted by basement-level lean-to boiler house; exposed section is blank.

Basement boiler house is almost entirely below ground level; Roof is natural slate; walls are ruled-and-lined rendered; square headed timber-sheeted door at east accessed by masonry steps.

South (nave) elevation contains three paired windows; lattice glazed quatrefoil at left; wall-head dormer with stone verges to right containing single lattice glazed window.

Setting

Set on elevated site within churchyard to the west of Beragh. Bounded to road at south by uncoursed random rubble walling; accessed through square ruled-and-lined rendered piers with pyramidal caps supporting replacement metal gates with a lantern-arch over. Graveyard to all sides; early-eighteenth century grave markers located to south of church, (most moved from original locations and now rested against south boundary wall). Two rubble stone structures to north-west of churchyard, possibly remains of large vaults or earlier churches. Contemporary church hall to south-west outside church boundary wall with original stone mounting block.

Roof Naturalte
Walls stone
Windows stained glass
RWG Casiron /some UPVC

Historical information

The Church is captioned on the first edition OS Map of 1833. On the third edition map of 1906 it is captioned ‘St Patrick’s Church’ and ‘Grave Yard (disused)’. In the Townland Valuation Records it is listed as Protestant Church, offices and graveyard valued at £8.3.0. Griffith’s values the church at £12.0.0 and the graveyard at £0.15.0 and this continues to be the value throughout the Annual Revision Records.

The OS Memoirs contain the comment; “The parish church is a modern building situated in the glebe not far from the rector’s house. It is generally well attended…and could hold 280 persons.” (p.25)

Rowan comments; “Reputedly on the site of a 13th century church burnt in the Williamite wars and restored about 1691, the date of the Communion chalice that is inscribed ‘Teampul mael na Cloighearnach’. The present church, incorporating the side walls of the old one, was built in 1746 by the Rev Richard Dobbs. The gallery was added by John Lowry in 1775 and the tower by James Lowry, who succeeded his father as rector, in 1794. In 1855 the nave was extended, a new chancel built, and paired stone lancets fitted throughout by William Fullerton, the diocesan architect. Modest interior with exposed trusses and rafters. Stained glass E window in memory of James Lowry, 1875; seven small scenes in vesica-shaped frames by Hardman & Co. Monument. George Perry 1703. A slab carved with a skull and crossbones and a free coat of arms.” (p.146-7)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/43/1-3 – Ordnance Survey Maps (1833, 1854, 1906)
2. PRONI VAL/1/A/6/43 – Townland Valuation Map
3. PRONI VAL/1/B/626/B – Townland Valuation Records (1828-40)
4. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/35/B-C – Griffith’s Valuation Map
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/6/28 – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/4/A-G – Annual Revision Records (1860-1929)
7. Day, A and McWilliams, P eds. ‘OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Tyrone II, 1825, 1833-5, 1840, Vol 20’ Institute of Irish Studies, 1990

Secondary Sources

1. Rowan, A ‘The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster’, Penguin Books, 19799

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Detached double-height barn-style Church of Ireland of considerable antiquity, originating c.1745 and with additions dating from 1775, 1794 and 1855. The church is simply detailed with the crenellated tower and gothic windows in stepped chamfered stone surrounds. A well preserved and intact interior including an early eighteenth-century wall memorial contributes to the historic character of the church. It is located in an historic churchyard with a good range of memorials. Surviving from an early date and demonstrating a range of historical development, it is an important building in architectural and historic terms.