Edenderry Church (C of I)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached two-storey Church of Ireland church, built c.1850, located to the west wide of Crevenagh Road. Church consists of rectangular nave with chancel to east abutted at north by lean-to stairwell; single-storey gabled porch to west.

Roofs are pitched natural slate with raised stone verges; chimney stack to east and gabled bellcote with stepped weathering to west; cusped round-arched opening containing bronze bell. Walls are roughly coursed sandstone with ashlar quoins; projecting plinth where site slopes. Windows are pointed-arched-headed containing leaded stained glass in sandstone surrounds (secondary glazing to exterior); sandstone sills.

Principal gable faces west and is abutted by porch containing single window; gothic chamfered sandstone entrance openings to north and south each contain vertically sheeted timber entrance door with decorative cast-iron strap hinges.

North elevation is three windows wide.

East gable is abutted at centre by chancel; pair of windows containing lattice lights surmounted by Tudor-arched-headed tracery window with hood moulding; diagonal buttresses to corners; gothic vertically sheeted timber entrance door to south; small window containing lattice lights to north; abutted on right by stairwell; pair of windows containing lattice lights to north.

South elevation is three windows wide; window at left is original timber framed with Y-tracery.

Setting

Set within churchyard on elevated site, bounded to road at east by rubble retaining wall with access through pair of square rendered pillars supporting pair of cast-iron gates. Modern hall to south, built c.1980, within car park bounded to road by rendered walling; hedging to boundary at west.

Roof Natural slate
Walling sandstone
Windows stained glass
RWG Cast iron

Historical information

The church first appears on the second edition OS Map (1854) and is captioned ‘Church’ and ‘Grave Yard’. On the third edition map (1906) it is captioned ‘Edenderry Church’ and ‘Edenderry Rectory’ appears nearby. Griffith's Valuation values the church and yard at £8 15s 0d. In the Annual Revision Records it is valued throughout at £12 5s 0d. The nearby rectory first appears in the records in 1875 with Rev Henry Fawcett the incumbent until 1886 following which there are several changes of occupier.

Under the headline ‘Consecration of Edenderry Church’ The Tyrone Constitution of June 25th 1847 reads; “This church was consecrated on Wed 23rd inst by his grace the Lord Bishop of Derry and Raphoe as a chapel of ease to the parish church…This church affords accommodation to about 300 people…and has been erected by subscriptions, and among the chief contributors were the county members, the late Earl of Belmore (upon whose property it stands) and the worthy rector of the parish.”

Many improvements are noted in the parish history. In 1873 a new gate, piers and stone steps were erected by the parish, the chiselled stone caps for the piers being added by Capt T Auckinleck. The total cost amounted to £24.16.0. In 1876 a chancel of 16 ft by 17 ft was added, with vestry, furnace and store-room beneath it, alterations were made to the pulpit and prayer desk and new pews substituted for the old boxes. A doorway was opened in the north end of the porch and the south door was removed and replaced by a new door with Gothic arch. The outside of the building was pointed in cement and the old rough-cast removed. The bell-cote was also repaired. Mr Johnston Richardson of Omagh carried out the work at a cost of over £500. Part of the money was raised by Capt T Auckinleck. In 1903 the sanctuary walls were panelled in oak and in 1928 the oak panelling was continued to the front of the chancel. In 1917 the present organ was purchased by the efforts of the Rev. M. F. and Mrs Moriarty. In 1925 a prayer desk and pulpit were presented in memory of the Rev. M. Moriarty and in 1926 the present heating system was installed at a cost of £34 10s 0d (Law, p.16-17).

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/43/1-3 – Ordnance Survey Maps (1833, 1854, 1906)
2. PRONI VAL/2/B/6/28 – Griffiths Valuation (1856-64)
3. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/6/A-F – Valuation Revisions (1860-1923)
4. Tyrone Constitution, 25th June 1847

Secondary Sources

1. Law, Rev H I, ‘The Parish of Edenderry’, Tyrone Constitution Ltd, 1959

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A detached two-storey Church of Ireland church, built c.1850. The 1876 additions were built into the site, resulting in an unusual split level layout where vestry is located in the basement. Internal improvements, such as the panelling and 1925 pulpit, add to its interest and character. Sitting in its old graveyard, although it is later that others in the area, this is a good example of the small rural churches that are prevalent hereabouts.