Clogherny Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Attached double-height Presbyterian Church, dated 1902; located to the west side of Church Road, Beragh. Rectangular-on-plan single-cell church; single-storey extension at west connecting church to hall at south.

Roofs are pitched natural slate; crested blue/black clay ridge tiles; corbelled eaves supporting replacement aluminium ogee-profile rainwater goods; octagonal copper lantern at centre or ridge. Walls are ruled-and-lined rendered with projecting plinth (principal east elevation is brick laid in stretcher bond). Windows are Gothic with leaded stained glass within plain surrounds and projecting masonry cills unless otherwise stated.

Principal elevation faces east; central entrance supported on two crocketed piers supporting plain frieze on square base surmounted by round-arched window with stained glass and concrete stepped voussoirs over. Flanked by plaque and square-headed stained-glass window at each side with stained glass and flat pediment over; plaque at left reads, ‘THIS CHURCH WAS ERECTED/ DURING THE MINISTRY OF/ REVD. THOMAS MARTIN. B.A./ A.D. 1902.’ Plaque at right reads, ‘THIS STONE WAS LAID BY/ LADY JOHNSTON/ WIFE OF/ SIR JOHN B. JOHNSTON/ 24TH OCTOBER 1901.’ Pedimented gable supported on four brick pilasters; tympanum containing central date plaque which reads, ‘1963’. Gabled bell-cote to apex with no bell. Entrance comprises replacement double-leaf timber panelled entrance door accessed by central steps flanked by paved ramp to each side with cast-metal handrail.

South elevation is six windows wide.

West gable is abutted by single-storey-over-basement pitched extension (later); west gable contains two timber casement windows; left cheek is abutted by concrete stair giving access to entrance at basement. Right cheek is blank; right re-entrant angle is abutted (to west gable) by single-storey lean-to extension of no interest. Lean-to extension connected to church hall at south.

North elevation is detailed as south.

Memorial hall at south is constructed to similar proportion and is of no interest.

Setting

Set in a rural landscape on the junction of Church Road and Rock Road; vehicular access directly in front of principal entrance comprises cast-iron gate supported on original painted cast-iron piers. Site bound at east and north by hedging. Secondary entrance at south accessing hall is of no interest. Graveyard at west containing range of mid- late-nineteenth century grave markers.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Ruled-and-lined render (principal east elevation is brick)
Windows leaded stained glass
RWG aluminium

Historical information

The current church is first shown on the third edition OS map of 1906, captioned ‘Presbyterian Church’. An earlier ‘meeting house’ is shown on the first edition OS map of 1833. The church is dated 1902 (foundation stone 1901) and 1963, the latter date appearing to refer to a rebuilding of the façade, which, however, retains some of the detailing, such as pillars and stained glass, from the earlier façade of 1902.

The Townland Valuation records a ‘Presbyterian Meeting House & yard’, valued at £4.15s. This earlier building is also described in OS Memoirs (p.25). Griffith’s Valuation values the church at £4, the occupier is the Rev. Joseph McCaskey, and the site is leased from Lord Belmore. No significant changes are recorded in the Valuation Revisions.

Valuations from the 1930s record a ‘Presbyterian meeting house and churchyard’. The occupiers are the Trustees of Dervaghroy Presbyterian Church, and the valuation is £4.10s, which is revised to £57 at a date not given. This revaluation reflects the rebuilding of the church in 1902. It was surveyed in 1934, and measurements are given in the fieldbook for the church and porch. There is accommodation for about 300 and the estimated cost of building is given to be £1911.

Dougherty states that a new church was built in 1902 replacing one of 1776 (p.16). The congregational history notes, “Mr Thomas Martin of Anahilt who was ordained on 17 December 1897…saw the new church opened in 1902 before his own death on 28 August 1904.” (p.306)

The church bears a datestone inscribed 'THIS CHURCH WAS ERECTED/ DURING THE MINISTRY OF/ REVD. THOMAS MARTIN. B.A./ A.D. 1902.’ Plaque at right reads, ‘THIS STONE WAS LAID BY/ LADY JOHNSTON/ WIFE OF/ SIR JOHN B. JOHNSTON/ 24TH OCTOBER 1901. A further datestone on the east elevation bears the date 1963, which may indicate a major renovation or rebuilding of the church.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/43/1-4 - Ordnance Survey Maps (1833, 1854, 1906, 1936-8)
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/627 - Townland Valuation (1820-1840)
3. PRONI VAL/2/B/6/29 - Griffith’s Valuation (1858)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/23A-F - Valuation Revisions (1860-1929)
5. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/8K/2 - Valuers Binders (1835-36)

Secondary Sources

1. Dougherty, R. “Historical notes on the parish of Clougherny”, Newton Publishing Company.
2. Day, A. and P. McWilliams, eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Tyrone II, 1825, 1833-5, 1840, Vol. 20.” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1990.
3. “A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1610-1982” authorised by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Belfast: Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, 1982

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Attached double-height Presbyterian Church dated 1902; located to the west side of Church Road, Beragh. The church is plainly detailed with traditional characteristics in the east elevation, which containsa pedimented gable supported on brick pilasters, and original stained glass windows. It is an unusual example of the type and worthy of some consideration, however, it is of a late date and not one of the best examples of the type.