Holy Trinity Church (C of I)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached double-height Church of Ireland church, built c.1843, located to the south side of Drumnakilly Road. Church consists of cruciform nave with chancel to east; transept to north and south; gabled porch to north; vestry to south.

Roofs are pitched natural slate with blue/black clay ridge tiles; corbelled stone verges with stepped horizontal ends supported on ovolo skew-corbels. Replacement half-round profile aluminium rainwater goods throughout, supported on corbelled course. Walls are uncoursed random rubble stone with droved ashlar finish sandstone dressings over projecting chamfered rubble stone plinth. Lancet windows are with leaded lattice glazing in droved finish sandstone surrounds with splayed projecting sandstone cills unless otherwise stated.

Principal (nave) elevation faces north and is abutted at left by double-height gabled transept; exposed section at right contains three windows. Transept north gable is detailed as nave with diagonal buttresses with off
setting and plinth; square-plan stone finial on corbelled stone base with quatrefoil panel, stop-chamfered shaft and cross-gable detail. North gable is abutted at centre by single-storey gabled entrance porch; exposed section contains central quatrefoil window to apex; single window to each cheek (window to east cheek has hoodmould with moulded label-stops). Porch gable contains a single window; entrance at right cheek; single window to left (diminished). Entrance through Tudor arched opening with stop-chamfered stone surround containing square-headed timber panelled door with fixed timber Tudor arched panel above.

Chancel is detailed as nave with diagonal buttresses, offsetting and plinth; beaded finial on octagonal plinth to apex. East gable contains central Tudor arched painted timber lattice-glazed Intersecting-tracery window in plain droved finish sandstone surround with hoodmould and moulded label-stops. Blank quatrefoil to apex; left and right cheek blank.

South (nave) elevation is abutted at right by double-height gabled transept; exposed section at left contains three windows. South transept is detailed as north transept. South gable is abutted at centre by single-storey gabled vestry. Vestry south gable contains single window; left cheek is blank (masonry steps lead to basement level boiler house); right cheek contains entrance through Tudor arched opening with stop-chamfered stone surround containing double-leaf square-headed timber panelled door with fixed timber Tudor arched panel above; accessed by single stone step.

West (nave) gable is detailed as nave with diagonal buttresses, offsetting and plinth; Bell-cote to apex with gothic opening and bell intact. Central Tudor arched painted timber lattice-glazed Intersecting-tracery window in plain droved ashlar finish sandstone surround; surmounted by quatrefoil window to apex.

Setting

Church is located in a rural setting in churchyard including car park to north and graveyard to south and east. Bounded to Drumnakilly Road by timber fence; accessed through curved cast-iron railings on plinth wall; tall square-profile painted masonry piers with pyramidal caps supporting original cast-iron gates.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Stone
Windows: Leaded lattice
RWG: Replacement aluminium

Historical information

The church is first shown on the second edition OS map of 1854 together with the burial ground.

Griffith’s Valuation of 1858 records the ‘Church and graveyard’ under exemptions The building valuation is £14 and the lessor is revised from the representatives of Alex Causland to the Irish Law Commission in 1905.

The diocesan history, describes how ‘the parish of Drumnakilly was carved out of the great parish of Termonmaguirke. The parish church was built by subscription in 1843, on a site granted by the late Alexander McCausland Esq., and dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It was consecrated by Primate Lord John George Beresford, on 21st Nov 1843’. The church is cruciform in shape, and apparently ‘…shortly after it was built, was enlarged by lengthening the nave to its present size. It was at first a chapel of ease to the Parish Church, but later a district was annexed and formed into what was then called a perpetual curacy’. (Fleming, 2001).

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/36/1 -First Edition OS Map (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/36/2 -Second Edition OS Map (1854)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/36/3 -Third Edition OS Map (1905-6)
4. PRONI VAL/12/D/6/36D -Valuation Revisions (1896-1918)
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/17A-F -Valuation Revisions (1860-1923)

Secondary Sources:

1. Fleming, Rev. W.E.C (M.A) Armagh Clergy 1800-2000. 2001

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Detached double-height Church of Ireland church, built c.1843. The main body of the church is simply detailed embellished with diagonal buttresses, finials and bell-cote. The original interior survives and the steel trusses are of note, although crude in execution. This is a good and robust example of a rural church in its original graveyard setting.