Aghadrumsee C. of I. church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An early 19thC barn church with three-stage tower to S and projecting chancel to N, set in a churchyard and aligned N-S at the E side of Aghadrumsee & Killygorman Townland.

Pitched natural slate roof with advanced stone eaves and plain eaves board to N gable. Half-round metal rainwater goods. Walls are harled over a cement-rendered basecourse. All windows are lattice glazed and are set in splayed chamfered reveals with hood-moulds and chamfered stone cills (unless otherwise stated).

S gable is abutted to centre by the tower (see later). The exposed right side has a squat lancet window with two narrow timber mullions set below eaves level. The left side extends slightly to include a stairwell (providing access to upper stages of tower) and contains a tall central lancet window to S.

The tower consists of three stages and has a battlemented parapet with tall pointed finial to each corner. Each stage is slightly instepped from the one below and delineated by a stringcourse. (The second stage is considerably shorter and the third stage is free standing.) First stage contains the entrance door to E. It consists of a double-leaf timber sheeted door with strap-hinges and fixed Gothic-headed tympanum over, all set in a sweeping splayed chamfered reveal and accessed by three stone steps. Above is a stone shield bearing the inscription ‘To / the Glory of God / A. D. 1820’. S face has a lancet with cusped head. First and second stages are almost completely abutted by the stairwell to W. Exposed E and S faces of the second stage each have a pair of small squat fixed lancets with central sandstone mullion, set in a splayed square reveal. The third stage has a louvred lancet to each face.

E elevation is three Y-traceried lancets wide.

N gable is abutted by a lower chancel, which projects slightly and is detailed as church. The exposed section is blank. N face of chancel has a metal-framed stained glass lancet window with two narrow horizontal bars and set to centre. Right and left cheeks are blank.

W elevation has is abutted to N end by a vestry, and to S end by a boiler house. Exposed section is blank. The vestry has a hipped artificial slate roof. Walls are dressed stone laid in irregular courses. N and W elevations each have a Tudor headed metal-framed window set in a stepped stone reveal. S elevation contains a Tudor-headed t+g-sheeted door with heavy cast-iron lock and door-pull. Boiler house is detailed as church with a monopitched artificial slate roof. To left is a tall harled chimney, which rises up the wall of the church and above eaves level. N face has a 6/6 sliding sash window with horns and stone cill. W face is blank. S face has a modern timber sheeted door set at right.

Setting:
The church is set in a churchyard containing a number of 19thC and 20thC memorials. It is enclosed from the road by a high rubble stone wall, and accessed by a pair of cast-iron gates.

Historical information

Erected 1816. Cited on 1834 OS 6” map. Restored 1875-78. Bell dates from 1899. Church restored once again in 1920.

Primary sources:
1. OS Memoir, Clones Parish, Co Fermanagh (1834).
2. OS map, 1st edition, 1834, Co Fermanagh 35.

Secondary sources:
1. A. Rowan, ‘North West Ulster’ (Harmondsworth, 1979), p.479.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

An early 19thC barn church with tower and projecting chancel, set in a churchyard and enclosed to road by a high rubble stone wall with a pair of cast-iron gates.