St John's Roman Catholic Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A church in Gothic Revival style comprising a nave and chancel with projecting entrance porch. Main entrance faces approximately west.

Roofs slated, with stone crosses to apexes of main gables. Walls rendered, dry dash, with smooth rendered dressings, quoins, and plinth. Small plaque on entrance gable, inscribed "Built 1826 Rebuilt 1914". Later gabled porch projecting on entrance front has elliptical archway containing a pair of timber boarded doors. Porch flanked each side by two Gothic arched 2-light windows, and surmounted by a large Gothic arched 3-light window. Similar Gothic arched windows to side elevations, 3 to the south side and 2 to the north side. Three-light Gothic window to east gable. Lean-to roofed vestry and sacristy to each side of chancel and later modern projecting canopy over doorway on north side.

SETTING: The building stands in a rural area facing the public road but set back within its own graveyard. Modern front boundary railings and gates.

Historical information

Originally built in 1826 and rebuilt in 1914 according to the inscription on the building. The original building, dated to 1829 according to the Ordnance Survey Memoirs in 1835-8, was described by that source as "a plain commodius building, affording standing room for 800 persons". Entrance porch added since 1979.

References – Primary Sources
1. Inscription on building.
2. OS Map 1834-5, Co Armagh 5.

Secondary Sources
1. Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Vol I: Parishes of County Armagh, 1835-8 (Belfast, 1990), p 120.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is an early 20th century rebuilding of an early 19th century church which is of no special architectural or historic interest.