St Mary’s Church (RC)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey gabled barn church aligned north-south, with projecting chancel at south end. Nave has coped and gabled slate roof with fretted terracotta ridge tiles and Celtic cross at both ends. The chancel roof is similar but lower and also has a cross at gable apex.The walls (probably granite rubble) are of lined cement render with raised decorative quoins and a projecting eaves course.

The church is entered through a gabled and slated porch on the north gable. Above this porch, in the apex, is a stained glass lancet window with Y (timber) tracery and hood mould. The nave has six Gothic headed windows on each side (with rectangular leaded panes with some simple colour detailing). These are embellished with stringing at spring level, which continues around their heads as hood moulds.

Blind lancet window on east elevation of chancel and larger lancet window on south gable with Y (timber) tracery and coloured glass.

A date plaque on the road-facing elevation states: ‘Elegi Locum Isum Mihi In Domium Sacrificit AD 1832’.

At nave – chancel junction on west elevation are several single-storey slated extensions, all with modern windows.

Historical information

Datestone gives a date of 1832. The windows also seem to have been remodelled and bear no resemblance to the small diamond panes described in the UAHS description of 1975.

Primary Sources:
1. Datestone on church.

Secondary
1. P. Rankin, 'The Mourne area of South Down' (UAHS 1975)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

The roof would appear to be modern (vents on its west side and style of trusses). The windows also seem to have been remodelled and bear no resemblance to the small diamond panes described in the UAHS description of 1975 ('The Mourne Area of South Down). The modern interior has been constructed to a high specification but with so little of the original structural fabric remaining, it is difficult to justify its continued listing.