Kilhorne Church (C of I)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Barn church with later chancel, tower and vestry. Aligned north-east to south-west, with tower abutting southern gable and vestry at north-east corner, abutting chancel. The roof of the main body of the church is coped and gabled with natural slate (with vents on the seaward side) and has modern metal rainwater goods.

The south west (entrance) elevation is abutted by the tower, there is a small lancet window to either side. The main entrance, which has a Gothic head, is in the centre of its south-west facing wall of the tower.

The tower is of square cross section and three stages high; each stage is delineated by a projecting string course. The walls are cement rendered over a projecting base; the quoins and openings are trimmed with finely dressed granite. All these ground floor openings have chamfered jambs with hood moulds above. The first stage has three slit openings at front with clock face above; to left are two slit openings and second clock face; the seaward face is plain. The second stage has a tall lancet louvred opening and stepped jambs on all four sides. The roof has a crenellated parapet over a projecting coping with pyramidal corner pinnacles.

The north-west and south-east elevations are of coursed and squared granite rubble, strap pointed and with some snecking. They have projecting eaves courses and finely dressed raised and stepped quoins. There are four tall lancet windows to each elevation, the reveals of which are of chamfered with hood moulds over (all finely dressed). The windows have bottom hung openings; they are leaded with plain glass and inset coloured panels. In the centre of the north-west wall is a cartouche bearing the date 1840.

The north-east elevation is abutted by the chancel. The chancel roof is similar to the nave, but lower. Its north-west elevation (left elevation from front) has two small lancet windows; those to south-east elevation are now blocked by the vestry. The chancel gable has a large tripartite lancet window with geometric tracery in the spandrel above. The glass is coloured and painted with repetitive geometric patterns of Gothic leaves with an oak leaf and acorn background.

The vestry is a lean-to extension which abuts the chancel and nave in the eastern corner. It has a shallow pitched roof. There is a large modern picture window to its north-east facing gable. The right wall is blank and there is a Gothic door to south-west gable. The walls are dashed and the openings trimmed with granite.

Immediately south-east of the church is a graveyard which contains slate memorials dating from the 1840s. The church, graveyard and approach from the main road are all delineated by drystone granite walls. To the south-west of the church is a large modern church hall. The gateposts to Kilkeel Road are granite; a plaque notes that they were erected as a memorial to the Earl and Countess of Kilmorey. The actual gates are modern galvanised steel replacements

Historical information

Church erected 1840. Chancel added in 1883, tower in 1889, and vestry in 1972.

A photograph inside the church shows that, prior to the erection of the tower, there was a projecting gabled porch on the south-west gable of the church. Above it, on the main gable was a clock and apex bellcote. The detailing of this porch suggests that it was incorporated into the tower.

The church was financed by Lord Kilmorey and the candelabra was also a gift from him (for much of this century it was painted black and hung in the roof at the rear of the church; it was only in 1960s that it was electrified and placed in its present prominent position). The chancel is dedicated to the memory of his wife and son, as are the gate piers.

Primary Sources:
1. Datestones in church.
2. Information from parishioner.
3. Photograph in church.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

This is a simple well proportioned mid-19th century church with later 19th century additions. Its detailing and ornamentation are attractive and of high quality. Much of the interior has remained virtually unchanged since the turn of the century. The boundary walls, graveyard and distance from other buildings on Kilkeel Road give it an attractive landscape setting. Its close association with Lord Kilmorey lends added local and social interest.