St John's RC Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Mid 19th C cruciform-plan classically detailed church with early 20th C Baroque style tower, on east side of Castlewellan Road, outside Hilltown on east bank of River Bann.

Pitched natural slated cruciform roof with terracotta ridges and large box section gutters on the eaves cornice. N, W and S gables have a raised blocking course (over pediment) and are terminated with ashlar granite cross; E gable is plainer.

Front elevation is west facing and constructed in stugged ashlar granite blocks. Three modern granite steps rise to a modern entrance plinth that runs across the front of the building. It is paved in granite setts, has two modern bollard lamps and incorporates a flowerbed. To left and right at top of steps are modern polished granite bollards, which have incised crosses on each of their faces.

West elevation is divided into three equal bays by four advanced pilasters rising from a common advanced base course. They terminate in moulded Ionic capitals and support a three course ashlar frieze upon which rests a blank gabled pediment, which has a moulded architrave and raised gables. Main entrance is to central bay. A pair of horizontal sheeted door with similar sheeted transom are all set within a tapering eared granite architrave with plain frieze and advanced moulded cornice (Egyptian in style). Above doorway, between the pilasters is a blank recessed rectangular granite plaque.

Left and right bays of west gable are each identical. Both have a tall semicircular headed stained glass window with moulded granite architrave resting on a broad cill (c2 m high) which continues to either side meeting the pilasters. The tower stands to the right of this elevation (see later).

North elevation to nave is four bays wide, framed by five pilasters rising from a common base course (as façade). Over is a frieze and cornice. Walls between pilasters are squared, roughly dressed granite blocks brought to courses. The right bay contains an infilled doorway and architrave, remaining three bays each have a window. All details are as those to west elevation of nave. At left the north transept advances.

North gable of transept is identical to the west elevation of nave but abutted by a modern wheelchair ramp (rising from left) with steps to right, all in ashlar granite with overhanging chamfered coping and tubular metal handrail. Also attached to wall are flat iron handrails. Its west cheek has two bays with pilasters and windows as before. Its east is similar but pilasters are broader and window architraves are not moulded, the left window is infilled and abutted by the Sacristy extension.

To left is the east gable (sanctuary) of the church. It advances slightly and at the join is a modern cement rendered chimney stack with cement coping and a single pot. The gable is abutted by the two storey Sanctuary, and a single storey Sacristy extension, its remaining wall to left and right are ashlar granite and blank. Gable pediment over is blank and has a plain advanced frame and is topped by an empty bellcote with semicircular head and cross finial. Its opening is also semicircular headed.

The sacristy extension seems to be early 20th century but has been re-rendered and had its windows replaced. It is symmetrical, with flat concrete roofs to its ground floor and first floor portions. All roofs have a coped blocking course, except the east face of the ground floor portion that drains directly into cast iron gutters. The walls are lined and cement rendered. Ground floor windows are 1/1 sashes, two single and two pairs with modern fixed security grills and new polished granite cills. Doors, one to east face and one to north, are modern horizontal sheeted timber.

The first floor portion is narrower than ground floor and blank to east, its south and north cheeks each have a small semicircular headed stained glass window lighting the sanctuary.

The south transept is identical to the north in all details, with the exception that its south gable door has its original three granite steps and its walls are cement rendered between the pilasters. To left is the south elevation of the nave.

The south elevation of Nave is four bays wide divided by five pilasters. The tower abuts the left bay. The remaining three bays are cement rendered and each have a stained glass window (as others in church).

Tower

Four stage, square plan tower abutting the western corner of the south wall of the nave. Walls are of finely dressed ashlar granite blocks. Its north wall at first and second stage abuts the south wall of nave.

Stage 1 has a plain advanced base course which follows that of church. In addition, a second base course with cyma-recta moulding rises two courses above. West end shares the modern entrance plinth with church. Set to its centre is a deeply recessed doorway containing a modern horizontal sheeted door with a semicircular headed plain fanlight over. Its architrave is elaborately moulded with keystone and rises from the second base course. To its left and right are plain recessed, bolection-moulded, eared spandrel panels. Hanging from these, below the spring of arch level, are patera pendants.

The south face of the first stage has a blank recessed central panel. The east elevation is identical but inset into the panel is a rectangular leaded light.

Dividing the first and second stage is an advanced moulded cornice which follows the line of the indented panels on the south and east faces.

Second stage of the tower is shorter than stage one. Each face has a recessed central panel framed to left and right with band rusticated ashlar work. The lintel above each recessed panel is supported by closely spaced corbels, which advance in line with band rustication. Over is a moulded abacus with plain frieze and an advanced moulded cornice, which is in line with that on eaves of church. Additionally, on the west face over the door, is a carved decorative pediment with cross finial set into its recessed panel and resting upon the stage one cornice. It is decorated with a heart and cross from which shamrocks and arabesques radiate. The south and east faces of the second stage each have a narrower slot window (with coloured leaded glazing) inset into the wall panel.

The third stage of the tower rises above the main body of the church and is identical on all four faces. It is taller than the two previous stages and has a recessed central panel. Each inset panel has a tall rectangular coloured glass window with a moulded cill on corbels, and an eared architrave. Over is a narrow frieze, flanked by inverted corbels and topped with an advanced semicircular headed pediment. Paired pilasters (with Ionic capitals) frame the panels, which supports an abacus, a narrow frieze and a moulded cornice. Over the cornice is a plain blocking course, which is broken to centre of each face with three (square in section) balusters. A moulded coping over terminates this stage.

The fourth stage broaches from square to octagonal, the broach angle to each corner is filled by an inverted scrolled corbel which sweep up to form the angle panels on the broached tower. The remaining four faces (N, S, E and W) each have a tall semicircular headed opening with plain architraves and advanced keystone. Within each of these openings is a timber louvred panel. Over are an abacus, a plain frieze and a moulded cornice.

Above this point is an octagonal bell profile copper roof terminated by a small plain glazed octagonal lantern. Over the lantern is a smaller similar copper roof, with a ball finial surmounted on a cross.

Setting

To west boundary is a cement rendered wall with cushion moulded coping, broken to centre in a convex sweep of railings are the gates. Railings are held on granite piers with inset panels and Moorish cushion moulded copings. Railings have cast iron foliated spikes and rest on occasional ball cushions resting on the wall. Gates are as railings.

On entry into the churchyard is a circular tarmac drive, edged in lawn. The centre is divided by cruciform pathways in granite sets with steps rising up to the front of the church. All are lined with modern bollard lights and modern polished granite bollards. To north of church is a graveyard with no monuments of any merit. To immediate north east of church is a small grotto is rock-faced granite containing two modern statues. To northeast corner is a small single storey plant room the pitched natural slate roof and granite dressings mimicking the pilasters and gables of the main church. To south is a car park, and beyond within the grounds is the modern parish house.

Historical information

Parish Priest states that construction of the church began c1840, was delayed during the famine years and not completed until 1850. Shown on 1859 OS 6” map. The tower was added at the turn of the century when the church was modernised. Alterations such as the terrazzo floors and ceilings were undertaken between the wars. The church received Heritage Lottery Grant in 1997 for repair, which was completed by Nov 1998.

Primary Sources:
1. OS 6” map 2nd edition, Down sheet 48, 1859.

Secondary Sources:
1. Parish priest, 1999

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

This mid-19th C church presents an imposing vista from the east and is an interesting blend of the Classical and Baroque revival. Although now containing few original internal details, the subsequent alterations have given it an attractive multi-layered character that, although stylistically mixed, is of special historic and architectural interest.