St Joseph's RC Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A mid 19thC cruciform church with granite dressings, aligned N-S on E side of Chapel Rd.

Pitched natural slate roof with lead flashed copings to each gable. An advanced granite eaves course supports ogee aluminium rainwater goods with modern aluminium downpipes. N gable is surmounted by a bellcote. It is square-in-section, gabled to each face and topped by a pointed finial. All other gables have a cloverleaf cross with diamond shaped punctuation at centre.

All walls are line-rendered and painted (unless otherwise stated) over chamfered base course of squared and snecked granite with ribbon pointing. Below eaves course on gables is a smooth rendered band. All openings have hood moulds (unless otherwise stated).

Principal elevation faces S. It is flanked by a two-staged, square corner buttresses detailed as base course. The stages are divided by two central insteps. The second stage is narrower and topped by a tapered octagonal finial rising above eaves level. All gables are similarly detailed. To ground floor centre is a Gothic-headed entrance with splayed and chamfered reveals (chamfers sweep outwards to form plinth blocks). It contains a pair of timber multi-panelled doors accessed by two steps. All panels have cusped heads. Above is a large Gothic tripartite transom and mullioned lancet window set within a splayed and chamfered reveal and with figurative keyblock. It consists of 3x2 panes (the top ones have cusped heads).

The nave walls are identical. Each is three windows wide. All are lancets with splayed reveals and painted granite cills. The N end of the nave is abutted by the E and W transepts.

Both transepts are identical. Each gable has a pair of t+g sheeted doors with t+g sheeted transom over in opening detailed as S gable (but with stepped jambs). Above is a window detailed as that to S gable, also with stepped jambs. The left cheek is blank. The right cheek has a lancet window detailed as those to nave.

E transept is abutted by a lower sacristy on its right cheek (see later).

The sanctuary adjoins nave at N end. Its gable has a large window to centre with stepped and splayed reveals. It comprises of three tall lancets with cusped heads and three mulitfoils above to spandrel. The right cheek has a cusped Y-tracery timber window set in a splayed and lugged reveal. Above is a blank granite shield. Left cheek is abutted by the sacristy. The exposed section is blank.

The sacristy has a pitched natural slate roof. Its N gable has a rendered chimney with granite copings and dressed stone skews supported on kneelers. Modern aluminium rainwater goods are supported on several granite corbels. Principal elevation faces E. Entrance is left of centre and is accessed by five steps. It is detailed as those to transept. To its left, with interlocking reveals, is a small three-paned timber lancet. To right is a Y-tracery timber lancet divided by two transoms. Reveals are stepped and chamfered. The N elevation is abutted by a lower boiler house. W elevation has a Y-tracery window.

Boiler house has a flat felted concrete roof. Walls are as church. To E face is a t+g sheeted timber door to right, and a timber louvred opening to left. All other faces are blank. It is accessed down eight concrete steps abutting the E wall. They are enclosed by a low cement rendered wall with pitched copings.

Setting:

Church is enclosed to road by a boundary wall and a pair of square-in-section concrete gate piers supporting a pair of wrought-iron gates and flanked by smaller pedestrian gates. It set within a small gardened area with car parking to front. Beyond that rear garden is a churchyard containing mostly 20thC memorials (of no interest).

Historical information

First shown on the 1861 OS map (but not the 1835 edition). Probably erected in the 1840s or '50s.

Primary sources:
1. First edition OS 6" map, Co Armagh sheet 29, 1835 (PRONI - OS 6/2/29/1).
2. Second edition OS 6" map, Co Armagh sheet 29, 1861 (PRONI - OS 6/2/29/2).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A mid 19thC cruciform church, with granite dressings and buttresses framing each end gable. It retains most of its internal fabric including an attractive barrel vaulted ceiling supported on granite corbels.