St. John's RC Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Mid 19thC barn church situated at the junction of the Moneymore Road and Ballyblaugh Road.

Pitched natural slate roof is aligned N-S and has moulded kneelers to the end gables. Advanced brick eaves course carries ogee cast-iron gutters. Square in section down pipes are attached to wall by decorative cast iron brackets. The S gable apex has a rendered bellcote which is supported on a rectangular plinth with inset panel to centre, reading “CHURCH/ ST JOHN the EVANGELIST/ erected and dedicated/ AD 1863”. Bellcote has a bell and Celtic cross finial. Walls are of coursed rubble stone with granite block quoins. Advanced masonry basecourse to sidewalls and chamfered render one to façade.

The principal elevation faces S and is symmetrical. Its central portion advances slightly forward as a broad three-stage buttress, which diminishes in width with every stage and supports the bellcote plinth. Its corners have cement rendered stepped quoins. To its centre at ground floor is a Gothic-headed doorway with cement rendered stepped quoins. Doorway contains a pair of modern diagonal sheeted doors with tympanum panel over. Tympanum is cement dashed with a raised border to the outer edge and a raised circular panel to centre with a decorative similar architrave and dressed stone cill. Above is a Gothic headed window with cement rendered stepped quoins. Window is leaded and coloured with plastic security sheet covering. All windows are detailed as this unless otherwise stated. Third stage of the buttress is short and blank.

There is a single window to either side of the central buttress on the main gable, the heads of which line up with the cill of the central window.

The left (W) and right (E) elevations are identical. Each has five equally spaced windows (as those on front gable).

The rear (N) gable is blank and abutted at centre by a sanctuary. It has pitched natural slate roof, set below the ridge level of the church and detailed as before. To its rear gable there is a large Gothic headed window. It is coloured and leaded. A modern link block (see later) abuts the left cheek of the sanctuary. The right cheek has a smaller window (as the other ones).

The link block has a flat leaded roof and joins the sanctuary to a small sacristy. Walls and openings are modern.

Sacristy roof is pitched and natural slated, with overhanging eaves and t+g sheeted to the soffit. Plastic rainwater goods. Its blank gables are coursed rubble stone. The right elevation is pebbled-dashed with five narrow modern windows with rendered architraves and concrete cill. The left elevation is abutted to centre by the link block; the exposed sections are pebble dashed and blank.

Setting:

The church is set within a modern car park and is enclosed by a rendered and coped wall. The wall to the front of the church is granite coped and supports spearheaded cast-iron railings. A pair of matching gates are supported by dressed granite block work gate piers. Built into the wall is a mass stone with a painted circle with cross. A plaque reads “MASS STONE FOUND IN THE BRIDGE/ ON RICES LANE/ DONATED BY/ J.P. MORGAN & FAMILY”.

To the E of the church, in front of the modern link block, is a second mass stone and a granite cross.
A plaque on the mass rock reads “MASS ROCK/ FROM/ O’HARES GLEN/ DERRYCRAW/ DONATED BY THE O’HARE FAMILY”. The dressed granite cross stands on stepped granite base, which rests on a granite block work plinth. Its plaque reads “FROM THE FORMER/ GLENN CHURCH/ CIRCA 1800”.

To the E of the church, also set within the car park, is a much-altered parochial house. It is two storeys, with pitched natural slate roof and decorative bargeboards. Walls are as church. The ground floor is pebble dashed with two modern garage doors set to the right. At left end is a modern entrance door and to its right is a top-hung casement window. First floor is three windows wide. All are modern stained timber semi-circular headed windows.

Historical information

A Roman Catholic chapel is cited at this location on the 1835 OS 6" map. Neither this map, nor the 1859 edition, show it in its present alignment. The present church was begun in 1863 on the site of an earlier one. The foundation stone was laid on 26th May 1863 by Most Rev. John Pius Leahy, Bishop of Dromore. The Griffith Valuation book notes: "new chapel in progress of building November 1863; not yet roofed". However, it was not until 1876 that it was officially opened and dedicated (on 22nd October).

The poor quality of the brickwork to the openings on side elevations would suggest that the building would have been rendered originally. It is shown in its present form on the 1903 6" map.

Much modernised and refurbished in early 1980s, including a new porch, steps, altar and windows. Rededicated on 6th February 1983. The HMBB first survey slide shows the original windows to have been metal framed (cast iron?) with diamond quarry glazing.

Primary Sources:
1. OS 6" map, 1834, Co Down sheet 40 (PRONI OS 6/3/40/1).
2. OS 6" map, 1859, Co Down sheet 40 (PRONI OS 6/3/40/2).
3. Second Valuation, 1864 (PRONI VAL 2B/3/58A, p.6)
4. OS 6" map, 1903, Co Down sheet 40 (PRONI OS 6/3/40/3).
5. HMBB first survey slide dated September 1976.
6. Datestone on front gable.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This much modernised and very plain mid 19thC church retains few internal features of interest. Externally it has two mass stones, which are of some local interest.