First Newry Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Granite faced classical church set back from north side of Sandys Street, with gable facing to south. Hall and outbuildings to rear.

Pitched natural slate hipped roof with pedimented gable to façade. Cast metal rainwater goods.

Façade is in ashlar granite throughout, two storeys high and three openings wide, over a projecting base course. It is divided into three bays by single pilasters at each corner, and a pair of pilasters on either side of central bay.

These support an entablature over which is a blocking course with narrow projecting string course and cornice. The entablature is broken forward over the middle bay which is pedimented and contains a tympanum with rectangular granite plaque with raised lettering reading ‘MDCCCXXIX’ (1829).

One step high granite flagged platform to front of entrance at centre of middle bay. To either side is a later ramp in smooth dressed granite, with modern metal handrails. Entrance comprises a pair of four-panel grained timber doors, each with a two panel fixed leaf over. Shallow granite doorcase with ears, tapering moulded jambs, and moulded cornice over. Electric light directly above door. At either side of entrance platform are unattached metal bootscrapers. Above the doorcase are two shallow platbands, the lower running behind the door cornice, the upper one at first floor window cill level; these continue between the pilasters across the entire façade. At first floor, above the door, is a window with voussoired flat head and stained glass (divided into four panes, the top two with trefoiled heads; upper left pane also has inset opening light). Each end bay has one window to each floor of identical design to aforementioned window; those to ground floor are diminished in height.

The first bay of each side elevation is similarly detailed in ashlar granite, with door to ground floor (three steps up) and window above, the bay finishing with a further pilaster. The side door openings have plain voussoired heads but no doorcase; there is an electric light above the door on left elevation.

Beyond this bay, the walls are lined cement render with projecting platband between ground and first floor, and a raised eaves course. There are four window openings to each storey, all as front (including ground floor diminishment). To right of door in first bay of right elevation is affixed a wrought-iron lantern bracket. Also on this elevation, a flight of granite steps leads down to a basement door (modern door); a modern metal railing runs around at ground level.

The back gable of the church is abutted by a hall (q.v.).

Church forecourt is bounded to front with tall metal spear topped railings set on chamfered granite plinth, with two pairs of entrance gates supported on ashlar granite pillars (with moulded caps). Gates have similar tops to railings but additional double centre bars with elliptical inserts. Piers are square granite ashlar with cornice and shallow pyramidal capstone. Boundary walls to sides and rear re partly rendered rubble granite. Tarmaced surface to forecourt and side passages.

Hall

Large single volume hall attached to rear of church, aligned at right angles to axis of church and projecting out to each side.

Natural slate roof with moulded granite copings (lead dressed to west side). Ogee cast-iron gutters and circular downpipes. Stepped granite chimney with three stacks joined by moulded cap on right (east) gable.

Walls are in coursed rubble granite on granite plinth, with projecting ashlar granite eaves course and moulded knee-stones. Stepped vee-jointed granite quoins and finely dressed stepped granite dressings to all doors and windows.

The south-facing elevation of the left projection of the hall beyond the church contains doorway. Grained timber sheeted door with plain semi-circular fanlight set into a similarly profiled arched opening with projecting keystone. The corresponding elevation on the right projection is abutted by a small porch, with flat roof hidden by blocking course, and of similar construction to hall. On its south face is a segmental headed door opening; no fanlight. Its right cheek (to east) contains a small 1/1 sash window.

Left elevation of left projection has five equal width semicircular headed window openings (rising in height to centre), all with granite cills. The three middle windows have a common ashlar surround (with keystones); the outer windows are more widely spaced with individual ashlar surrounds to match. Centre window is 3/3 sliding sash (horizontally divided) and has a 2/2 sash to each side; end windows are 2/1 sash.

The corresponding right elevation of right projection is partly abutted by a more recent one-storey boiler room. Only the middle window and that to its immediate right are now visible from outside; head of that to left also visible. The gable apex contains a blind circular opening with raised keystones at the four cardinal points. The right side of the gable is abutted by a small flat roof annexe. The boiler house has a flat roof and rendered walls. Inside, the hall windows have been infilled and the wall rendered. The right cheek of the boiler house is blank, and the rear elevation contains a modern 1/1 top-hung window. The small annex has a 1/ 1sash to its south elevation, but is otherwise blank.

The rear elevation of the hall has a single-storey return at each end, both projecting beyond the hall gables. The right return (as viewed from the rear) has a hipped natural slate roof and exposed rafter tails and semicircular metal gutters. Its walls are line rendered. On its south facing elevation is a door of grained, framed and sheeted timber with semi-circular fanlight over. Three windows to left (west) wall, all 1/1 semicircular headed sliding sashes. Blank wall to rear.

The left return has identical roof and wall construction to that at right, but is longer and has a pitched roof, at centre of which is a rendered chimney. Right (east) wall has two sets of paired 1/1 sashes in semicircular openings. Back wall is blank.

Between these two wings is a modern flat roof line rendered infill of T plan; this envelopes the north-east corner of the right return, and partly abuts the west elevation of the left return. It has no features of interest.

Historical information

Plot of ground acquired in 1828 and construction of church began the following year. Opened for worship on 22 September 1830.

Hall added to rear of church in 1865 for use as a Sunday School and meeting room.

Interior of church remodelled in 1876 to designs by W.J. Watson. This work executed by Alexander Whelan, a local building contractor, at a cost of £1000. New pitch pine pews installed, along with gallery front, pulpit and heating apparatus.

The two returns to hall added as Sunday School classrooms (for adults) in 1898.

Organ installed 1901; replaced by present organ in 1903.

Primary Sources:

1. Datestone.
2. Archaeological Survey Co Down, p.348 (entry 417.4).
3. Rev. W.G. Strahan, 1904, ‘First Newry (Sandys Street) Presbyterian Congregation: its history and relationships’ (Newry).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Granite faced classical church. An assured classical façade in ashlar granite with unusual door case enclosing a largely original double-height interior with fine three-sided gallery. Halls and extensions demonstrate the development of the church.