First Presbyterian Meeting House and Burial Ground

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Meeting house lies at south side of burial ground and is roofless and its original two storeys have been reduced to one which are now in a ruinous condition.

Orientated south-east to north-west. Walls are of random rubble with brick dressings to openings. North-east gable, which has been reduced in height, is now cement copped. Doorway to centre has timber lintel with segmental brick relieving arch over. To left and right are single window openings. All windows are tall and semicircular headed with no cills; intrados is splayed internally. To first floor, the original window openings, which are in line with those below, have been infilled.

Side elevations are narrower than gable. North-west elevation has a now-headless doorway to left and a window to right. South-east elevation has two windows. South-west side forms boundary with the adjacent convent and is blank.

In line with, and to the east of, north-east gable, is a ruinous section of wall with a single complete window opening remaining (others to left and right are ruinous).

Churchyard is enclosed by rubble stone wall, with a retaining wall to east end. Its is grassed and has modern plots laid out with concrete paved paths. To east end is a small graveyard of 19th century graves, tombs and memorials. Those of note are as follows:

1. Colvin Memorial

Situated at north end of a row of 19th century graves at south-east end of graveyard. It consists of a rectangular white marble tablet fronted by a Gothic headed and traceried cast-iron panel. Tablet is incised with names and dates of those interred (earliest is Mary Ann Colvin, died 1864). The cast iron encasement has a semicircular head with projecting hood which is topped with a strapped ball finial upon which rests a dove. The memorial rests on a chamfered granite plinth and has an ill fitting asbestos panel attached to its back. The plot, which is rectangular, is delineated by a wrought-iron link chain hung from cast-iron piers. Each pier has a pitched top and is marked “Smith Patent Sun Foundry Glasgow”. There is one to each corner and one to centre on each side.

2. Malcolm Memorial

Also situated at south-east end of graveyard. A Grecian Revival mausoleum aligned east-west and executed in Roman cement. It is rectangular in plan with advanced corner piers, all on a plain base. Each elevation and pier tapers inwards as it rises. N and S faces have inset white marble panels with moulded architrave. That to south is illegible. That to north states: ‘This monument is erected/ by the Presbyterian congregation of Newry/ who while they bow to the will of the most high/ deplore the loss of him who was during 14 years/ their beloved pastor/ May this marble speak to future time/ and stimulate the successive ministers and members/ of this congregation/ to follow his example and emulate his virtues”. W and E elevations both have a raised rectangular panel with embossed patera to each in-stepped corner. In this panel is a diamond shaped inset of black stone with a white marble bible embossed. Each corner pier has a recessed vertical tapering panel with inverted segmental head and above is an inverted acroterion decorated with anthemion. Piers and each elevation are topped by a plain frieze with raised edges. Each pier has a shallow pyramidal cap and whole mausoleum has a shallow hipped roof which is topped by a large foliated oval urn. All set in a granite paved enclosure with plain spiked railings (small integral gate to east side) and urn topped posts.

3. Alexander Memorial

Tapered ashlar granite obelisk with a pyramidal head, in similar style to (but very much smaller than) Corry Memorial (HB 16/20/014). Square pedestal on which it rests has a projecting cornice with coved eaves and drip course. Each face of pedestal is coffered; those to W and E inset have inscribed slate tablets. West panel commemorates Rev. Henry Alexander, this church’s minister for 27 year and who died in 1868. Pedestal rests on a plinth made up of three granite steps.

4. Rev. Mitchel tomb

Rectangular mausoleum aligned W-E and situated in an enclosure at centre of a row of 19th century graves at south-east side of graveyard. Executed in Roman render in a neo-classical style with raised tapering piers to each corner. All rest on a raised moulded base course. Each pier has an inverted, embossed classical torch, with an embossed laurel wreath over; each is capped with a hipped render coping with moulded eaves. The whole structure is capped with a hipped overhanging render lid. N and S faces have inset white marble text panels. That to S is now unreadable although a latter inscription in the render below states: “In the same tomb must rightfully repose the honoured remains of Mary/ the noble wife help mate and friend of him whose name is inscribed above./ Born 8th April 1788, died 8th April 1865”. Marble panel to N states: ‘He chose to obey God rather than man/ and endured much for conscience sake/ he fearlessly and ably advocated/ the sufficiency of scripture and freedom from human creeds/ with apostolic simplicity and mild persuasive eloquence/ he maintained that God is one that God is love/ and that he sent his son/ to be the savour of the world/ as was his life so was his death, calm, peaceful, holy/ and like how he wished it to be inscribed on this tomb/ In Christ is my hope”. The west face is inscribed “Holy father keep/ through thy own/ name knows whom/ thruoughest given me/ that they may be/ one as we are”. The east face reads “Born 11th Nov. 1781 / Died 28th Feb. 1840 / zerat 58/ ‘Love one another / as I loved you”.

5. John Mitchel Memorial

Memorial consists of a square granite pedestal on a moulded granite base. It is very finely dressed to front and with a shallow hipped overhanging coping. Front is incised “In memory of/ John Mitchel/ born Nov. 3rd 1815/ died March 20th 1875/ After 27 years spent in/ exile for the sake of Ireland/ he returned with honour/ to die among his own people/ and he rests with his/ father and mother in/ the adjoining tomb”. At foot of memorial is a long granite slab with pitched top and roll-mould to ridge. It is incised to each pitch with the details of Mary Mitchel (fourth daughter of Rev. Mitchel) who died 1898 and William Haslett, died 1891.

6. Sundial

Situated on south corner of graveyard. A decoratively moulded one-piece octagonal granite post resting on a square plinth of three granite steps. This post supports a circular bronze face set horizontally, the perimeter of which is incised with Roman numerals and some decoration. Decorative bronze gnomon is intact.

Historical information

According to the Ordnance Survey Memoir, ground leased to Presbyterians in 1722. Church probably dates to around this time (notice board at the entrance gates states 1724); the Memoir states erroneously that erected in 1774. Depicted on the 1835 OS map as a square structure with a full-width wing on each wall. The congregation moved to a new church in John Mitchel Place (Needham Place) in 1853 (HB16/30/011). On the 1861 map, only the south-west wing is shown and the site is captioned ‘Unitarian Meeting House (old)’. An early 20th century photograph shows ruins with slated roof and sliding sash windows.

Concerning the memorial to John Mitchel. His father was Rector to Newry First Presbyterian Church and the family was resident in Ivybrook Lodge (HB16/29/007A). John became a lawyer in Banbridge and was a vocal member of the Young Ireland Movement. He was tried under the Treason-Felony Act and deported to Tasmania to serve 20 years. He escaped in 1854 and lived in America until his return to Ireland in 1874. He was voted MP for Tipperary in 1875 but debarred from parliament due to his conviction. Died in Newry 1875.

The sundial, made by Adams of London, was presented to the congregation by Robert Wallace in 1757.

Primary sources:
1. Ordnance Survey Memoir: Newry parish.
2. OS map 1835 edition, PRONI – OS 9/15/1/1;
3. OS map 1861 edition, PRONI - OS 9/15/2/17 (1861 map).
4. Information on notice board at entrance to burial ground.

Secondary sources:
1. A.R. Hamilton (n.d.), ‘John Mitchel’, in The Open Window, vol.3, p.61.
2. T. Canavan (1994), ‘The old meting house’, in G. Fay (ed.) Proud people: a Newry anthology, pp 25- 27.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Simple stone church now in a ruinous condition. There are several interesting memorials in the churchyard, including the Malcolm Memorial, which is an attractive and unusual tomb with fine details.