Old Meeting House Graveyard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The graveyard is split by a level change into two sections, and is accessed down a narrow lane from Church Street.

It is enclosed by rubble stone walls. Most graves are mid to late 19th century and of little interest. Most impressive is a large sandstone memorial erected by Mr Henderson, owner of the Newry Telegraph. It consists of four large segmental headed white marble tablets inset within an ashlar sandstone wall, which has an incised frieze (now mostly unreadable), and a moulded cornice. It is surmounted by the Newry coat of Arms flanked by scrolled decorative corbels.

The meeting house is located to the south end of the site. Nothing remains but a rectangular outline of rubble stonework about 30cm high.

Historical information

According to the Ordnance Survey Memoirs, the church was erected in 1782 and accommodated 350 worshippers; the graveyard is undoubtedly of the same date. The building was repaired and enlarged in 1829. It is shown as “Seeders’ meeting house” on 1835 OS map. This congregation became known as the “Second Newry” from 1840, and moved into the newly completed church on Downshire Rd in 1844 (HB16/26/012). In the same year, the Reformed Presbyterians purchased the site and began using the church for worship. The 1861 OS map shows it as “Reformed Presbyterian Meeting House”. The congregation moved to Riverside Presbyterian Church in 1884 (HB16/26/003). The church became disused and was eventually demolished in 1983, leaving only the graveyard.

Primary sources:
1. OS map 1835 edition PRONI - OS 9/15/1/1
2. OS map 1861 edition PRONI - OS 9/15/2/12
3. Ordnance Survey Memoir, Newry Parish.

Secondary sources:
1. T. Shendan and D. Hagan (eds), ‘Dirty town, proud people: Newry, a history of Church St and surrounding areas’, p.19 (Newry).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Graveyard enclosed by rubble stone walls and with the remains of the meeting house. Although attractive and with a long association with Christian worship in Newry this site retains few features of any merit.