St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A double-height Gothic style Roman Catholic Church built c.1832 to the designs of Thomas Duff; bell tower added 1870 and renovated c.2010 with modern addition. Located mid way on the east side of the main thoroughfare, adjacent to Bovenett House (HB17/03/008).

Pitched natural slate roofing with clay ridge tiles; cast-aluminium rainwater goods; modern ‘conservation’ style roof lights. Snecked coursed rubble masonry walling with ashlar granite dressed stone. Replacement windows throughout comprising modern stained glass or lattice leaded, in timber frames with uPVC framed storm glazing; gothic-arched opening with long-and-short quoins with chamfered cill and jambs. Replacement timber doors throughout; gothic-arched opening with long-and-short quoins with chamfered surrounds and stops.

The principal elevation faces west and is symmetrically arranged. Single windows to the right and left rising to a string course and crenellated parapet, flanked by three-stage angle-buttresses surmounted by pinnacles. Centrally abutted by the symmetrical three stage bell tower, with four-stage angle buttressing. The principal face of the tower comprises a blank first stage rising to string course; second stage gothic-arched window with hood moulding and stops rising to string course; third stage gothic-arched timber louvered opening with tracery, hood moulding and stops rising to string course surmounted by a crenellated parapet with corner pinnacles and central drop pinnacle. The north and south faces of the tower have a door at first stage; blank second stage; third stage matches west elevation. East elevation of tower is abutted at first and second stage by nave; third stage matches west elevation.

The north elevation is asymmetrically arranged; four windows wide separated by two-stage buttresses. Replacement timber door located below window right of centre within Tudor-arched opening with chamfered surround.

The rear (east) elevation is three bays wide; central projecting chancel is flanked by blank bays rising to a string course and crenellated parapet flanked by three-stage angle-buttresses surmounted by pinnacles. Symmetrical gable-ended chancel comprises large gothic-arched window with long-and-short surrounds and hood moulding with stops; uPVC framed storm glazing; round-arched arrow-loop rising to a raked string course. Coping stones surmounted by apex cross finial. Right cheek has paired slot recesses centrally positioned at high level; Left cheek abutted by single story return; blocked up square-headed opening at high level.

The south elevation matches the north; right bay now abutted by modern addition which incorporates part of an existing return, with exposed sections of window now infilled with rubble stone. Plain rendered extension with pitched natural slate roof; window left of centre to gable, left cheek blank, right cheek comprises modern rendered left bay incorporating window to left and door to right, right bay is gabled and retains part of an existing return with gothic-arched window flanked by single stage buttresses with raked copings.

Setting:

The church is set back off Scarva Street with a small landscaped area to the front. To the right is a large lawn where the former parochial house was located prior to demolition. To the rear are several modern structures facilitating services. The site is bounded to the main street by a rubble masonry wall with railings. Opposite the church is Bovenett House (HB17/03/008).

Roofing: Natural slate
Walling: Rubble masonry
Windows: Timber framed leaded/uPVC storm glazing
RWG: Cast Aluminium

Historical information

The construction of St Patrick’s Church, Loughbrickland began in 1827 in anticipation of the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 which saw at least eleven catholic churches built in the Banbridge area between 1831 and 1852. (McMahon; Cairns) At the time of emancipation the catholic population of Aghaderg was around 45%, but before the construction of the new church, Loughbrickland catholics travelled to St Mary’s at Lisnagade, two miles from the village. (Magennis; McMahon)

The Roman Catholic chapel was built between 1827 and 1832 for £1700 on a site presented by Nicholas Charles Whyte Esq, who gave £400 towards its erection (Lewis). The Marquis of Downshire also contributed £25. The architect was Thomas Duff and the contractor Felix Murnaghan. (Belfast Newsletter; McMahon)

The chapel was consecrated in 1832 by the Bishop of Dromore and is shown, captioned, on the first edition OS map of 1833. The date of consecration, 28th October 1832, was chosen because it was the feast day of three seventh century saints associated with Drumsallagh monastery, a Franciscan house of prayer which lay just outside the village and which was destroyed in 1569. Primate of all Ireland and Archbishop Armagh the most Reverend Doctor Thomas Kelly led the dedication assisted by the Parish Priest of the time, Father Arthur McArdle. (Church Plaque)

The Townland Valuation (1828-40) lists the R C Chapel and land valued at £24 and later raised to £30. Dimensions are given for the church and chancel. A contemporary account gives an impression of the newly-built church, “I have this morning walked to Loughbrickland and seen the Rev Mr McArdle PP of Aghaderg. Hewas very civil to me and showed me his beautiful chapel at Loughbrickland which he himself has erected. It style is the most modern Gothic or what he calls Elizabethan style and its windows are of stained glass. He says that the Marquis of Downshire contributed £25 towards the erection and that every denomination of Christians in the neighbourhood lent their assistance completing it. Indeed the inhabitants of this part of the county seem to agree very well, notwithstanding their difference in religious opinions and I was much gratified to find the Presbyterian clergyman Mr Little, walk in to this priest with an appearance of the most friendly and intimate sociality.” (O’Donovan, 1834)

Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) raises the valuation to £34 and £1 for the churchyard but there are no further changes in Annual Revisions despite the addition of a tower in 1870, during the pastorate of Father Peter Mckey PP. (Magennis; McMahon).

Between 1912 and 1916 extensive structural changes and repairs were made to the church for the Rev Murtagh McPolin PP. These were carried out to the plans of J V Brennan, architect of Belfast and the contractors were Campbell Brothers of Banbridge. (Irish Builder)

In 1938 renovations were carried out to the church including interior redecoration, the installation of a heating system and the repair and rearrangement of the grounds around the church. A new pipe organ, similar to the organ installed at St Mary’s of Lisnagade the same year, was installed in 1973. A later refurbishment took place in 1974 when the church was redecorated, the main entrance doors were replaced, the roof repaired, and timbers renewed in the church tower. In the 1980s further work was carried out with external stonework repaired and repointed in 1986. Following Vatican II a significant reordering of the Sanctuary took place in 1985 under the supervision of O’Hagan and Associates, architects of Newry. The existing reredos was adapted and a new altar installed of white Carrera marble with a new marble ambo and baptismal font. In 1988 the church was again redecorated. New wiring and lighting was installed in 1994. (McMahon)

References:
Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/34/1 First Edition OS Map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/3/34/2 Second Edition OS map 1859
3. PRONI OS/6/3/34/3 Third Edition OS Map 1902-3
4. PRONI OS/6/3/34/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1903-18
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/55D Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/18A-E Annual Revisions (1864-1930)
7. Belfast Newsletter 2nd November 1832
8. Irish Builder 2nd March 1912
9. Irish Builder 24th June 1916

Secondary Sources
1. Cairns, A “The Church and Community of St John the Evangelist Gilford, Sesquicentennial 1850-2000” Lurgan: Inglewood
Press, 2002
2. Campbell, Rev E “Ecclesiastical Buildings Diocese of Dromore” Newry Telegraph, 1940
3. Knox, Alexander, M.D. “A History of the County of Down” Dublin: Hodges, Foster & Co, 1875
4. Magennis, P “Loughbrickland Historic Trail” 2008
5. McMahon, Fr A Parish of Aghaderg in “The Diocese of Dromore Past and Present” Dromore Diocesan Historical Society,
2004
6. O’Donovan “Letters from John O’Donovan” 1834

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A double height Gothic style Roman Catholic Church built c832 to the designs of Thomas Duff; bell tower added 1870. Externally the main body of the church has retained its style and proportions although the doors and windows have been significantly altered. Alterations at the rear detract from the character of the main church. Internally much historic fabric has been removed by way of a major refurbishment c.2010, although primary elements, such as the altars and gallery, survive. However, it is still of special interest as an early Catholic Church by a notable architect.