Edengrove Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Simple rubble-built, ‘vernacular classical’, single storey Presbyterian church of 1841. The building is set on the N side of Dromore Road, to the W of Ballynahinch town centre.

The front (gabled) elevation faces S and is symmetrical. The elevation is dominated by a large central gabled porch. To the centre of the porch is a tall semicircular headed recess with panelled timber double door topped with a large rose window-like fanlight. This fanlight originally had Georgian style glazing. Above the recess is a granite string course which follows the curve of the recess arch and links to a cement verge course thus forming a tympanum. Within the tympanum, just above the string course level, is a diamond shaped slate panel which is inscribed ‘Second Presbyterian Church, Built A.D. 1841’.

The exposed portions of the main gable (behind the porch) are all blank. This gable has a tympanum similar to that on the porch.

The E and W facades of the church are identical, as each have five tall semicircular headed windows with Georgian-paned timber frames with one pane opening in tilt and turn fashion. The panes are filled with coloured dimpled glass. The frames were originally sash.

To the rear gable there is a small single storey gabled extension in rubble with blue engineering brick as quoins and dressings. This extension appears to be early 20th century [?c.1920]. To both E and W faces of the extension there is a single timber sheeted door. To the N (gabled) face there is a single flat arch window with modern frame.

The whole façade is in ;largely squared dark fieldstone. The coursing of the stonework to the extension is more random. The roof of the whole building is slated, with a rendered parapet to the extension. PVC rw goods.

The area immediately to the W and S of the church is covered in Tarmac. To the E and N is a graveyard. To the S there are decorative iron railings and cast iron gate piers. To the W the railings link to a rubble wall with a further vehicle gateway. The railings originally continued in a northerly direction (demarking the W boundary of the church grounds), but this section has been removed.

Historical information

As the panel to the front states, this church was built in 1841, along with the neighbouring schoolhouse. The rear extension appears to have been added in the early 1900s. The church was completely renovated in 1970-71, when, (among other things), the window frames were altered the present pews installed.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.1255 Title deeds, legal and testamentary papers, correspondence and Irish Land Commissioners Papers re the Ballynahinch Estate, 1630-1940
2 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1856), p.408
3 PRONI OS/6/3/22/2 OS map, Down sh 22, 1858
4 PRONI and Linen Hall Library Second (Griffith’s) valuation, Magherdrool, c.1863 [in print]
5 George Henry Bassett ‘Co Down guide and directory’ (Dublin 1886), pp.369-79
6 PRONI OS/6/3/22/3 OS map, Down sh 22, c.1901

Secondary sources
1 C.E.B. Brett, ‘Historic buildings…Mid Down’ (Belfast UAHS 1974), pp.40-41

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Simple rubble-built, ‘vernacular classical’ single storey Presbyterian church of 1841. To the front there is a large gabled porch with a tall semicircular headed arch recess which contains the entrance. To the rear there is a small gabled extension which appears to be early 20th century. The building was extensively renovated in 1970-71 at which time the original window frames were replaced with modern versions.