Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

One and a half storey hipped roof T-shaped Presbyterian church which took its present neo-Georgian form in 1954-55 when the original (largely rectangular) church of 1826 was extended and remodelled to designs by Ferguson & McIlveen. The building is situated to the E side of Fountain Street, with an elevated graveyard to the rear.

The W face of the W wing is symmetrical and has panelled doors at the top of a modern flight is steps with wrought iron guardrails. The double doors are have a plain fanlight and are flanked with fine sandstone pilasters with blocking course and pediment. The panel directly above the fanlight is inscribed with the date MCMLV (1955). The S face has a 6/6 sash window to the left of ground floor and a roundel feature with smooth cement band to first floor. To the right is a tall semicircular-headed window with multiple Georgian panes. This window is fixed but has two of the Georgian panes as opening vents. The N face has a roundel feature to first floor right side and one tall window as before to the left.

The N face of the N wing has a small hipped roof projection to the left side. This has one, right of centre, 2/4 sash window with a smooth cement band to its N face. The W face has a plain timber door with a plain fanlight. The E face has two sash windows. The W face of the main N wing has one tall window as before. The N face of this wing has one tall window, as before, to the right side of the return. The E face has one tall window, as before but with stained glass, to the right, and a tall buttress to the left.

The E wing is the smallest. To the N face is one steel sheeted door to the left side. The E face has one central 2/4 window above which is a panel which records the original date of construction i.e. 1826. The S face has one small 2/2 window to the left side.

The S face of the S wing has a small hipped roof projection to the right side. The E face of the projection has two 6/6 windows. The S face of the return has one 2/4 window to the left side while the W face has panelled door to the left side. The door is reached by a short flight of steps and a disabled ramp. The E face of the S wing proper has a buttress to the right and a tall window, as E face of N wing, to the left. The S face has a tall window, as before but with ‘Georgian’ glazing, to the left side. The W face has one tall window as before.

The walls are finished in painted roughcast. The hipped roof has an overhang and is covered with natural slate. The eaves overhang and have plain modillions to the soffits. To the front of the centre hip is a small decorative, octagonal shaped, fleche ventilation detail which is constructed in copper. The main walls have a smooth rendered plinth. The hips to the return roofs are slightly truncated. Cast iron rw goods.

To the rear of the church there is a stone mausoleum of unusual form, square plan with a concave pyramidal roof, which probably dates from the early 19th century.

Historical information

This church was built in 1826, following a split (over the Non-subscription / Arian controversy) in the Downpatrick congregation. The original (largely rectangular) building is shown on the OS map of 1834 and described in the OS Memoirs of 1836 as ‘a plain, substantial stone building measuring 60 feet by 35 and capable of accommodating about 400’, the Memoir goes on to state that it had ‘no gallery or ornaments’. The cost of construction amounted to £660-18-9½.

Though proposals for the building of a new church were discussed in 1900, the old structure survived in its original form until 1954, when it was extended and completely remodelled to designs by Ferguson and McIlveen. These renovations cost a total £22, 665 and were completed in early 1955.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/37/1 OS map, Down sh 37, 1834
2 Ordnance Survey memoirs of Co Down (IV), ed Angélique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1992), pp.41-60 [Dec. 1836]
3 PRONI VAL/1B/378 First valuation, Down, c.1838
4 PRONI VAL/1D/3/7 First valuation town plan of Downpatrick, c.1838
5 PRONI OS/8/9/1/1-24 OS town plans of Downpatrick, 1859
6 PRONI Second valuation, Down, 1863 (in print). [The map to accompany this valuation is missing.]
7 PRONI VAL/12E/120/1 Revaluation manuscript books, Downpatrick, 1864-1901
8 PRONI VAL/12E/120/1/1-24 Revaluation town plans of Downpatrick, 1864-1901 [12 sheets missing]
9 PRONI OS/8/9/2/1-3 OS town plans of Downpatrick, 1901
10 PRONI VAL/12E/120/2/1-3 Revaluation town plans of Downpatrick, 1906-35

Secondary sources
1 ‘Downpatrick Presbyterian Church 150th anniversary 1827-1977’ (Downpatrick 1977)
2 Anthony M. Wilson, ‘Saint Patrick’s town’ (Belfast 1995), pp.162, 192, 194
3 R.H. Buchanan and Anthony Wilson, ‘Irish historic towns atlas no.8: Downpatrick’ (Royal Irish Academy 1996)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Former Georgian one and a half storey hipped roof T-shaped Presbyterian church which took its present neo-Georgian form in 1954-55 when the original (largely rectangular) church of 1826 was extended and remodelled to designs by Ferguson & McIlveen. The alterations were carried out in a sensitive manner and the overall character of the church has been retained.