Kilwarlin Moravian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Attached single-storey gable-fronted cement rendered Moravian Church, dated 1834, replacing an earlier building and abutting Manse (HB19/05/133B) as part of the Kilwarlin Moravian Church complex. Rectangular on plan facing west on the south side of Kilwarlin Road set within a mature
setting. Extensively refurbished 1987.

Pitched natural slate roof, black clay ridge tiles set behind slightly raised front west gable. Steel guttering on iron brackets and cast-iron downpipes. Ruled and lined cement rendered walling. Round-arched window openings with sandstone sills and leaded coloured glazing, inserted 1955.

Gabled west entrance elevation with central shallow breakfront rising to round-headed bellcote, having three sandstone pinnacles to cement coping and containing round-headed bell arch with iron bell. Concrete coping to gable terminating in raised piers to either end with truncated rendered pinnacles and ornate black chimneypots. Central round-headed blind panel to the centre of the breakfront with black marble date plaque stating: ‘The, Ancient Episcopal, Church of, The United Brethren, commonly called, Moravians, erected A.D.1755, rebuilt October 13th 1834, restored 1987’. Square-headed door opening below having cement hood moulding and recessed double-leaf hardwood panelled doors. To either side of the blind arch is a pair of diminutive round-headed openings with latticed lights and concrete sills. To either end is a small buttress with sandstone pinnacle. Door opens onto paved platform with steps and ramp enclosed by low rendered wall also having sandstone pinnacles.

North nave elevation four windows wide with each round-headed window set into a round-headed recess.

East elevation abutted by the Manse (HB19/05/133B).

South nave elevation is four windows wide.

Setting:
Attached to the Manse (HB19/05/133B), in turn attached to the Moravian Hall (HB19/05/133C), facing west on the south side of Kilwarlin Road set within a mature setting accessed via winding avenue opening onto the Kilwarlin Road via decorative gate screen (HB19/05/134). The church setting to the NW is landscaped into a battle garden intended to represent the terrain at Thermopylae where ancient Greeks had also fought for their independence. To the rear is a burial ground.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Cast-iron
Walling Ruled and lined cement render
Windows Round-headed leaded coloured glazing

Historical information

Ordnance Survey Memoirs record that the original Moravian Church at Kilwarlin was built in 1755 but by the time of the first Ordnance Survey (1834) had fallen into a ‘very ruinous state’ and was being used principally as a schoolhouse. Foy tells us that the original founder of Kilwarlin Moravian Church was John Cennick, an English preacher and founder of the Moravian Church in Ireland. In 1859 Cennick purchased a small plot of land by the Church to be used as a burial ground (Foy).

Between the first and second Ordnance Survey of the area (1834-58) the Church was reconstructed into its current form; the first edition map shows the Church, and possibly a Manse, as separate buildings however, the second edition shows one large building named ‘Moravian Chapel’ occupying the original site. A stone inscription above the entrance to the church records that ‘the ancient Episcopal church of the United Brethren commonly called Moravians erected A.D. 1755, rebuilt Oct. 13th 1834.’ After this date a number of small out-offices appear around the Church building. In the years immediately after its reconstruction, the Church was valued at £7.0.0. The new church was a large interconnected building which consisted of a Chapel, a Manse and a separate building at the rear which was later used as a Sunday school and Church Hall.

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs describe the new chapel as ‘a neat, slated and stone building, roughcast and whitewashed. It is 41 feet long and 26 feet broad in the inside. The walls are 2 feet thick. The entrance is at the west end by a passage 3 feet 6 inches wide and 13 feet long, on each side of which is a small vestry over which is a gallery looking into the body of the chapel. The pulpit is very neat; there are no pews but forms for the accommodation of 150 persons, including the gallery.’ The memoirs conclude by stating that the reconstruction of the chapel in 1834 was carried out completely at the expense of the Greek preacher Basil Patras Zula.

Zula was a remarkable figure who was responsible not only for the rebuilding of Kilwarlin Church, but also of revitalising its declining ministry. Fleeing the Greek War of Independence (1821-30) with his ‘considerable wealth’ Zula settled in Ireland, married a Dublin Moravian, Ann Linfoot, and offered himself for ministry in the Moravian Church. Around the Moravian Church are many reminders of his Greek extract, the most elaborate of which is the church setting to thje NW, landscaped into a battle garden intended to represent the terrain at Thermopylae where ancient Greeks had also fought for their independence. Zula died of natural causes in Dublin on 4 October 1844, however Barry states that ‘in the ten years he served the congregation he raised its membership from an original six to nearly one hundred and fifty and left behind him a fine new church and manse (Barry, p. 84). According to Brett there were only around 50 in Zula’s congregation by the time of his death although Barry’s number probably reflects the new capacity capable of attending Kilwarlin Church after its reconstruction (Brett, p. 48).

In 1987 the church was restored, however Brett states that the walls of the Church in 2002 are ‘of rather dreary grey cement render’ and suggests that the group of buildings would look much more attractive if the walls were whitewashed once a year as they had been since 1837 (Brett, p. 48). The Church at Kilwarlin continues to be occupied and according to the Church website the current Moravian congregation consists of ‘over 180 members and friends.’

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/14/1 – First Edition OS Map (1834)
2. PRONI OS/6/3/14/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1858)
3. PRONI OS/6/3/14/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1902-1903)
4. PRONI OS/6/3/14/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1919-1920)
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/45A-C – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14A – Annual Revisions 1864-1879
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14B – Annual Revisions 1880-1889
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14C – Annual Revisions 1890-1908
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14D – Annual Revisions 1909-1928
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14E – Annual Revisions 1928-1930
11. PRONI VAL/12/E/102/1-2 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c.1864-c.1935]

Secondary Sources

1. Barry, J., ‘Hillsborough: A parish in the Ulster plantation’ (3rd ed.), Belfast, Universities Press., 1982.
2. Brett, C. E. B., ‘Buildings of North County Down’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2002.
3. Foy, J. H., ‘Kilwarlin Moravian Church: A visitors guide’ (Pamphlet, undated).
4. Kelly, D., ‘Lisburn’s rich church heritage: Churches and places of worship in the Lisburn city area’ Lisburn: Impression Print and Design, 2009.

Online Resources

Kilwarlin Moravian Church Homepage: http://www.moravian.org.uk/pages/congregations/kilwarlin.html

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
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Single-storey gable-fronted cement rendered Moravian Church, dated 1834, abutting Manse (HB19/05/133B) as part of the Kilwarlin Moravian Church complex. A modest gabled church with a fascinating history revolving around Rev. Zula and set in mature grounds. The church setting to the NW is landscaped into a battle garden intended to represent the terrain at Thermopylae where ancient Greeks had also fought for their independence. As a group these buildings including the gate screen and the setting are a rare example of an integrated ecclesiastical site with an interesting history.

General comments

Please note this record has been renumbered from HB19/05/133