Trinity Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A double-height barn-style Presbyterian Church, dated 1802, located to the north side of Church Road, Boardmills. Rectangular on plan with attached two-storey extension at east dated 1986.

Roof is pitched natural slate with clay ridge tiles; masonry raised verges; chimney at east gable; painted cast-iron gutters on projecting eaves course. Walling is ruled-and-lined smooth render with projecting stepped quoins and plinth. Timber framed stained glass leaded lights are contained within round-arched-headed openings with smooth rendered band, round-arched-headed hoodmould with label stops and projecting painted masonry sills (majority of windows now replaced with timber framed windows with obscured glazing).

Symmetrical principal entrance (gable) faces west having central entrance, comprising Classical entrance portico with moulded pilasters and console brackets supporting a plain triangular pediment. Portico surmounted by two segmental-arched windows with segmental hoodmould and labelstops.

North elevation is six windows wide, third from left contains leaded stained glass.

East gable is abutted by two-storey extension of similar height, dated 1986.

South elevation is six windows wide; two central windows contain leaded stained glass. Date-stone at centre reads, ‘This House was Built/1802 the Revd/JOSEPH LONGMOOR/Minister’.

Double-height extension at east dated 1986 has natural slate roof, cast-iron ogee profile rainwater goods supported on projecting eaves course. Walling is ruled-and-lined smooth render with projecting stepped quoins and plinth. Windows are similar to main church but diminished in height. East gable comprises central entrance porch with pitched natural slate roof; date stone to porch gable reads; ‘1986’; three windows at first floor. South cheek is set back from south elevation of church and contains three windows at each floor; north cheek is set back from north elevation of church and contains two windows at each floor; concrete steps and metal handrail lead to boiler room at basement level.

Setting:

The church is set on a large cemetery site accessed at south via splayed boundary walls and replacement metal gates. Church hall dated 1926 is of little interest. Graveyard comprises a range of grave markers dating from the early nineteenth century.

Roof: Pitched natural slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined smooth render
Windows: Timber framed stained leaded lights
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

There are three Presbyterian churches situated along Church Road in the Boardmills area, reflecting a complex history of secession within the local congregations. The first congregation to be established in the area c1749 was itself part of a Seceder movement which had begun several years previously in Scotland. This congregation built the present church in 1802 (attested by the date stone) and two breakaway churches were built along Church Road in 1812 and 1846 known as Second Boardmills and Killaney respectively. (History of Congregations)

The congregation of the present church was generally known as Killaney before 1815, after which time it became First Boardmills. The church joined the General Assembly in 1840. (Kelly, p.170; History of Congregations)

Tensions between the congregations remained high for a time but in 1851 and 1925 respectively Second Boardmills and Killaney were also received into the General Assembly and Killaney and Second Boardmills became united in 1925. The following year First Boardmills received the gift of a spacious hall from Mr John McKee, a former member of the church who now lived in New York. In 1937 a minister’s room and choir room were added to the church. During the long ministry of Mr Kerr (1933-73) many alterations were made to the church, including a new pulpit and stained glass windows and a new reading desk, choir seats and baptismal font. The McKee hall was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1951. (History of Congregations)

In 1974, First and Second Boardmills and Killaney came together under the ministry of Rev George Simpson. In 2002 they were amalgamated into a single congregation, known as Trinity Presbyterian Church, Boardmills. (History of Congregations; Kelly, p.170) The congregation of Trinity Presbyterian now worships in the present church and the other two buildings are no longer in regular use. (www.lisburn.com)

References:

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/3/15/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/15/2 – Second Edition OS map 1859
3. PRONI OS/6/3/15/3 – Third Edition OS Map c1900
4. PRONI OS/6/3/15/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-20

Secondary Sources
1. “A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1610-1982” authorised by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Belfast: Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, 1982 (available at www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com)
2. Kelly, J A “Lisburn’s Rich Church Heritage, Churches and Places of Worship in the Lisburn City Area” 2009
3. www.lisburn.com

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A double-height barn-style Presbyterian Church, dated 1802, located to the north side of Church Road, Boardmills. Rectangular on plan with attached two-storey extension at east dated 1986. The church is one of oldest churches in the area on an enclosed site with early graveyard and church hall dated 1926 at west. Externally the church is plainly detailed with a few remaining facade characteristics including some stained glass leaded lights. The church remains an important local place of worship within the Presbyterian community in Boardmills but does not meet the criteria for listing, as it has many 20th century alterations.

General comments

This record was completed without access to primary source material held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.