Railway Street Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Free-standing double-height gable-fronted stone Romanesque church, dated 1863. Rectangular on plan facing east, set slightly back on the west side of Railway Street, with multi-bay two-storey Minister’s rear wing. Caretaker’s redbrick house attached to the west and further attached to redbrick former school, built c.1890. Connecting wing to north of caretaker’s house built c.1978, to connect church with old school. Church renovated c.2008.

Hipped natural slate roof with roll-moulded black clay ridge tiles and lead-lined top, set behind pitched roof to front gable with lead valleys. Sandstone pediment to front gable has lead lining with lead-lined acroteria to either end having decorative sandstone scrolled ornaments. Ogee-moulded cast-iron guttering to sandstone ashlar eaves course, turning into yellow brick course to side and rear elevations, cast-iron downpipes. Random coursed rock-faced basalt walling with sandstone ashlar quoins and projecting sandstone plinth course to front only. Round-headed window openings formed in chamfered yellow brick to upper level, square-headed to lower level, with painted stone sills and stained glass windows with storm glazing.

Gabled front elevation comprises slightly advanced pedimented breakfront with arcaded corbel course to raking cornice of open-based pediment, returning to form the cornice of a double-height pier to either side. Double-height semi-circular Romanesque arch rises into the pediment with voussoired sandstone ashlar and billet moulding to impost mouldings. The arch frames a recess containing triple-arched window openings to the upper level with continuous hood moulding and resting on continuous mojulded sill course with inscribed frieze below..’PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH A.D.1863’. A further triple-arched arrangement to the ground floor with billet hood moulding and stop-chamfered piers with impost and plinth mouldings, containing replacement hardwood glazed doors and fanlights.

South side elevation six windows wide with double-height window to the west end.

Rear elevation abutted by two-storey Minister’s wing and oculus to either side. 1970s connecting wing also abutting rear elevation.

North side elevation is six windows wide with double-height window to the west end.

Decorative cast and wrought iron gates, railings and sandstyone and basalt plinth separate the church forecourt from the street. The metalwork may have been replaced but has been carried out to a good standard.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Cast-iron
Walling Random coursed rock-faced basalt
Windows Stained glass / storm glazing

Historical information

The church was built in 1864 to designs by John Boyd.

The growth of Lisburn as an industrial town coupled with the religious revival of 1859 led to an increase in the Presbyterian congregation attending the meeting house in Market Square (HB19/12/11). As a result, William Barbour of the Barbour spinning mills and an elder in the church encouraged the formation of a new congregation. Services were held in a hay loft in Castle Street until the new church was opened in March 1864. (History of Congregations)

The architect of the new church was John Boyd and the contractor W Ferguson of Lisburn. It was to be completed at a cost of £1520.3s. (Dublin Builder)

The church is first shown, uncaptioned, on the third edition map of c1900. Annual Revisions of 1863 record the plot as the ‘Site of new Presbyterian church. Numbers 22-5 purchased for £350 for site of new Presbyterian church which is in progress. Subject only to a nominal head rent...to Lord Hertford. Houses taken down.’ The church was finally valued at £60

In 1869 a school was built to the rear of the church and the valuation raised to £85 as a consequence. A lecture hall was added in 1887 and by 1890 the valuation had been increased to £100. (Kelly, p.5, 13)

In 1896 side galleries were added and four long windows on either side of the church were split to accommodate it. A picture of the church with its original long windows is shown in Kelly. A new roof was also added at this time and improvements made to the vestibule and choir room. (Kelly, p.3, 15)

In 1908 an organ was installed but this was replaced in 1914 by a new organ, supplied by the firm of J.J. Binns and costing £700. A new, intricately carved pulpit was also installed. Kelly’s book contains photographs of the church before and after the addition of the organ and pulpit. (Kelly, p.4, 18, 23)

In 1952 the old schoolhouse to the rear of the church was renovated and became the ‘Minor Hall’. The lecture hall was refurbished in 1962, and again in 1997. In 1978 a new link area was built between the church and the minor hall. (Kelly, p.41, 49, 57, 81)

In 1987, seventeen new church windows were dedicated (Kelly, p.63)

In 2006 the church was reroofed and in 2007 and 2008 refurbishment of the interior took place including relocation of the organ console and new pews.( Kelly, p.97, 101)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/68/1 – First Edition OS Map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/1/68/2 – Second Edition OS map 1857
3. PRONI OS/6/1/68/3 – Third Edition OS Map c1900
4. PRONI OS/6/1/68/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1921
5. PRONI OS/6/1/68/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1939
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/168 – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/61A – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/9A-T – Annual Revisions (1863-1924)
9. PRONI VAL/12/E/40/1/ – Annual Revisions Town Plan (1877-c1898)
10. PRONI VAL/12/E/40/2/ – Annual Revisions Town Plan (1898-c1907)
11. PRONI VAL/12/E/40/4 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (1907-c1927)
12. Dublin Builder, Vol 4, 1 March 1863, p.44

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 “Footprints on the Sands of Time, A History of Railway Street Presbyterian Church, Lisburn, 1860 to 2008” 2008

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Gable-fronted stone Presbyterian church dating from 1864, and located to the west side of Railway Street. An interesting design of Romanesque and classical styles executed in the local rock-faced basalt with fine sandstone ashlar. Lofty interior with large three-sided gallery retaining its original box pews. Although recent improvements have removed some of the internal character, the impressive gallery, tall stained glass windows and large organ constitute important components of this Presbyterian church in an urban setting for almost 150 years. The gates, railings and walling to front encompassing the forecourt add to the church's interest.