Saint Matthews Church of Ireland

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Gothic Revival stone Church of Ireland church, built c.1839 to the designs of Charles Lanyon, located on a corner site to the north of Lurganure Road and to the west of Church Lane. Rectangular on plan on an east-west axis with a two-stage entrance tower to the east and chancel projection to the east. North transept and vestry to the re-entrant angle added c.1900.

Pitched natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and set below raised gables to either end having stone coping and gableted kneeler stones projecting beyond the eaves. Replacement cast-iron guttering on iron brackets to moulded sandstone eaves course. Rough-hewn squared basalt walling with sandstone ashlar plinth course and flush quoins. Pointed-headed lancet openings with flush sandstone ashlar surrounds, splayed sills and stained glass windows added c.1980.

Square-plan two-stage entrance tower to the west with crenellated parapet and four octagonal piers surmounted by gableted pinnacles with finials and resting on a continuous string course. The upper stage has a pair of lancet openings to each elevation with hood mouldings smooth chamfered sandstone surrounds, timber louvres and gilded iron clock-face below. The lower stage is set below a splayed course with coursed squared stone and flush sandstone ashlar quoins. Lancet window opening to the west elevation with chamfered sandstone ashlar surround, hood moulding and stained glass, while the south entrance elevation has a Tudor-arched door opening with hood moulding, chamfered sandstone ashlar surround, replacement double-leaf hardwood doors and overpanel. Above the entrance is a sandstone carved decorative panel.

West gabled elevation abutted by tower with a blind balistraria to either side.

North nave elevation is abutted by a gabled north transept and vestry, added c.1900. The transept has rock-faced coursed rubblestone, shaped kneeler stones to stone coping, flush sandstone quoins and plinth course. Trefoil-headed lancet to the west cheek of transept with pair of lancets to the gable. The vestry has a Tudor-arched door opening with quatrefoil panel above, all formed in flush chamfered sandstone with sheeted timber door and overlight opening onto four stone steps bridging the steps to the crypt.

East gabled abutted by gabled chancel projection with shaped kneeler stones and central paired pinnacle blocks with pointed-headed louvred opening to panel below. Tripartite east window, as per nave elevations.

South nave elevation is four windows wide.

Setting:
Set on a corner site with its south nave elevation facing Lurganure Road and its rear east gable facing Church Lane, enclosed by a rubblestone boundary wall with stone and marble grave markers to the east, south and west, dating from the mid nineteenth-century.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Replacement cast-iron
Walling Random coursed basalt walling
Windows Lancets with stained glass

Historical information

St Matthew’s Church first appears on the second Ordnance Survey map for the area (1858) where it is recorded as ‘Broomhedge Church’ and ‘Graveyard.’ It is depicted on the map as an oblong building with a slight return at both ends which later photographs show to be a church tower and clock and a chancel at the other end. In 1860 Griffith’s Valuation recorded that the plot of land was provided by the Marquis of Hertford and that the building was worth £19, a value that was maintained until the end of the Annual Revisions in 1929. The transept on the north side of the church was built by the third edition of the Ordnance Survey map in 1900 when the Church is first recorded as ‘St. Matthew’s Church.’

Kelly tells us that the foundation stone of St. Matthew’s Church was laid in 1839 but that the church was not consecrated until September 1848 when it was dedicated as a Chapel of Ease to Lisburn Cathedral. Curates from the cathedral preached sermons at Broomhedge until 1865 when a curacy was established. The first incumbent minister was the Rev. John Leslie who was minister at Broomhedge until his death in 1927. In 1899 improvement work was carried out at the church during which the new transept and vestry were installed on the north wall, and the chancel wall was raised. At the same time a new heating system was installed within the church and the floor retiled (Kelly, p. 45). In 1951 the ‘Bradbury Memorial Church Hall’ was erected by the church, this catered to the social needs of the congregation until it was replaced in 2001 with a more modern building. Other ministers who have served in St. Matthew’s Church include the Rev. W. R. N. Ruddock (1928-1952), Rev. G. Mitchell (1953-1958), Rev. F. Rusk (1959-1965), Rev. J. F. M. Moore (1966-1983), Rev. G. Graham (1983-1990) and finally the Rev. Peter Galbraith who has served at St. Matthew’s from 1991 and is the current minister (COI Diocese of Connor homepage; Kelly, p. 45). Later additions to the church in the 20th century included the addition of stained glass windows although it is unclear when these were installed (Kelly, p. 45).

The Church was listed in 1991; NIEA files record that it was constructed by Charles Lanyon c.1840 (NIEA File); the church is highly typical of Lanyon's work for the Church of Ireland.

References:

Primary Sources
1. PRONI VAL/1/A/1/64 – Field Map c.1830
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/168 – Townland Valuation
3. PRONI OS/6/1/67/1 – First Edition OS Map 1832-33
4. PRONI OS/6/1/67/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1858
5. PRONI OS/6/1/67/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900
6. PRONI OS/6/1/67/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-1921
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/56 – Griffith’s Valuation 1860
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/12 A – Annual Revisions 1863-1880
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/12 B – Annual Revisions 1880-1889
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/12 C – Annual Revisions 1889-1901
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/12 D – Annual Revisions 1901-1912
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/12 E – Annual Revisions 1912-1929

Secondary Sources
1. Kelly, D., ‘Lisburn’s rich church heritage: Churches and places of worship in the Lisburn city area’ Lisburn: Impression Print and Design, 2009.
2. NIEA File – HB19/22/64.

Online Resources
1. The Church of Ireland: Diocese of Connor Homepage - http://www.connordiocese.org.uk/broomhedge/

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
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

Gothic Revival stone Church of Ireland church, built c.1839 to the designs of prominent architect, Charles Lanyon, located on a corner site to the north of Lurganure Road and to the west of Church Lane. A picturesque rural church exhibiting many of the charcteristics of Lanyon's Gothic Revival idiom, retaining most internal and external fabric with later additions. The mature landscaped setting on a corner site make this structure a distinguished local landmark while serving the local Church of Ireland communtiy and adding to the architectural interest of the area.