Former Methodist Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A gabled building partly rendered and partly of rubble stonework, of rectangular plan with a projecting gabled porch originally built as a Methodist Church in a plain Gothic style, but later changed to a library. Main entrance faces south.

South elevation: main gable is 3-bay, with a Gothic arched window to each side of the central porch and a circular rose window above the porch. Walling is of smooth cement render, painted, with a projecting plinth, plain projecting gable copings, and a tall gable finial in the form of a square column with moulded base and foliated capital surmounted by a pyramidal cap. Lower windows are Gothic arched lancets set in moulded surrounds with moulded drips; currently boarded up.
Circular rose window originally contained tracery of multi-circled pattern; circular drip moulding over upper circumference of rose extending horizontally at sides to terminate in foliated stops; lower circumference of rose has raised block surrounds. Above rose is a rectangular datestone inscribed '1867', with a small blind oculus above that in the apex surmounted by a semi-circular moulded drip with foliated stops.
Porch gable is rendered as main gable, with similar plinth and copings; Gothic arched doorway containing a pair of rectangular timber vertically boarded doors surmounted by a similarly boarded tympanum; doorway approached by a concrete ramp and two steps up to concrete paved doorstep.

West elevation: single storey, 4-bay side wall; roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses; pvc gutter and downpipe.
Walling is of random rubble basalt built to courses with red brick dressings to windows; shaped yellow brick dressing to plinth.
Windows are two-centred arched with timber fames, currently not yet glazed.

Rear elevation: comprises main rear gable of roughly coursed basalt rubble with a small red brick dressed ocular opening to the apex, containing louvers; projecting at ground level is a later single storey addition with lean-to slated roof, wet dash rendered walls; concrete steps on west side lead up to a rectangular doorway now boarded up; north face contains three windows, with one sashed window, 1 over 1 with horns, and two modern fixed light windows; cast iron rainwater goods in damaged condition.

East elevation: similar roofing and walling to west side, but windows contain 2 horizontal divisions in timber, not yet glazed.

SETTING: The building stands facing the main road but set well back from it. Front area comprises a tarmac driveway leading to the front of the building flanked each side by grass verges. Front boundary formed by a plain gatescreen; boundary to east formed by a basalt rubble wall with concrete copings; boundary to east formed partly by neighbouring buildings and partly by a basalt rubble wall.
To the rear is a small unkempt garden; to the west is a rear tarmac car park.

Historical information

Built in 1867 as a Methodist Chapel to replace one built in 1805 on the same site. Converted to a public library some time after 1970.

References – Primary Sources
1. Datestone of 1867 on building.

Secondary Sources
1. UAHS, Antrim and Ballymena (Belfast, 1969), p 6.
2. J. Hanna, Old Antrim (Catrine, Ayrshire, 2002), p 14 (shows rear extension with gabled roof, not lean-to).

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

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

Evaluation

This former Methodist church, of mid-Victorian date retains most of its original features and is of definite architectural and historic interest.