Killead Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A gabled church laid out on a T-plan with a later gabled extension projecting on pilotis from the long south wall. There are three entrances, including one in a gabled porch projecting on the east gable and a larger one in the east side of the north aisle which may be taken as the main entrance.

East elevation 2-storey comprising east entrance gable to left with the north aisle recessed behind to the right.
East gable rendered with dry dash of marble chippings with smooth rendered rusticated quoins to extremities; smooth rendered base. Roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses, oversailing on shaped brackets; black painted wooden barge boards.
One window to first floor of gable, semi-circular headed, timber fixed light of 6 panes with 3-pane top-hung opening light above it, surmounted by a semi-circular fanlight containing intersecting Gothic tracery lights, looks like modern replacement for an original timber sliding sash window; exposed sash boxes; continuous smooth cement rendered surround, with stop chamfered inner edge; projecting stone cill. Below window is a single storey gabled porch; similar walling to main gable; roof slated as main roofs; similar barge boards as previous, without brackets; moulded PVC gutters to each side; cast iron downpipe to each side mounted on moulded PVC eaves board; wooden soffits. One window in gable of porch, rectangular timber fixed light containing leaded panel with protective glazing over it; smooth cement rendered surround, stop chamfered; projecting concrete cill. Blank side wall to north; side wall to south contains an entrance door, rectangular timber modern 6-panel hardwood door with modern brass handle, set in rusticated smooth cement rendered surround with simulated flat arch to head; cement doorstep.

To right of porch and cut into by the porch gutter is a stone wall plaque in a plain neo-Grec style, with an inset white marble plaque to memory of Alexander Erskine who died in 1837.

East wall of north aisle has a semi-circular headed window in ground floor containing a 12-pane timber fixed light with similar intersecting tracery as previous, looks like a modern replacement for an original sliding sash; exposed sash boxes; surround and cill as previous. Above in first floor is a circular window with raised smooth cement rendered surround; fixed light window with intersecting triangles of ‘Star of David’ pattern to glazing bars; translucent glass, some tinted. To right-hand side is the main entrance doorway, of similar type to previous, except wider to accommodate double doors; concrete step.

South elevation has two semi-circular headed windows to ground floor to each side of a projecting central gabled outshot supported on two rectangular smooth cement rendered piers at the corners, carried out over two graves below. The two outer windows in main wall of church are timber fixed lights of small panes as previous; the two inner windows incorporate a 3-pane top-hung opening light, as previous. Gable of outshot has a central blind semi-circular headed panel blocked with smooth cement render and containing an off-centre modern metal ventilator grille; smooth cement rendered surround, unchamfered. Walling rendered with dry dash similar to main church walls but using chippings of yellow colour; smooth cement rendered rusticated quoins to extremities; concrete copings to gable, shouldered at ends, and surmounted by shaped stone finial; modern metal ventilator grille to bottom left-hand side of gable; lead flashing turned down over smooth rendered corner piers and beam. Roof slated as previous. Side walls of outshot have similar render as on its gable; carried on smooth cement rendered beam along bottom, with a moulded cement cornice along top, cut into on each side to accommodate downpipes; downpipes and moulded gutters are of PVC. Directly beneath the organ loft is the grave of Rev Samuel John Hamilton who died in 1933, and partly beneath it is the family burial place of Rev Joseph McKee, a 19th century memorial of plain design; neither memorial is of special architectural interest.

South elevation of main church has roof slated as previous, with two flush rooflights. Moulded PVC gutters with short downpipes to gutters of outshot below; short downpipes look like cast iron.

West elevation comprises a main two-storey gable to the right with the north aisle wing set back to the left, with a later single storey extension projecting forward from the main gable. Character and materials of main gable and north wing generally similar to east elevation. North wing has a cast iron downpipe to left of a semi-circular headed timber fixed light, glazed as previous, with a large circular window above, as previous. Downpipe discharges into a modern plastic gulley. To left of downpipe is a basement doorway, containing a modern 6-panel door reached by concrete steps enclosed by modern steel gate and railings. Prominent chimney, smooth cement rendered, lined and blocked, with one modern terracotta pot.

Main west gable has a first floor window similar to east elevation. Single storey extension is of canted form. Walls rendered with dry dash of stone chippings; cement quoins to angles; timber fascias with moulded PVC guttering; PVC downpipes; roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses. Windows of extension are as follows: west face, a semi-circular headed timber window with small panes, comprising a fixed portion at bottom surmounted by a bottom-hung vent above, with a rectangular fixed light of decorative leaded glass to the flanking angled face to the left, and a rectangular fixed light, 6-pane, with top-hung 6-pane vent above, to the flanking angled face to the right; north side of extension, a rectangular timber fixed light, 4-pane, with top-hung vent above, 2-pane. All windows have raised smooth cement rendered surrounds and projecting concrete cills. South side of extension has a modern rectangular timber door, 6-panel. North side has two old marble inscription plaques mounted on it in rendered surrounds.

North elevation of church comprises a central projecting north gable with the north walls of the east and west aisles set back behind.
Main north gable is of similar character to other main gables; contains two tall semi-circular headed windows; timber fixed lights with horizontal glazing bars and narrow margin lights; translucent glazing, some panes tinted; raised cement rendered surrounds and projecting concrete cills. North face of east aisle has one semi-circular headed window, timber fixed light of 12 panes with Gothic tracery lights; cast iron downpipe to right. North face of west side has a similar window with cast iron downpipe to left.

SETTING: The church stands on a corner site within its own grounds, enclosed on the east and north sides by wrought iron railings (see HB20/14/008B), on the south side by a hedge, and on the west side by a rendered wall to each side of a two-storey outbuilding, originally the old school. Grounds contain numerous graves with mainly 19th century headstones, set in grassy lawns. Church surrounded by tarmac paths with some mature yew trees within the churchyard. Path to west approached from carpark by a pair of double gates of similar design to railings. Path to south approached from manse grounds by small plain looped iron gate. Path to east approached by the main gateway.

Historical information

Originally built c 1750 the church appears to have achieved its essential T-plan, galleried interior arrangement, and characteristic Georgian fenestration in 1828-9 when it underwent extensive repairs and alterations including a new roof, new pews, and its previous old lead windows were replaced by timber sashes. Subsequently it underwent further alterations in 1895 when the previous exterior stone steps to the gallery were removed to be replaced by the present internal wooden staircase; the present galleries have the appearance of dating from this late Victorian period. Exterior walls raised to form parapets in 1937, and the church re-roofed, from the new parapet height, in 1962. Organ chamber added behind pulpit, projecting to the south on two piers, and the pulpit itself remodelled, in 1952. Minister’s room and meeting room added to west in 1993. Boundary walls and railings to churchyard built 1902 but set back almost 2 metres all round in 1963 to allow room for a public footpath. Setting changed with removal of mature trees around the churchyard in 1960; old fallen headstones set against the wall of the old school along the west boundary in 1968; paths around church laid with tarmac and given concrete kerbs in 1975. Extension to west added in 1993.

References – Primary Sources
1. OS Map 1832-3, Co Antrim 55 (shown as a T-plan).
2. Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Vol 35: Parishes of County Antrim XIII, 1833, 1835, 1838 (Belfast, 1996), pp 12, 41-2, 45.
3. A 1st World War ‘Roll of Honour’ mounted on wall in north porch, incorporating a watercolour vignette of the church showing the south elevation before the building of the organ loft.
Secondary Sources
1. U.A.H.S., West Antrim (Belfast, 1970), p 12.
2. W.D. Weir and H. Campbell, Presbyterianism in Killead 1630-1980 (1980).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

This is a building of 18th century foundation but largely 19th century fabric, which has evolved from an essentially Georgian layout to include late Victorian fittings and has been extended to encompass mid to late 20th century additions.
The loss of earlier elements and the use of inappropriate materials have affected its character. However its relatively early foundation , the associated railings(HB20/14/008B) and Cunningham Memorial (HB20/14/009) and local social and historical significance mean that listing could still be considered appropriate.