St. John's Church of Ireland Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A detached double-height two-cell Gothic Church of Ireland church, built c.1860, located on the south of Doagh Road. Rectangular on plan, facing north; single-cell chancel to south gable, three-stage tower to north gable, modern extension with double M-profile roof to west elevation (of no interest); re-entrant angles of tower occupied by modern single-storey lean-to extension to left and single-bay hipped extension to right (of no interest); modern single-storey-over-basement extension to west of chancel (of no interest).

Pitched natural slate roof, roll-top red clay ridge tiles, stone-coped verges, ogee cast-iron gutters. Walling is Flemish-bonded red brick with chamfered plinth and cornice, clamp buttresses with off
setting between windows. Diagonal buttresses have stone offsetting and quoins. Windows are all Gothic arched with splayed sandstone reveals.

North gable is abutted by tower and modern extensions (of no interest). Exposed section is blank. Tower has moulded sandstone stringcourses between stages, diagonal buttresses rise to mid-second stage surmounted by octagonal pinnacle bases extending to parapet, crenellated sandstone parapet with corner octagonal pinnacles. First stage has central Gothic arched door, double rebated moulded surround, label-ended hoodmoulds, painted timber sheeted double-leaf door with wrought-iron hinged straps and ring handle. Second stage elevations (except rear) have quatrefoils to sandstone circular surrounds. Third stage elevations have timber louvered belfry windows.

East elevation abutted by modern aisle (of no interest).

South gable is abutted by diminished chancel. Exposed section is blank. Chancel gable appears to be blank (inaccessible), right cheek is abutted by modern extension (of no interest). Left cheek is abutted by catslide projection; exposed elevation roughcast rendered with a stained glass lancet, the exposed elevation and cheek of the projection are unrendered and blank.

West elevation has four stained glass windows over a basement-level raised plinth of granite rubble (built to courses).

Setting

The church is set back from road to north and is sited on a sloped tarmac parking lot to west, modern flat-roofed church hall abuts basement-level of both left chancel cheek and projection.

Roof: Pitched natural slate
Walling: Flemish-bonded red brick
Windows: Stained glass casements
Rainwater Goods: Ogee cast-iron gutters

Historical information

he building is first shown on the third edition OS map of 1902 and is captioned ‘Church’. Earlier OS editions show the site as vacant. The Griffith's Valuation map of 1859 shows the church added in pen (date of addition is not given, however, it is likely to be before the date of the first Revision map, dated 1864), therefore suggesting it was constructed c. 1860.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/45/1 - First Edition OS Map (1832)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/45/2 - Second Edition OS Map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/51/3 –Third Edition OS Map (1902)
4. PRONI VAL/1A/1/45 - Townland Valuation map (1834)
5. PRONI VAL/1B/17A -Townland Valuation Fieldbook (1834)
6. PRONI VAL/2/A/1/45A -Griffiths Valuation map (1857)
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/7A -Griffiths Valuation Fieldbook (1857)
8. PRONI VAL/2/D/1/18 –Griffiths Town plan of Ballyclare (1859)
9. PRONI VAL/12/D/1/45A -Valuation Revision Map (1864)
10. PRONI VAL/12/E/9/4 –Valuation Revisions (1930-1935)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A detached double-height Gothic Church of Ireland church, built c.1860. The structure was built in a Commissioners' Gothic in red brick, which along with the pinnacles on the tower, creates a substantial presence on Doagh Road. Although of robust character and significant in the locale, it is not among the best examples of the type.