Ballyclare Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached double-height single-cell barn-style Presbyterian church, built c.1860, located to north of Doagh Road, aligned north-south. Rectangular on plan, facing south; abutted by large modern multi-storey two-storey extension (built c.1990).

Roof is pitched slated with lead-capped masonry verges, roll-top blue/black ridge tiles, half-round uPVC rainwater goods to stone corbel course. Walling is rubble basalt (built to courses) with strap pointing over chamfered cement plinths, unless otherwise stated. Windows are round-headed with basalt voussoirs, slightly projecting painted smooth-rendered reveals and sills, modern painted timber stained glass casements, unless otherwise stated.

South elevation has painted block-marked rendered walling over chamfered rendered plinth, straight channelled quoins; gabled bellcote to apex with round-headed opening (no bell). Central entrance is round-headed with rendered blocked deep reveals having keystone with iron lamp affixed; modern timber and glazed double door with stained glass tympanum; accessed by three concrete steps and ramp. Single window to either side with rendered architrave, sills, and keystone. First floor has three oculi with rendered architraves, splayed reveals, and keystones to cardinal points.

West and east elevations are five double-height windows wide.

North gable abuts modern extension (of no interest).

Setting

Set back from road and bounded by modern rock-faced concrete plinth wall with steel railings to south; roughcast dwarf wall with saddleback concrete coping to east, accessed by ornate mild steel gate; enclosing a tarmac parking lot.

Roof: Natural Slate
Walling: Rubble basalt (built to courses)
Windows: Modern painted timber stained glass
Rainwater goods: Half-round uPVC

Historical information

Robert Grange has recorded the history of the church from 1856 to 1981 in his “Ballyclare Presbyterian Church: A Story of 125 Years.” The church emerged in 1861 “from the church associated with the non-subscribing Presbytery of Antrim... [but] services differ with non-subscribing church in the Main Street.”

Grange records that in 1861, a petition of complaint was delivered to the Presbytery of Antrim and in 1862 the congregation voted to withdraw from the Presbytery. “There was clearly a group within the church that supported the minister, and a group that opposed him resolutely.” [An 1863 legal decision in favour of the minister] led to a further breakaway and feud of Second Ballyclare. (Grange, p 13)

The Presbyterian tradition is particularly deeply rooted in the local area and the wider county of Antrim. The first Presbytery was formed in 1642 and Presbyterians were the largest of the dissenting groups in Ulster, particularly concentrated in the north-east. There were various disagreements, with five groups having formed by 1800. The nineteenth century saw the formation of the structure which remains today, with the two largest groups being the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, formed in 1840, and the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

In 1856, the church had 71 supporting families. In 1861, the church had 135 supporting families, a weekly attendance numbering between 200 and 250 of the total Ballyclare population of 1,100. In 1981, the church had 557 supporting families, 350 weekly attendees of the total Ballyclare population of over 6,000. (People Matter to God, 13)

References:

Secondary Sources

1. Ballyclare Presbyterian Church, People Matter to God (Ballyclare: Self-published, 2006).
2. Grange, R. T. Ballyclare Presbyterian Church: A Story of 125 Years (Ballyclare: Self-published, 1981).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A modestly scaled mid nineteenth century Presbyterian church, constructed in a simple style in locally quarried stone with understated stucco detailing. The modern extension to rear has significantly compromised the integrity of the church, both in scale and style. Historically, the church has played a significant role in the development of Presbyterianism locally. While of local interest, it is not among the best examples of the type and has been compromised by various alterations and additions and the loss of some historic fabric.