Old Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached single-storey single-cell Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church, built c.1800, located to the east of Main Street. Rectangular on plan with porch to north and south, and two-storey hall extension to south-east (first floor at street level).

Roofs pitched and slated with clay ridge tiles, corbelled eaves and timber bargeboards to gable-ends. Walls are smooth rendered. Windows are pointed-arched-headed in plain reveals with masonry cills, containing timber framed replacement windows with plain glass and Y-tracery.

Principal elevation is five windows wide and faces west. Abutted to north by porch containing depressed pointed-arched-headed opening with double-leaf vertically timber sheeted doors with cast iron handle and strap hinges. Abutted to south by flat-roofed porch with square-headed double-leaf vertically timber sheeted doors flanked by square-headed slit window containing leaded stained glass, accessed by three steps.

North elevation abutted by gable-ended porch containing single stained glass window to centre and bell on cast-iron brackets to apex.

East elevation is five windows wide. Abutted to right by north porch containing single window. Abutted to south by flat roofed two-storey extension and single-storey lean-to boiler house.

South elevation abutted by extension.

Setting

Church set within churchyard with garden to west, bounded to street by recent brick walling surmounted by cast-iron railings, and square pillars supporting wrought iron double-leaf gates. To east is graveyard (cleared for landscaping); gravestones moved to south boundary rubble wall, bounded to east by modern steel gates. Former session house to north of site, with frontage to street. House is single-storey single-bay, with extension to east; pitched and slated roof, roughcast walling and replacement doors and windows.

Roof Natural Slate
Walling Smooth render
Windows Pointed-arched-headed, replacement timber framed with plain glass
Rainwater goods uPVC

Historical information

The church is shown on the first edition OS map of 1833 and is recorded in the Townland Valuation of 1834. It measurements are given as 65.0 length and 28.0 breadth and 14.0 height and it is valued at £11.3s0d. The sermon house is also recorded at a value of £1.3s2d.

During the late seventeenth century, came the beginnings of some controversy as congregations began to split over the issue of subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith. After lengthy argument, those who wished to remain subscribed, broke away from the church, in the early nineteenth century, and formed another congregation, now Ballyclare Presbyterian Church (HB21/05/007). The old church remained part of the non-subscribers, forming part of the Remonstrant Synod in 1830, and combining with the opposed Antrim Presbytery in 1910 to form the General Synod of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland.

This, the first Presbyterian Church in Ballyclare was established in 1646, in a central location in the village. The floor was earthen with stone slabs beneath aisles. The original building was of stone construction, with thatched roof. In 1800, the building was lengthened and galleries were built to three sides (north, south and west). The building had no foundations, built only on base of stones, causing problems when extension was carried out in 1985. The church was extensively reconstructed in 1901 when roof, windows, gallery, pulpit, seats and floors were removed. New pitched pine roof and pews were installed, and platform was constructed at north end with timber choir screen and pulpit. There were porches to each end. The bell to the north gable once stood on the session house, also removed during the reconstruction work. Work was carried out to designs of architect James Ferguson, Belfast. The school room to the south was extended to include new facilities in 1985. The session house, contemporary with the original meeting house, is now one of the oldest buildings in Ballyclare.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI VAL/1/A/1/45 -Townland Valuation Map (1834)
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/17A -Townland Valuation Fieldbook (1834)
3. PRONI VAL/2/A/1/45A -Griffiths Valuation Map (1857)
4. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/7A -Griffiths Valuation (1857)
5. PRONI VAL/12/D/1/4C -Valuation Revisions (1880-86)
6. PRONI VAL/12/D/1/45A Valuation Revision Map (1864)

Secondary Sources

1. Grange, R. T, ‘Ballyclare Presbyterian Church: A Story of 125 years’ 1981
2. Nelson, J. W, ‘The Old Presbyterian Church: Main Street Ballyclare (1646-1997)
3. Non subscribing Presbyterian Church. [Internet Source].
Available from: Accessed 28/10/08

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A single-cell Non-Subscribing Presbyterian church, dating from c.1800, this church makes an important contribution to the streetscape of Ballyclare, as the original Presbyterian church in the area, and indeed one of the oldest buildings in the town. The church is plainly detailed,