Church of the Ascension

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached Church of Ireland church, dated 1952, located to the south side of Doagh Road. Rectangular-on-plan with chancel and engaged belfry at east; projecting bays to east and west end of north and south elevations.

Roof is pitched and tiled, catsliding over projections; deep overhanging eaves and timber bargeboards. Walling is stretcher-bonded red brick. Original round-arched metal framed casement windows with interlocking Y-tracery and textured glass to nave; square-headed metal casements to remainder. All have brick voussoirs and painted masonry sills.

Principal gable faces east. Abutted by chancel to centre; round-arched-headed stained glass window at upper level flanked by series of brick relief motifs, over a group of three square-headed windows at basement level; to left, engaged belfry containing round-arched-headed aperture housing bronze bell. Exposed section contains timber sheeted door to basement at left and two square-headed windows at upper level at right; single window at basement.

South elevation consists of five-window wide nave (each window separated by buttresses). To either side is a projecting bay with catslide roof, each containing a porch and offices. Projecting bay at left contains three windows to left, square-headed double-leaf raised-and-fielded timber panelled entrance doors to right, with banded concrete surround to voussoirs; accessed by two steps enclosed by walling and railings. Bay at right contains three windows at ground and basement level at right and single window at ground floor at left; entrance door as before on west elevation.

West elevation abutted by double-height gabled projection at centre. Exposed section to left and right each contain a single window at ground floor.

North elevation consists of seven window-wide nave (each window separated by buttresses). Abutted at left by vestry containing three windows at ground and basement level; lean-to shed at right containing square-headed timber sheeted door to right and single window to west. Abutted at right by projecting bay containing offices, lit by three windows; timber sheeted door to east.

Setting

Set within churchyard in residential area with hall (built c.1955) to north and rectory to south-east, both in the style of the church. Site is bounded to Doagh Road at south by hedging and accessed from avenue through alcoved entrance comprising square brick pillars and walling with masonry coping surmounted by metal railings and supporting pair of metal gates.

Roof Tiled
Walling red brick
Windows metal framed
RWG Cast-iron

Historical information

The church is not recorded on the early Ordnance Survey map series.

According to the Irish Architectural Archive, the church was built 1951-52, as a ‘dual purpose building serving purposes of church and church hall dedicated by Bishop of Connor’ and costing £15,000. The church was designed by Anthony Frederick Lucy of Holywood, Co. Down.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/57/1 –First Edition OS Map (1832)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/57/2 –Second Edition OS Map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/57/3 –Third Edition OS Map (1902)

Secondary Sources

1. Irish Architectural Archive. “Dictionary of Irish Architects” [Internet Source] Available from:
Accessed 12/05/09.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A plainly detailed mid-twentieth century brick Church of Ireland church, dated 1952, located to the south side of Doagh Road and constructed in modern style. The church retains original metal windows and displays some subtle yet elegant brick detailing to main elevation. It is set back from Doagh Road within its own grounds. However, it is a late and pedestrian example of the type and not of special architectural or historic interest.