ST. COMGALL'S C OF I CHURCH,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey portal-framed roughcast Church of Ireland church, constructed c. 1955, located to the north end of Carmeen Drive on Rathcoole estate. Rectangular on plan, facing east; single-storey flat roofed extension clasping west end of building at ground floor; original two-stage gable front now contained within a large two-storey extension, built c.1985.

Deep mansard roof wholly containing nave on upper floor; interlocking concrete tiled roof covering, bellcote to west end; painted metal rainwater goods. Belfry consists of weatherboarded bell housing with brass bell and smaller bronze bell set in a round-headed opening; broached copper spire with ball and cross finial.

Windows to nave are elongated 28-pane metal framed dormers with sills at eaves level; all have pivoting central panel. Ground floor hall has roughcast rendered walling and tall round-headed windows with projecting concrete cills set close to ground level.

The church is dominated by the extension, which is symmetrical and five openings wide to each floor, arranged about central breakfront. Central entrance opening and first floor window are taller.

Side elevations are identical. Each is five windows wide to ground and upper storey; square-headed double leaf timber doors in plain rendered surround to west end. East end is abutted to ground floor by returning sections of vestry-kitchen extension.

The rear gable is abutted to ground floor by the vestry/kitchen extension. The exposed upper floor has a stained glass round-headed window with recessed apron; double-leaf multi-pane metal framed doors to either side (painted over), formerly accessed from vestry extension roof. Metal cross affixed to apex.

Vestry extension has a tarred roof and roughcast walling. The main (east) elevation has three round-headed windows, each set in recess with smooth rendered apron; double-leaf timber door with matching side panel and glazed transom recessed at left side; horizontal bar handle. Side elevations each have five small square windows. Remains of concrete access steps to either side, now removed.

The church is set in a tarmac yard enclosed by hedges and accessed by mild steel entrance gates. There is a small boiler house and utility block to south, of no interest.

Roof: Concrete interlocking tiled mansard
Walling: Painted roughcast
Windows: Round-headed metal framed, multi paned with central pivoting panel
Rainwater goods: Half-round metal

Historical information

The church was designed by Diocesan architect, Denis O’D Hanna, in 1955, and constructed by F&W Bell, builders. The steel portal frame was an economic method of construction particularly suited to single cell structures and widely used in the postwar period. There are two churches on Rathcoole estate, St Comgall’s and Rathcoole Presbyterian Church (HB21/20/002). The latter, constructed in 1956, also has a portal frame construction, although it is of precast concrete.

Secondary Sources:
1. Larmour, P: Belfast, An Illustrated Architectural Guide; Belfast, 1987
2. Community Archive on the Internet (CAIN Project)
http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/housing/docs/nicrc6.htm

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A mid-twentieth century Church of Ireland church, comprising double-tier plan layout with the church located on the upper floor above the church hall below. The structure is of some interest, with exposed portal frame providing the church with its tapering profile. The interior of the church is relatively well preserved, with the majority of original fabric and features intact. However, it is not amongst the finest examples of modern architecture and does not meet the statutory and policy tests as a building of special architectural or historic interest.