Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Double-height Gothic Revival Presbyterian Church, built c.1900, located to the west side of Kings Road. Rectangular-on-plan with square tower to south-east, double-height gabled projection to east and attached single-storey link block to hall to north-west.

Roofs are pitched and natural slated; concrete verges, parapet to tower. Walls are rock-faced squared-and-snecked basalt over stepped plinth to principal elevation; red brick quoins and dressings; offset buttresses with stepped weathering; red brick in English garden-wall bond elsewhere. Windows are pointed-arched-headed with stepped brick surrounds and voussoirs containing leaded stained glass; flush red sandstone chamfered sills (unless otherwise stated).

Principal elevation faces east, is gabled and has central gabled projection; pair of pointed-arched-headed rebated chamfered entrances (accessed by seven stone steps) in pointed-arched-headed recessed red sandstone bay, containing double-leaf vertically sheeted timber doors surmounted by central cinquefoil roundel; arrangement surmounted by string course and central sandstone pointed recess with continuous stepped string course. At upper level, large pointed-arched-headed window with panel tracery is surmounted by further stepped string course and blind narrow slit window to apex; flanked to either side by offset buttresses (diminishing to upper levels) and small window; offset buttressing to left and right. At left, abutted by four-staged square tower with set-back buttresses; stages separated by brick string courses; single window at first and second stage; two pairs of cusped round-arched-headed louvered openings in red sandstone surround at third stage; belfry stage is octagonal with sandstone quoins and contains square-headed opening with paired cusped round-arched-headed louvered openings. At right, elevation abutted by canted single-storey return containing single window to north-east. Exposed wall contains single window.

South elevation has five pairs of windows at upper level, separated by buttresses; at ground floor, square-headed tripartite window (red sandstone mullions) to each bay; segmental-headed voussoirs; corbelled eaves. Abutted at right by tower; pair of windows to second stage, upper stages detailed as principal elevation; access to basement via stone steps through segmental-headed timber louvered timber door. Abutted at left by modern hall.

West elevation abutted by modern hall. Exposed wall is blank.

North elevation detailed as south; abutted at right by hall; abutted at left by return.

Site bounded to Kings Road to east by hedging, accessed through square reconstituted stone entrance pillars with recessed panels supporting pair of cast-iron gates; to south, single gate, supported by brick pillars.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Rock-faced squared-and-snecked basalt to principal elevation; red brick in English garden-wall bond elsewhere
Windows: Pointed-arched-headed with stepped brick surrounds and voussoirs containing leaded stained glass
RWG: Cast-iron ogee gutters and round downpipes

Historical information

The church first appears on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1902. Whitehead Presbyterian Church’ is recorded in the Valuation Revisions under Balfour Avenue in 1901, valued at £15. According to the Presbyterian Historical Society Congregational History, the congregation was formally erected by the General Assembly in June 1900.

References

Primary Sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/1/47/3 - Third Edition OS Map (1902)
2. PRONI VAL/12/B/7/18A-F - Valuations Revisions (1864-1929)

Secondary Sources:
1. Presbyterian Historical Society Congregational History Project. Available from: Acessed 15th December 2008.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

This substantial double-height Gothic Revival Presbyterian Church, built c.1900, located to the west side of Kings Road is well detailed with red sandstone dressings and ornate carvings. The church retains its original character and features both externally and internally. Internally, ceiling configuration is unusual and timberwork remains intact. The church is a substantial landmark in the small coastal town of Whitehead and stands out as a building of special interest in this conservation area.