Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A double-height Presbyterian church in neo-Renaissance style, dated 1842, with front bay added in 1986, located off the A2 Bangor Road at Ballyrobert. The church is rectangular-on-plan with 1902 extension to rear, abutted by a further extension (of no interest).

Roof is pitched natural slate with terracotta ridge tiles, pinnacles and stone kneelers. Decorative finial at centre of ridge on rear gabled roof. Ogee cast-iron rainwater goods on stone eaves. Walling is painted ashlar over masonry plinth with moulded details. Windows are round-headed with stained and leaded glazing set in modern PVC casements (unless otherwise stated); hood moulding with stops and central key blocks; chamfered bead moulded surrounds and painted stone sills. Decorative bracket moulding under cill at principal windows on north, east and west façades.

The principal elevation dates from 1986 and faces south. It is three windows wide, with central window partially concealed by the projecting porch. It comprises pediment with central bell-cote, having semi-circular headed aperture (sans bell) over blind roundel with moulded surround and key-blocks at cardinal points; dated ‘1842’. Moulded architrave and four pilasters.

The central porch (1986) is a dominant feature of the main facade. Accessed by five stone steps and one window deep, it echoes the classical detailing of the elevation, with moulded architrave and pilasters, here having Doric capitals. The door is mahogany, eight panelled double-leaf with simple stone architrave. It is framed by pilasters and a single window to either side. All windows are leaded glazed stained glass.

The east elevation is four windows wide, each opening separated by a lesene. To the left there is an oculus to the first floor and a small window to the ground floor.

The rear gable is completely abutted by a later hall extension slightly wider than the church, which in turn is completely abutted to the north by a modern kitchen and hall of no interest. The left section has blind door to south and two blind windows to gable. The right section has a projecting porch to south and to north three modern PVC windows in Serliana formation with diamond motif to centre of gable. Stepped barge to both gables.

The west elevation has three windows to right and to left mahogany double-leaf eight panelled door with transom light; moulded architrave and pediment.

Setting

The church is set back from the main road on a slightly elevated site, enclosed by fencing and hedgerow with a section of lawn to front and to the left. Twin tarmacadam entrances are separated by a painted masonry boundary wall with coping stones and stone piers with pointed caps. There is a large car park to the east

Roof: Natural Slate
Walling: Painted ashlar
Windows: leaded & stained/pvc frames
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The church was built in 1842 and has undergone twentieth century modifications with the addition of a porch and belfry and the bringing forward of the facade by a bay.

According to John and Eleanor McConaghy a spirit of ‘evangelical outreach’ prevailed in Irish Presbyterianism in the early nineteenth century and ‘efforts began to be made to revive moribund congregations in the south and west of Ireland and to form new congregations, north and south. During the 1830s eighty-three new congregations were added to the Synod of Ulster…Ballygilbert was an early example of this new vitality and creative outreach in Irish Presbyterianism in the years before and after the formation of the General Assembly in 1840”. (McConaghy, p.6)

The church was built in 1842 and is shown as a ‘Presb[yterian] Meeting Ho[use]’ on the second edition map of 1858. Funds were raised by the first Minister Rev. Abraham Liggatt and construction began in April 1842. The building opened for worship in September. The new church accommodated about 310 people and had cost £300. (McConaghy, p.15-8)

Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) shows that the land was leased from Lord Dufferin and the valuation of the meeting house was £13 later raised to £25.

A church hall was built in 1902 to designs by Hobart of Dromore, the contractor being a Mr Pollock. This was known as the ‘guildhall’ and also contained the vestry. Hobart & Heron completed reseating and other alterations including new flooring, a heating system, window alterations, remodelling of choir seating and tiling of the gallery and vestibule in 1905. The contractors were Burrows and Sons (McConaghy, p.53-6)

The ceiling was replaced in 1929 with pitch pine, the pews and woodwork varnished, and walls treated and painted, under the direction of Rev. McMaster. A porch with two cloakrooms was added to the front facade and some decorative moulding were removed together with pinnacles from the two roof corners. A belfry was also erected. (McConaghy, p.84-6)

In 1947 an organ was installed. A suite of halls, known as "The Park Halls" was built during the ministry of Very Rev Dr Park to designs by the architects, G.P. and R.H. Bell. These were opened in 1966 and the McConaghy history shows a plan and elevation of the designs which contained two halls, a committee room, a kitchen and lavatories. It was built of grey brick with rendered panels at a cost of £13,000. (McConaghy, p.107-8)

The ‘guildhall’ was refurbished in 1968 by the removal of all internal divisions and the breaking through of a new doorway from the church. At the same time the floor was replaced, fireplace removed and leaded lights replaced with ‘Georgian’ wired glass. (McConaghy, p.110-1)

In 1980, due to problems with leaks in the flat roof of the church halls it was decided to replace with a pitched roof and at the same time the church halls were extended. (McConaghy, p.119-121)

In 1986 the façade of the church was moved 20 feet forward so creating a new reception area with a meeting room above, the old vestibule providing about eighty extra seats within the church. ‘At the front and extending across the whole width of the church would be a raised platform area, the organ pipes and works would be raised above head level and the font would be placed on the platform on the Bangor side of the church. As well as the alterations to the church, the Guildhall had to be updated and brought up to fire regulation standard and the kitchen remodelled.’ (McConaghy, p.125)

References:

Primary Sources

1.PRONI OS/6/3/1/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858
2.PRONI OS/6/3/1/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-02
3.PRONI OS/6/3/1/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-31
4.PRONI OS/6/3/1/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-41
5.PRONI VAL/2/B/3/1 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1856-64)
6.PRONI VAL/2/B/3/1B – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
7.PRONI VAL/12/B/23/7A-K – Annual Revisions (1866-99)
8.PRONI VAL/12/B/23/8A-C – Annual Revisions (1894-1923)

Secondary Sources

1.“A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1610-1982” authorised by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Belfast: Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, 1982
2.McConaghy, J.W. and E.M. “A Light for the Road, Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church 1841-1991” Belfast: Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church, 1991

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A double-height Presbyterian church, built in 1842 and altered substantially over the years. The 1902 extension to the rear of the building and the front bay addition of 1986 developed the original church in scale and massing and it was extensively modernised internally in 1929, altering the floor plan and detailing. Although its interest has been compromised by more recent alterations and additions, the development of the church is of note and maintains its historic character.

General comments

Please note this record has been renumbered it was previously recorded as HB23/15/025