St. Cooey’s Oratory (RC)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Built to designs by McClean and Forte, in 1965, St. Cooey’s Oratory is a modern, flat roofed, pebble dashed church building. It is located in the north west corner of the Market Square and is set back from the original building line. The structure is essentially rectangular, but interest has been created using a number of design devices, e.g. varying roof heights, curvilinear screen walls leading to the front door, a free standing canopy/belfry, and curved and overlapping walls within the main structure.

The main entranced is approached by passing under an open canopy which incorporates a modern ‘belfry’ To the rear of this arrangement is the front door which is set a diagonal angle and is set within an anodised aluminium frame, with margins and fanlights, and is decorated with a beaten copper panel with Celtic motifs.

The walls are rendered and finished with limestone chips. Smooth cement bands are located at eaves and base. High level windows with abstract coloured glass patterns are located to the south wall and light the porch. There are very narrow high level (clerestory) strip windows to the east and west sides of the nave. Rhythm in the windows is created by the exposed ends of the main concrete beams.. Overlapping walls to the NE provide an opening which has full height glazing

There is a modern two storey ‘concrete brick’ parochial house to rear. The dwelling is connected to the rear of the church by way of a single storey link corridor. The house was built around the same time as the church.

Historical information

This church was built in 1968 to designs by McClean & Forte.

Secondary sources
1 G. Philip Bell, C.E.B. Brett, Sir Robert Matthew, 'Ulster Architectural Heritage Survey: Portaferry & Strangford'
(Belfast UAHS 1969), pp.11, 19

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Irregular, modern style single storey flat roofed, RC church of 1968 by McLean & Forte. The building is essentially rectangular, but has varying roof heights, curvilinear screen walls leading to the front door, a free standing canopy/belfry, and curved and overlapping walls within the main structure.