Christ Church (C of I)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Christ Church is situated on the Ballgelagh Road on the S side of the small hamlet of Kirkistown. It is a medium sized single storey gabled ‘gothic’ church constructed in squared (semi-coursed) basalt block with sandstone quoins, dressings and decorations.

The main entrance is located in the NW side of the square, three storey bell tower, which itself is positioned in the middle of the SW gable. At first glance the church appears cruciform in layout, however, it has a simple rectangular form internally, the cruciform effect created by a projecting sanctuary (NE), a projecting vestry, and an almost flush ‘gable feature’ (NW).

The tower is entered through timber sheeted doors (NW) set within a pointed arch door opening with sandstone dressings and drip moulding with label stops. Above the door is a carved stone which notes that the church was built in 1847 and the tower added in 1891. At first floor is a narrow lancet window with sandstone dressings. At second floor is a geometrical tracery opening (double lancet with louvres, quatrefoil opening over). The SW and SE elevations of the tower contain a tall lancet window to the ground floor with cill course, decorative moulding and label stops, with openings to the uppers floors as NW elevation. The tower is buttressed and finished with ‘gargoyle-like’ (i.e. not carved into the form of a head or figure) corner projections. NE elevation of the tower has second floor window as before, with other levels obscured by the nave.

SE elevation of nave has four evenly spaced lancet window openings with dressings, drip moulding and decorative label stops. All windows rest on a projecting cill course.

Gabled vestry attached to right on NE elevation, with paired lancets to its NE side, a single lancet with drip moulding and label stops to SE and chamfered door opening with shouldered head to SW.

NW elevation of nave has three evenly spaced lancet windows as before to right hand side. To left hand side a gable feature projects c.50cm. Geometrical tracery window opening centred on gable.

NW and SE side of sanctuary are blank, whilst NE has triple lancet window feature, with tallest window in centre.

Roof pitched with Bangor blue slates and stone parapets set on decorative corbel. Cast iron gutters and down spouts. Chamfered plinth. The church is surrounded by a small graveyard with later nineteenth and twentieth century head stones.

Low rubble wall with wrought iron gate to NW side.

Historical information

This church was built by the Rev. Alexander Bullick in 1847 after the abandonment of the old church of Ardkeen c.1839-40. The tower was added in 1891 by the Rev. Hugh Stowell.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st revision, 1860, Co. Down 25.
2 PRONI 2nd valuation, Ardkeen, c.1863.

References- Secondary sources.
1 G.F. Savage-Armstrong 'A genealogical history of the Savage family in Ulster, being a revision and enlargement of certain chapters of “The Savages of the Ards”' (London 1906), pp.337-55.
2 R.S.J. Clarke (compiler) 'Gravestone Inscriptions Vol.13, County Down, Barony of Ards' (U.H.F. Belfast 1975), pp. 16-17.
3 Rev. Frank Bell ‘Ardkeen Parish Church’ in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No.15' (1991), p. 23.
4 Patrick Breen ‘The Castle Hill’ in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No.7' (1983) pp. 11-14 .

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Relatively simple and largely intact rubble-built ‘gothic’ church of the 1840s, with later tower and relatively plain, but elegant, interior.