Killinchy Presbyterian Church

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Originally built in 1714 and extended in 1739, Killinchy Presbyterian Church is a cruciform church set picturesque hollow on the north side of Craigarusky Road, immediately north east of Balloo cross roads, and less than half a mile W of Killinchy village.

Each wing of the cruciform is almost symmetrical having two evenly spaced windows each to the long walls and centrally positioned doorway below a central window within an otherwise plain gable.

The pointed arch windows to the long walls each have simple ‘Y’ tracery, each ‘lancet’ having margins. The windows are surmounted by moulded drip stones with label stops.

The SW gable has centrally positioned, diagonally sheeted timber doors. Above the double doors was a second set of double doors which was reached by an outside stair case. (now all removed) Directly above the upper double doors is a pointed arched window. The NW gable is similar. The SE and SE gables are similar but the upper double doors have been replaced with a multi-pane window. There are simple stone cornices with blocking courses between the upper and lower doors. The windows are surmounted by moulded drip stones with label stops. To the west side of the NW wing is a small lean to boiler house (probable added this century) out of which rises a tall chimney stack which is integrated into the main gable.

The building is finished in lined render and has cast iron RW goods. The roof has Bangor blue slates and decorative finials to each gable.
The building is well maintained and nestles within its own graveyard.

Late Victorian boundary wall with two sets of wrought iron gates.

Whilst this building is a fine example of a simple 18th century Presbyterian church, it is somewhat compromised by the close proximity of its large neighbouring church hall, which clutters what is otherwise a quiet and picturesque rural
setting and whose overall bulk competes with the church itself.

Historical information

The Killinchy Presbyterian congregation was established in 1630. The present church was constructed in 1714, mainly due to the efforts of Rev. James Reid, but appears to have assumed its present cruciform plan in 1739, in order to cope with the increase in worshippers. The church is shown in this form on the OS map of 1834 and noted in the contemporary OS Memoirs as ‘capable of holding 700 persons’. At this stage (though the Memoirs make no mention of it), the church was in the hands of an ‘Arian’ or non-subscribing portion of the congregation (as were many other Presbyterian churches at this time), who eventually were forced to give up the building in 1839 and construct their own to the south in Raffery townland.
In the late 1890s Rev. William Smyth carried out extensive renovations to the church, installing heating and new pews, adding the label moulding to the openings and building the boundary wall. He was also responsible for the construction of the Anderson Memorial Hall.
The last major alteration to the building occurred c.1940-50 when the external steps to the galleries were removed.

References- Primary sources
1 'The Ancient and Present State of the County of Down' by Walter Harris (1744).
2 PRONI OS maps 1st ed. 1834, Co. Down 17.
3 PRONI OS maps 1st rev. 1859-60, Co. Down 17.
4 PRONI T.2277/1 Killinchy Presbyterian Church Session minute book. See also D.2194/2/2.

Secondary sources
1 Rev. David Stewart 'Killinchy Presbyterian Church- History of its origin...' (Belfast 1930), pp.46-47.
2 R.S.J. Clarke 'Gravestone Inscriptions Vol. 6- Barony of Dufferin' (Belfast ?1974), pp.47-59.
3 C.E.B. Brett 'Historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in the towns and villages of East Down' (UAHS 1973), pp.44-5.

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

Early and fine, simple cruciform Presbyterian church of 1714, possibly originally barn or ‘T’ shaped, but extended to take on its present form in 1739. Some decoration in the form of label moulding to the openings was added in the 1890s, along with the boundary wall and the new church hall. In the 1940s the three external stairs, which gave external access to the galleries, were removed (allowing gallery access via ladders the only option), but apart from this the building is largely intact and exudes a quiet rural charm.