ULSTERVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Gothic Revival Presbyterian church built 1923 to designs by Samuel Stevenson, architect. Symmetrical on plan and elevation, main entrance faces east and comprises nave gable flanked by polygonal piers with octagonal turrets and pinnacles on top; and lower stair towers with parapet roofs. Mainly constructed in squared and pitched basalt with Giffnock sandstone dressings, red brick with reconstituted stone dressings used to less public elevations. Located at north end of Lisburn Road, Belfast, a main arterial route and densely populated area. Church sits between rows of shops to the front (E) with residential housing to rear (W); elevated above pavement level and despite its compact site, Ulsterville Presbyterian Church remains amongst the most prominent buildings in Lisburn Road Area of Townscape Character. Converted to commercial use, c.2013 with flat roofed extension containing restaurant and café added.

Materials
ROOF: Natural slate with sprocketted eaves to N&S aisles; and red terracotta ridge tiles. Parapet roof to stair towers not seen. Lead clad cheeks to nave above parapet.
RWG: Cast iron
WALLS: Squared and pitched basalt with Giffnock sandstone dresssings (N&E); English Garden Wall bond with reconstituted stone dressings (S&W).
WINDOWS: Pointed arched leaded square paned with stained glass borders and feature panels (unless otherwise stated).

Front Elevation (E):
Nave gable flanked by piers and stair towers as described above. Projecting base plinth with cavetto moulded sandstone top. Toothed quoins to impost level of openings, hood moulds above. Twin pointed arched doors to slightly advance ground floor entrance with ‘1923’ date stone to middle; five-part window (ascending in height to centre) and three part blind opening above; plain sandstone copings and octagonal pinnacle to apex (no finial). Concentric pointed arches to doors on engaged sandstone columns with foliated capital and moulded base; roll-edge moulding; stained glass over-lights above square-headed nine-panelled painted timber sliding doors (likely to be original). Timber doors open to reveal slide-back frameless glass modern doors when building in use. Simpler concentric arches to five-part windows with chamfered edge. Three courses dressed sandstone to sloped roof over entrance. Stepped buttresses to piers and both have plain sandstone quoins. Projecting string courses to piers align with eaves to nave entrance; parapet to stair tower; eaves to main roof; and cornice to panelled turret, below pinnacle. Single quatrefoil windows above two lancet windows to each stair tower; string course and blind arcade to parapet; stepped buttress and pinnacle to outer end (N & S) matching that to nave apex. Engraved stones on each buttress laid by benefactors in 1923: Mrs Hamilton McCleery of Dunmurray; C.M. Legg Esq, Jr. Of Carrickfergus; Dr Joseph Fulton of Belfast; and The Rt. Hon. H.M. Pollock M.P.D.L.

North Elevation:
Six equally spaced bays divided by stepped buttresses with stair tower to left (E) in basalt and sandstone with blind arcade and pinnacle above to match front elevation. Detailed as front elevation, including base plinth and buttresses. Plain sandstone eaves course with roll moulded lower edge supporting ogee cast iron gutter. Lead clad octagonal base midway along ridge, possibly as base to former louvered roof vent; and lead sheeting to nave wall above parapet. Pointed arched openings with toothed quoins to reveals and simple chamfered edge. Single window above pair of windows to stair tower; tripartite openings to remaining five bays, almost full width of bay and each having taller middle window. Storm glazing to all windows with zinc-wrapped edge set back from reveal to allow air gap. Modern retractable awning fitted to each bay.

West elevation:
Largely blank, red brick with toothed sandstone quoins above N & S end buttresses; raised sandstone coping and carved kneeler stones; chimney offset to right (S) of apex; single opening centred on gable, with cusped timber frame having circular middle pane surrounded by half-rounds, all plain single glazed; applied motif to centre. Flat roofed extension spans full width of gable at ground floor level and is largely plain, painted render with slim powder coated metal trim to parapet roof; mid-plan to restaurant, two square-based glazed lanterns with hipped roofs project beyond parapet. ‘Ghost’ marking of former 1970s extension (now demolished) visible in brickwork above flat roof.

South Elevation:
Mirrored form of north elevation, except stair tower has pointed arched door with hood mould and blind tympanum to ground floor; and remaining five bays are in red brick with reconstituted stone dressings. Second bay from west has concrete basement steps second bay from left (W) bound by modern metal railings; sheeted timber door, painted black.

Setting
Set back and elevated above pavement level, approached by broad stone steps centred on entrance; decorative wrought iron gates on cast iron square pillars each imprinted with ‘Ulsterville’, railings to match on low reconstituted stone walling with coping to either side. Low gradient ramps surfaced in resin bonded gravel rise from base of steps to provide level access at both sides of church. Planting beds in between steps and ramp. Painted rendered wall with canted coping and modern railings atop to north boundary, aligned with steps leading to Mount Prospect Park; ceramic black and white tiled street sign typical of Edwardian era fixed to wall. Flat roofed addition extends to west boundary. Plain rendered wall with precast concrete coping to south boundary; sheeted timber door midway along wall to bin enclosure; SW end terminated by marble clad walls and projecting metal clad canopy to modern addition.

Historical information

Ulsterville, originally known as ‘Lower Windsor’ congregation, was established in 1901, with worshippers meeting in a hall sited between the west end of Tate’s Avenue and Donnybrook Street. Renamed ‘Ulsterville Presbyterian Church’ in mid-1902, the congregation moved to a new building at the junction of Lorne Street and Edinburgh Street the following year. In 1913 plans were drawn up by Belfast architect Samuel Stevenson for a new church within what had been the grounds of Mount Prospect, (a pre-1832 residence, rebuilt or enlarged c.1840s); however, construction was postponed due to the outbreak of WWI. Work finally commenced in January 1923 (with one of the foundation stones laid by Kate Booth, daughter of William Booth the founder of the Salvation Army) and the first service in the new building held in January the following year. A newspaper report of the opening reads, ‘The church, which is situated Mount Prospect, Lisburn Road, is a handsome structure of blue whinstone, with freestone copings, occupying a commanding position. It is approached from the road wide flight of steps, and two doors give entrance to the vestibule. Seating accommodation is provided for 1,000 people. Excellent light is afforded by leaded windows, and night illumination is provided by shaded electric lamps.’ Later that year an organ was installed, the gift (costing £1,700) of an anonymous owner.

The building remained in regular use until early 2010 when the Ulsterville congregation merged with that of nearby Windsor, and services were moved exclusively to the latter’s church further west along Lisburn Road. After this it was acquired by an interior design company and converted to a showroom for high-end furniture, which opened in 2013, with a restaurant extension added to the rear (in place of the former church hall) completed late in the same year.

References – Primary sources
1 ‘The Irish Builder;, 5 May 1923, p.340
2 ‘Belfast News-Letter’, 7 January 1924
3 ‘Northern Whig’, 7 January 1924
4 ‘Larne Times’, 12 January 1924

Secondary sources
1 Larmour, Paul, ‘The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis’, (UAHS, 1991), p.74
2 Natural Stone Database http://www.stonedatabase.com//buildings.cfm?bk=2576 accessed 7/12/2016, 09:50am

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

R. Age
S. Authenticity
V. Authorship
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Gothic Revival Presbyterian Church built 1923 to designs by Samuel Stevenson, architect, in a similar style to his other churches at that time. Symmetrical on plan and elevation, main façade comprises nave gable flanked by polygonal piers with later octagonal turrets and pinnacles; and lower stair towers with parapet roofs. Mainly constructed in squared and pitched basalt with Giffnock sandstone dressings. Of cultural importance to the local community including windows and plaques dedicated to members of the congregation lost in WWI. Sophisticated and highly successful exemplar conversion to commercial use c.2013, with suitably modest flat-roofed addition. Original galleried nave retains spatial integrity, augmented by simple high quality modern interventions. Good setting - set back and elevated above pavement level; decorative wrought iron gates and cast iron pillars mark the entrance with low walling and railings to match, significantly enhancing its character within the Lisburn Road Area of Townscape Character.