Kinghan Presbyterian Church for the Deaf

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A terraced two-storey-with-attic rock-faced sandstone hall in the Gothic-revival style with central gable; built c.1877 and located on the west side of Botanic avenue in Belfast city centre. Rectangular on plan with large three-storey extension to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with raised stone verges and decorative raised lead-lined triangles to pitch with cusped slate insets. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves with exposed rafter ends. Walling is uncoursed rock-faced sandstone on a chamfered plinth with sandstone dressings; gabled bay is buttressed with masonry offsets; string course between floors. Geometric tracery window with leaded-and-stained glass panels to first floor of central gable, flanked by paired equilateral-headed leaded quarries with chamfered sills, in ashlar surrounds surmounted by hood moulds with label stops. Ground floor windows are metal shoulder-headed casements with decorative leaded quarries to upper section in ashlar mullioned surrounds; that to left is paired; that to central gable is four-paned.

The principal elevation faces east and is almost symmetrically arranged. To right at ground floor is a set of modern double-leaf timber-and-glazed doors with transom light, in moulded Gothic archivolt with hood mould and label stops. Carved quatrefoil in moulded roundel to gable.

The south elevation is abutted by adjoining building.

The west (rear) elevation is fully abutted by a three-storey red-brick modern extension (of no interest).

The north elevation is abutted by adjoining building.

Setting:

Situated to the west side of Botanic Avenue, near the junction with Shaftsbury Square. Forming part of a mainly late nineteenth-century terrace, with some post-war replacements. Lane to rear accessed off Shaftsbury Square.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Rock-faced sandstone
Windows: Leaded quarries and metal casements
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

A Reformed Presbyterian church was built at Botanic Avenue between 1877 and 1879 to designs by Young and Mackenzie. (Belfast Newsletter)

The Secession congregation was established in 1874 composed largely of members who had come from country congregations to reside in Belfast during the period of the city’s most rapid growth. The congregation initially worshipped in the Music Hall at May Street and in 1875 a minister, the Rev George McMahon was installed. Work was begun on a new church in Botanic Avenue in 1877 and the building was completed in 1879 with the opening services held on 27th April. The building comprised a church, mission hall and schoolroom and first enters into valuation records between 1865 and 1881 as a ‘Presbyterian Secession church and yard’ valued at £180 and exempted. (History of Congregations; Belfast Newsletter) The building is first shown on the 1901-2 edition of the OS map.

The architects of the church were Young & Mackenzie of Belfast and the contractor was Martin Curry. A full description of the church, which was intended to accommodate 500 people, appeared in the Belfast Newsletter which noted that the church was upstairs and that schools and congregational buildings occupied the ground floor with separate entrances from the main vestibule and the rear. The interior, now gone, is described and the exterior commended as giving ‘due attention to economy as regards the details’. The external walls were executed in Scrabo stone with strings of Dundonald sandstone. A ‘commodious manse’ was also constructed, to the north of the church. The Irish Builder carries a sketch of the proposed building, the ground floor fenestration of which differs slightly from the building as finally constructed. It is possible that the central ground floor window has been enlarged since the church was originally built. (Irish Builder)

Unfortunately the congregation was in constant difficulties, perhaps not assisted by the existence of another secession church close by at the corner of Cameron Street. In 1896 the church building was sold to the Kinghan Mission for the Deaf, although the congregation continued to worship there for a time until it was dissolved. (History of Congregations)

The Kinghan Mission derives its name from John Kinghan who became Principal of the Ulster Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind in the 1850s. Four years after becoming Principal he applied for permission to rent a schoolroom in King Street for a mission service for the deaf and dumb. The service was transferred to Great Victoria Street schoolhouse and in 1878 ‘The Bethel’ was built in Sandy Row. After acquiring the Botanic Avenue property, the church was converted by Young & Mackenzie, the original architects, and re-opened in May 1899. The contractor was John Killen and the re-designed building comprised church, lecture hall, reading room, recreation room, women’s parlour, photographic rooms and committee room. R W Dodds became the superintendant of the Kinghan Mission in 1898 and was ordained in 1903. He opened further mission centres in Ballymena and Newtownards, retiring in 1938. His successor Dr Allen took a great interest in the renovation and beautifying of the building which became redesignated as a ‘church’ rather than ‘mission’ in 1965. The church suffered some bomb damage during the 1970s but continues in use as a church building. According to Patton, the church was completely rebuilt behind the retained facade in the 1990s under the supervision of John Neil and Partners, architects. (History of Congregations; Patton; www.dia.ie)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/1 – First Edition OS Map 1832-3
2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1901-2
4. PRONI OS/6/1/61/6 – Sixth Edition OS Map 1931
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A/1-45 – Annual Revisions (1863-1930)
6. Irish Builder, Vol 19, 1st Decenber 1877, p.351, 353
7. Belfast Newsletter, 19th November 1875
8. Belfast Newsletter, 16th April 1879

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 (available at www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com)
2. Patton, M “Central Belfast: An Historical Gazetteer” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1993
3. www.dia.ie – Dictionary of Irish Architects online

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Mission Hall is a terraced two-storey-with-attic rock-faced sandstone hall in the Gothic-revival style with central gable; built c.1877 on the west side of Botanic Avenue, as part of the mid-to late-nineteenth century development of this area of the city. Architectural detailing is externally mostly intact but there are replacement windows and an inappropriate modern entrance door. The interior has been fully refurbished in the 1990's with little or no historic fabric remaining.
The significant internal alterations have resulted in this late nineteenth century church largely comprising only a historic front façade to Botanic Avenue and it is therefore not of special interest. It continues to be a positive architectural element in the local area.