Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB06/06/001

Address :
St Cedma’s C of I Church Inver Road Larne Co Antrim

Townland:
None

---

Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
23/10/1979 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Church

Former Use
Church

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
Yes

Derelict:
No

---

OS Map No:
70/12

IG Ref:
D3970 0238

---

Owner Category

Church - C of I

Exterior Description And Setting

A gabled rectangular stone church with battered walls, with a crenellated and pinnacled western tower and a small gabled vestry at the north-east corner. The main entrance is in the north wall of the western tower. Tower walls of basalt rubble, recessed pointing. Entrance gothic arched with crisp-cut voussoirs in reconstituted stone, not original, and jambs of basalt limestone, and red sandstone. Doors rectangular, diagonally sheeted oak, varnished, not original; tympanum panel similar. Above archway a re-used carved stone of medieval origin depicting a human head with leafy beard. Ocular opening at higher level, with sandstone dressings, wooden louvres and decorative ironwork grilles; pointed lancets in basalt arches above that, also with louvres and grille, and surmounted by a narrow slit with projecting sandstone cill and head; plain crenellations and spiky corner pinnacles. Extending to the left of tower, the north wall of the main body of the church, with long unbroken roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses between sandstone gable copings; black ridge tiles; three cylindrical metal roof ventilators of 19th century appearance. Cast iron gutters and downpipes. Walls of basalt rubble with reticulated pointing which includes galletting with small river stones and slate; limestone quoins to extremities. Wrought iron lamp mounted at north-west corner of nave, post-war, appropriate. Four windows in nave, all with irregular dressings and containing stained glass protected by grilles, from right to left as follows: two large two-light sandstone windows each with tracery-light, both 19th century Gothic revival; narrow Gothic lancet with cusped head within square label moulding, all in limestone, genuine medieval of 15th century date, with red sandstone sculpted head projecting from wall above, and Tudor rose in marble set below it; a large two-light Gothic arched window, as before, but mid-20th century renewal. Beyond last window of nave, low down, three flush edged blocks of limestone built into wall, possibly quoins from previous doorway. At east end of north elevation, a projecting gabled vestry, Victorian: roof as nave; snecked basalt walls with sandstone dressings, and projecting plinth; moulded cast iron gutter on moulded corbels; gable coping surmounted by small Gothic stone cross, re-used medieval from west end of nave; wrought iron lamp mounted in apex of gable, post-war addition, appropriate; windows Gothic Revival lancets with cast iron glazing bars, lozenge pattern with margin lights; vestry door new replacement, appropriate. East gable of church symmetrical: walls as before; distinct batter to gable and side walls; stone copings rising to short chimney; three light traceried sandstone window, Victorian Gothic Revival containing stained glass, protected by grilles; reused medieval stone carving of an animal built into south shoulder of gable. East face of tower with high level lancet and slit as on north. South facade of nave similar walling to north with seven windows, all containing stained glass, protected by grilles, from right to left as follows: two lancets with square-cut sandstone dressings, Victorian Gothic Revival; two-light Gothic arched with plain tracery light, in reconstituted stone, with square-cut dressings, 1920s insertion; two-light Victorian Gothic Revival with plain tracery light, square-cut dressings; another similar but some stonework renewed, and set in cement surround with brick arch, and Georgian cill; another two-light Gothic arched with plain tracery light, with square-cut dressings and splayed cill, all in sandstone, 1920s insertion; white painted wood two-light with rhomboidal tracery light between, all with small panes, 3 x 9 plus intersecting traceries to each lancet, set in plastered reveal with brick arch, early 19th century with Georgian cill of sandstone. Low down, between last two windows and almost hidden by later memorial slabs, a blocked up Gothic arch in limestone with basalt voussoirs, genuine medieval dating from period when levels inside and outside were lower than now. Some recent replacement quoins at south west corner of nave. In angle between west end of nave and tower, a lean-to porch, similar materials but mid-20th century construction with three-light window in concrete surround, with translucent glass and leaded lights; rectangular double door in west wall of porch. Above porch, south face of tower as north. West face of tower similar but blocked up semi-circular moulded archway at ground floor, inscribed with date 1788. Concrete steps to left, and paved terrace of modern construction with tubular metal handrails to accommodate levels across west end. Projecting from lean-to porch, a covered walk with flat asphalt roof on wooden posts to connect with church halls, modern post-war addition, detracts from church. Hall range itself is of basalt and concrete brick, of no special interest. At entrance to churchyard, a gabled lych gate of open oak construction, appropriate in design, and of good quality. Roof of small Bangor blue slates in regular courses with blue ridge tiles, carried on two King-post trusses with curved struts in gables, with five collars between. Inscriptions on trusses in raised letters: “Teach us to number our days” to east, “Gift of H.H. Smiley, Drumalis”, to west. Four oak supports with curved struts; concrete base; oak railings closing gaps to boundary walls; large wrought iron hinges and handles to gate. Adjacent noticeboard of same solid oak construction as lych gate. Setting: the building stands in a graveyard along a cul-de-sac beside the Inver River, with many stone slabs and other memorial stones, bounded by rubble stone walls and entered through a gabled lych-gate, adjacent to a public memorial park and separated from the main town centre by an elevated dual-carriageway.

Architects

Smith, Gerald Hanna, Denis O'D Close, Samuel P Welland, Joseph

Historical Information

Main walls of medieval origin, erected possibly as early as the beginning of the 14th century when a church dedicated to St Cedma was recorded here, but possibly not until 15th century when the site was re-founded by the Third Order of Franciscans. Lower part of tower built 1778 but raised in height in 1820s to replace an unsafe spire. Church repaired in 1819 when original medieval roof was removed and exterior walls roughcast. Remodelled in 1840 when floor level raised, Jacobean pews removed, west gallery and tower stairway added and main entrance moved from north-east (where the vestry now stands) to present position in tower. Vestry added, and present east window tracery inserted, in 1860-1, presumably to design of Joseph Welland of Dublin, as architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Interior remodelled in 1878-9 to designs of S.P. Close of Larne: including new pews; new font and baptistry area; new pulpit, lectern and reading desk; chancel arch; communion rails, chancel floor tiles; and decoration of chancel ceiling, executed by Cox Sons Buckley & Co of London. In 1881 organ erected in gallery. In 1949 roof re-slated. In 1955-6 church and tower re-pointed, ironwork grilles erected in tower windows, ironwork exterior lamps erected, new entrance doors in teak, and window beside pulpit renewed, all to the designs of D.O’D. Hanna, Diocesan Architect. Present lych gate erected in 1958 as accurate replacement of the late Victorian original. Church meeting room, called St Cedma’s Hall, built to the west of the church in 1958-9, to design of G. Smith, architect member of the congregation. During 1950s, headstones from the graveyard placed around perimeter walls. During 1970s, 12 foot high boundary wall to south and east of church lowered in height. The church has been scheduled as a historic monument: SMR no ANT 40: 33. References - Secondary 1. W. Reeves, Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dromore (1847), pp 54-5.J. 2. J O’Laverty, An Historical Account of the Dioceses of Down and Connor, Vol 3 (1884), pp 153-5. 3. L. Ewart, Handbook of the United Diocese of Down and Connor and Dromore (Belfast 1886), pp 94-5. 4. F.J. Bigger, A few historical sketches relating to places and people in and about Larne (1899). 5. A. Gwynn & R.N. Hadcock, Medieval Religious Houses in Ireland (1970), p 271. 6. J.A. Fair, To This You Belong (Belfast, 1980). 7. C.E.B. Brett, Buildings of County Antrim (Belfast, 1996), p 27.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style C. Ornamentation H-. Alterations detracting from building H+. Alterations enhancing the building I. Quality and survival of Interior K. Group value

Historic Interest

W. Northern Ireland/International Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance V. Authorship

Evaluation

This is a rare example of a building of medieval foundation still in active use, albeit with much of its original fabric and its entire interior Victorianised, but with some medieval details still retained or re-used. The site is enhanced by its lych gate of 19th century, design rebuilt in the 20th century, but the setting is spoiled by poor quality post-war additions at the west end.

General Comments

Date of Survey

08 September 1997