Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB01/11/002

Address :
St Columb’s R C Church Chapel Road Waterside Londonderry BT47 2BB

Townland:
Clooney

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
26/02/1979 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Church

Former Use
Church

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
36/8

IG Ref:
C4418 1615

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Owner Category

Church - RC

Exterior Description And Setting

The church is of cruciform plan with nave eight bays long, transepts one bay long, stone faced in a mixture of sandstone ashlar and schist random rubble, pitched slated roof with square belfry rising out of roof at west end and crowned with spire. The entrance facade (west end) has central doorway with pointed arch, moulded architrave in three orders and hood moulding finished in ogee topped with engaged cross and below stops of neatly carved male and female heads. Clasping panelled buttresses at gable corners terminated in gabled pinnacles. On either side of door tall lancets with pointed labels and Y tracery between the buttresses. Above the door a blank quatrefoil in a circle. A high moulded plinth and the whole facade faced in ashlar sandstone. Behind the crenellated barge rises a square sandstone faced ashlar tower with clasping octagonal buttresses terminating in gabled pinnacles. Each face has pointed louvred opening with label moulding and top of walls crenellated. Above the tower there is a sandstone octagonal spire surmounted by a cross. The nave between the west end and transepts is five bays long punctuated with an equal number of pointed Y traceried windows with splayed sandstone surrounds and label mouldings which terminate in octagonal bosses. The cill of each window lines with the top of the high moulded plinth carried round from the west end. Below the mouldings the plinth is smooth rendered. Above the plinth the walls are finished with good random rubble schist and at top finished with moulded ashlar sandstone crenellations. The transepts are likewise designed but corners are without clasping buttresses and instead have sandstone quoins. Gables crenellated as west end. There is a central four light switchback. There is a cusped traceried window with mullions and surrounds in sandstone and with label moulding terminating in sculpted heads. The moulded high plinth steps up to form cill to this window on south side while on the east side this is obscured by a projecting parapeted porch finished in smooth rendering with a narrow lancet in two walls and a door on the other (east side). Between the north east angle of transept and sanctuary is constructed a chapel with lean-to roof, high plinth, rubble stonework with simple sandstone bargestone and plain sandstone parapet. The north wall has an equilateral geometrical traceried window with curved sides and containing four quatrefoils in circles, while on the east wall there is a two light pointed window with single quatrefoil. Quoins are in sandstone. The east end terminates with panelled clasping pinnacled buttresses similar to those at the west facade and probably recreated from the former east gable of 1841. Tops of walls including barges have the moulded crenellations and in the centre of the gable a five light cusped and traceried window making an intricate pattern of mouchettes. The extension of 1887 displays good quality tracery compared to the simple Y mullions of the earlier windows. Again the high plinth is stepped up to form the cill but not quite so high. From the south chapel projects a two storey sacristy block built of rubble whinstone, sandstone trim, double pitched slated roof, square headed stained glass windows with eight no. panes. There are two external doors to sacristy. The main entrance door at the west end is faced with decorative bronze sheet with various symbols and quotations of 1988. Located on the west side of Chapel Road immediately south of the junction with Malvern Terrace on a confined site of irregular shape and mostly surrounded by a random rubble schist boundary wall. The entrance gates are at the road junction with principal church entrance at the west end. The site cuts into the rising ground to the east and south. Around the church there is hard paving of asphalt with a little soft landscaping mainly to the east and south. To the west beyond the west end is the parochial house and to the north the former Waterside Girls Primary School now a community centre. There are two no. statues near the boundary wall on the north side, one of Our Lady of Fatima and the other St Columcille, raised on pedestals and approximately life size. Good iron gates and sandstone piers.

Architects

Croom & Toye McCarthy, J J

Historical Information

Before St Columb’s was built church services were held in the outhouse behind Thomas White’s house in Duke Street. The then parish priest, Alexander J McCarron (1801-1853) purchased the site from Sir Robert Ferguson. Foundation stone laid by Bishop John McLaughlin (1794-1864) 29 August 1838 and 1st Mass celebrated 3 January 1841. Monsignor J Coulter (1919-1983) records “After many disappointments arising chiefly from the churlishness of the contractor” the church was opened costing over £2,000. Although there is a reference in parish records to J J McCarthy in connection with the church at this time the rectangular church with tower and spire bears a remarkable resemblance to the Saint Finlock’s Church at Ballykelly b.1849 and was probably designed by S Given. See drawing of Derry c1863 illustrated in B Lacy book ‘Siege City’ p.195. It is possible that Given copied the St Columb’s design. The church was extended by Charles McFaul PP by the additions of transepts and chancel at a cost of £3000 in 1887. The then Cardinal participated in the rededication of the church on 6 May 1888. In 1873 Dr Philip Devlin (1816-1881) had further bells added to the belfry. Father McFaul had the church site enclosed with wall and the present wrought iron gates and sandstone piers erected. In 1902 new altars installed by architects Ashlin & Coleman. Reredos by Edward Sharpe and his head sculptor E Tomlin did the last supper on the front of the altar. It is likely that the stained glass work by Meyer of Munich was installed at this time. In c1916 an organ was installed in the gallery and the church renovated, W B McFeely (1863-1917) was parish priest. In 1986 the present improvements including sanctuary rearrangement, new heating, new pews, additional modern decorative glass work with new window frames, bronze sheeted doors and redecoration including new ceiling were done. Architect Corr & Associates. The parish priest wasFr. J Clerkin (1984-1992). References: Parish records Siege City - Siege of Derry The Columban c1933 J Coulter, ‘The History of the Parish of Glendermott’ pp.48, 59, 63 Griffiths V B 1858

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

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

Evaluation

Good example of early Victorian neo Gothic style hall church. Later extended towards the end of the 19th century in a sympathetic manner echoing the architectural detail of the earlier part but adopting a decorative neo-Gothic style in window tracery. In the late 1980s further renovation work has not marred the overall effect or style though the clear glazing in the nave windows has been replaced with decorative glass. It is historically important being the first catholic church in the Waterside area of the city. Has commanding position on hillside.

General Comments

Date of Survey

08 September 1998