Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB19/23/001 A

Address :
St. Patricks Church of Ireland 260 Upper Malone Road Dunmurry Belfast County Down BT17 9LD

Townland:
Drumbeg

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
04/02/1988 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

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OS Map No:
165-4

IG Ref:
J3061 6696

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Owner Category

Church - C of I

Exterior Description And Setting

Cruciform, Gothic-Revival church built 1870 with tower dating from c.1795. Located adjacent to the Drum Bridge, over the Lagan, on the Upper Malone Road, south of Belfast. Steep pitched gable ended natural blue slate roof with green slate banding and clay ridge tiles. Hipped roof over half-octagonal chancel; finial cross and partial ridge rail over. The rainwater goods are cast iron with ogee moulded gutters with box down pipes. The walling is squared rubble with tooled sandstone quoins, surrounds, string and eaves courses and coping stones. The earlier tower is split-stone rubble with cut stone dressing. The windows are leaded stained glass embedded into stop chamfered sandstone surrounds. The doors are diagonally timber sheeted with wrought iron strap hinges and ironmongery. The principal entrance is located in the tower, located right of the east elevation. The tower is three-stage; squared lower section, rising to cornice level with an octagonal middle section with recessed geometrical timber louvered equilateral arch with rubble surrounds, rising to frieze level with carved laurel wreaths with dentil course surmounted by an octagonal stone spire over, crowned with weathervane cock. The front entrance is located centrally, accessed by a modern ramp and steps. The door is set within an ordered equilateral sandstone arch with plain moulded outer arch and chamfered inset above impost level, embraced by a single story projected gable c.1870, with a quatrefoil blank and gable cross over, supported by chamfered stone pilasters on a plinth, rising to cornice level. Over the door-set is a cut stone raked string course with the apex centrally located, falling to a horizontal string course below, suggesting a pediment. Blank oculus inscribed with “This church was built in 1798. The spire of which (being wood) was blown down in 1831. The present stone spire was built at the expense of John Charley of Finaghy 1833.” The rear of the tower has the gable remains of the earlier church attached and modern external stairs to belfry. The principal gable faces west and is symmetrically arranged with five round-headed arches with stained glass at lower level with a single, taller, arched opening at upper level. Coping stones fall to a flush gable shoulder with a gable cross at the apex. The north elevation comprises three asymmetrically arranged stained glass windows with the gabled north transept projecting on the left. Transept has lateral buttresses to either side; two large equilateral arched stained glass windows located centrally with finial terminating apex stone. To the bottom right corner is a ladder-box with dress stone surrounds and secure iron door. Each cheek has two smaller equilateral arched stained glass windows. The east facing rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged with a semi-octagonal projecting chancel centrally located and a single-storey, lean-to hall and half hipped former vestry abutting the left. The semi octagonal gabled chancel has battered lower stone courses. Each gable has carved sandstone geometrical tracery, headed by a septfoil with stained glass; trefoil over and plain gargoyle projecting from the kneeler stone. Leaded lights to the right hand cheek of the chancel. Rear shoulder arch entrance with trefoil gablet over to left. The rear door accessed by five well worn sandstone steps; stop-chamfered sandstone surrounds to door; arrow-loop opening adjacent left. Square-leaded lattice light to former vestry, with sandstone surrounds; stepped accessed to the heating chamber below. The south elevation is asymmetrically arranged with abutting matching gabled transept to right with chimney-stack; projecting single- storey modern flat-roofed vestry constructed c.1960 using sympathetic materials, proportions and details; earlier tower adjoined via recessed single storey link to the left. Setting: The church is located on the crest of a hill overlooking its rural
setting encompassed by a rubble masonry perimeter wall. On approach to the church through the associated lych gate, there are a series of yew trees forming a processional route, through the gardens, with a driveway leading to a car-park located on the left hand side. To the right is the grave yard encompassed by mature trees which partially screen the church and it grounds from the main road adjacent. The rear of the church overlooks open fields. Roofing Natural slate Walling Rubble masonry/cut stone masonry Windows Stained glass RWG Cast-iron

Architects

Drew, Thomas

Historical Information

The main body of church was erected c.1870 when architect Sir Thomas Drew was commissioned to carry out designs for the rebuilding of an earlier church built c.1795. (Neill) The tower which remains was part of that earlier construction which comprised an additional barn style nave, as evident on the first edition OS maps 1834, captioned with ‘Drumbeg Spire’ and ‘Church’ This was a replacement of an even earlier church that was at the time serving both Drumbeg and Drumbo Parishes. With a desire for their own place of worship Drumbo parishioners erected a Parish Church in the townland of Ballylesson c.1790. It is possible that the resulting breakaway and new church for the Drumbo Parish, prompted Drumbeg Parishioners to obtain an Order in Council for building a new church, in 1796. (F. Rankin p.26) The Townland Valuations 1828-40 value to church at £10.11s although this increases to £16 as valued by Griffith in 1863. Oddly the OS Memoirs of the 1830’s state “ In townland of Drumbeg, dimensions 76 ft by 40ft, erected 1768; the spire was blown down in 1831 and rebuilt in 1833 at the expense of John Charley Esquire.” (p.53) According to the actual inscription over the front entrance, the date of erection confirms 1798, rather than 1768 as suggested in the memoirs. The Lewis Topographical Directory of Ireland elaborates with, “The church was rebuilt by subscription in 1795, by aid of a gift of £461,” the exact date of erection coming into question again. With exception to the new stone spire, replacing the previous timber spire, it appears there was little change throughout the 18th century until the rebuilding of the church c.1870, at the cost of about £2500. (Neill) The Archeological Survey of County Down (p.325), records the extent of the original church that remained, “Of the late 18th century church only the W. tower and part of the W. wall of the nave remains” This is confirmed by field evidence. Although not immediately identifiable from the OS maps of 1901, the new church adopts a cruciform layout, adjoining the north elevation of the tower and extends eastwards with an additional vestry and heating chamber projecting from the east elevation. The ‘Clergy of Down & Dromore’ (p.106) confirms, “The present building, dedicated in the name of St. Patrick, was consecrated on 20th December 1870.” The Annual Revision Valuations 1866-79, increased the value of the church in 1870 from £16 to £49, as a result of the new building. The Lych Gate located at the entrance to the church yard, was erected 1878 and is inscribed with “In loving memory of John Ferguson Montgomery of Ballydrain, died 1876. Erected by his sister Ellen Caldwell 1878” The Ballydrain connection continues with the yew trees lining the path up the hill to the church entrance, being presented by Thomas Montgomery in 1885 (Neill), and it is also widely accepted locally that the new vestry built c.1960, located to the east side of the tower, was erected using the stone from the former gate lodge of Ballydrain. Reference – Primary Source 1. PRONI OS/6/1/9/1 – OS Map 1834 2. PRONI OS/6/1/9/2 – OS Map 1858 3. PRONI OS/6/1/9/3 – OS Map 1901 4. PRONI OS/6/1/9/7 – OS Map 1938 5. PRONI VAL/1B/326 – Annual Revision 1828-40 6. PRONI VAL/1A/3/9 – Annual Revision Field Map 1830 7. PRONI VAL/2B/3/25C – Griffiths Valuation 1856-1864 8. PRONI VAL/12B/20/10A-F – Annual Revisions 1865-1929 Reference - Secondary Source 1. Lewis, Samuel. “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Comprising the Several Counties, Cities, Boroughs, Corporate, Market, and Post Towns, Parishes, and Villages, With Historical and Statistical Descriptions; Embellished with Engravings of the Arms of the Cities, Bishopricks, Corporate Towns, and Boroughs; Of the Seals of the Several Municipal Corporations.” London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837. 2. Rankin, J.F. “The Heritage of Drumbo” Parish of Drumbo,1982 3. Day, A. and P. McWilliams, eds. “Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Volume Seven, Parishes of County DownII, 1832-4, 1837” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1991 4. Rankin, K “The Linen Houses of the Lagan Valley, The story of their families” Belfast, Ulster Historical Foundation, 2002 5. Neill, M. “Recollections of the Parish of Drumbeg, Diocese of Down” c.1996, available www.lisburn.com

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance W. Northern Ireland/International Interest

Evaluation

A Gothic – Revival church built to the designs of Sir Thomas Drew c.1870 incorporating an existing tower c.1795, located on the crest of a hill overlooking Drum Bridge. The spire is the dominating feature of the church, rising high within the landscape adding positively to the surrounding area. The gabled front elevation of the later church, addresses the tower with minimal detailing, allowing the style and proportion of the tower to stand out. Towards the rear, the later addition establishs its own identifiable character with a more elaborate semi-octagonal chancel and associated masonry and metalwork detailing. Internally the main body of the church has retained its original character which is exemplified by the high quality of stained glass windows throughout, which includes pieces by Messrs Heaton Butler & Bayne of London, Rosenkampf of London, Ward & Hughes of London and Caldermac of Belfast, primarily all dedicated to the memory of important families and individuals resident in the local area. The new vestry room added c.1960s was built using salvaged stone, to match that of the main church and does not detract from its special interest. The well maintained setting and the relationship with the listed lych gate HB19.23.001B) at the front entrance enhances the overall interest of the church. It has interest for the local community and is also of national interest.

General Comments

Please note this record has been renumbered it was previously recorded as HB19/23/001

Date of Survey

17 June 2010