Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/36/002 A

Address :
St Mary's Church of Ireland 236 Crumlin Road Belfast Co Antrim BT14 7GL

Townland:
Town Parks

---

Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
25/09/1987 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

---

OS Map No:
130-09 SW

IG Ref:
J3245 7547

---

Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

Free-standing double-height Gothic style Church of Ireland church, built c.1865 to designs by architect William Slater. Cruciform-on-plan aligned east-west about central tower containing belfry; nave having north and south side aisles with lean-to porch at north; north and south transepts; chancel at east. Located on the south side of Crumlin Road, Belfast with former school (HB26/36/002B) at south. Pitched natural slate roofs with blue/black clay ridge tiles (nave and south aisle roof replaced c.1960 following air raid damage in 1941), lead-valleys, stone verges with acroter supported on corbelled kneeler stones, cast-iron ogee rainwater goods (some replacement cast-metal). Polychromatic coursed rock-faced sandstone with projecting sandstone plinth course having chamfered ashlar capping. Walling is mainly white sandstone with red sandstone plinth and stringcourses. Equilateral-arched openings with stepped ashlar quoins and rock-faced polychromatic voussoirs containing cusped lancet windows with leaded glass and storm glazing (unless otherwise stated). Doors are equilateral-arched timber braced and sheeted, accessed via equilateral-arched stepped ovolo and cavetto polychromatic moulded ashlar openings. North elevation comprises projecting single-storey entrance porch abutting north aisle at right and projecting north transept at left, aisle is lit by three bi-partite cusped lancets each having cinquefoil oculus over containing leaded glass. North transept contains three staged lancet windows at centre, right cheek is blank, left cheek contains bi-partite lancets with cinquefoil oculus over (as nave) with leaded stained glass. Single-storey entrance porch is detailed as nave. North gable contains equilateral-arched stepped ovolo and cavetto moulded ashlar openings enclosed by decorative cast-iron gate screen. Left and right cheeks have angle buttress with weathering at north side (extension of north gable). East elevation is abutted by double-height apsidal chancel at centre with hipped roof. Each face contains a single window, each divided by a double-height buttress with offset and weathering; right cheek contains two stained glass windows. Chancel abutted at left by two-storey vestry (with organ loft over). Vestry east elevation contains paired windows at right at each floor. All five chancel windows contain leaded stained glass, (donated by and dedicated to the Blakiston-Houston family). South cheek extends to join south transept with entrance door at left with single window over, door accessed via eight stone steps adjoining roughly coursed rock-faced stone boundary wall. South elevation (facing former school HB26/36/002B) comprises projecting south transept at right, south aisle is lit by four bi-partite cusped lancets with cinquefoil oculus over containing leaded glass. Bi-partite window and cinquefoil at left contain stained glass dated 1968. West symmetrical elevation comprises central nave gable flanked by narrower side aisle gables. Central gable contains timber sheeted entrance doors at centre enclosed by decorative cast-iron gate screen. Entrance surmounted by three stained glass lancet windows with stained glass tracery oculus at apex comprising five cusped quatrefoils. Line of central nave adjoining side aisles has an angle buttress with weathering, surmounted by gargoyles (formerly used as rainwater exit from concealed roof valley between roof slopes). Central belfry tower is abutted by circular stair tower at south-east with conical roof containing winding stair to belfry. Splay-foot spire with lucarne at all four sides and weather-cock supported on moulded corbel table. Lucarne have timber sheeted sides, fronts are cusped and vented with timber louvres, timber corbels supporting hipped natural slate roofs with decorative finials. Walling is as nave, projecting piers at each corner with torus mouldings. Cavetto moulded stringcourse divides first and second stage. First stage at each face comprises five arcaded torus moulded cusped lancet windows with continuous hoodmould over, each springing from a colonnette with gothic crocket capital. Second stage at each face comprises five cusped and vented louvered openings at belfry, each springing from a colonnette (most colonnettes at second stage now removed) with gothic crocket capital (capitals intact). Setting: Sited in walled grounds to the south of Crumlin Road, Belfast, surrounded on adjacent streets by terraced housing. Former school (see HB26/36/002B) located at south aligned east-west. Single-storey boiler house at west provides access to basement level boiler room via dog-leg stone staircase with quarter winders. Shared car-parking provided at south. Both the school and church share an enclosed site accessed via double cast-iron entrance gates at north, east and west, all supported on square rubble piers (ashlar at north). Roof Natural Slate RWG Cast-iron ogee profile (some cast-metal replacement) Walling Polychromatic sandstone Windows Cusped lancet, leaded glass

Architects

Slater, William

Historical Information

St Mary’s Parish Church was constructed between 1865-1869, on a previously undeveloped site, to the designs of London-based Architect William Slater. The church first appears on the third edition OS map (1901) sited in walled grounds off the Crumlin Road and surrounded by rows of terraced streets developed during the 1860s in response to the expanding population. Prior to this, the second edition map (1857) indicates the area had been undeveloped. The church was first valued in the Annual Revisions (1863-81) at £250 and this figure did not alter significantly until the mid 20th century when it was listed at £840 in the second General Revaluation (1956-72). The contract was undertaken by Mr. James Henry of Rosewood Buildings and originally, the cost was intended to be £2,400. Reports on the final cost vary from the estimation of £4,000- £5,000 in the Belfast Revaluations (1900), to a figure in excess of £6,000 (Larmour). The foundation stone was laid on October 27th 1865 by Reverend Marcus Beresford, whose Fund had provided the financial assistance which enabled construction. Mrs R Blakiston-Houston had gifted the site, whilst her son had shared payment of the architect’s fixed fee (£250) with Mr Ewart Jr (Byers). Five memorial windows in the Sanctuary were also donated by the Blakiston-Houstons. The building was consecrated on 28th November 1868 and in early 1899 the bell and organ were installed at a cost of £150 and £900 respectively (Walker). The Belfast Church Extension and Endowment Society was founded in 1863 to provide Church of Ireland accommodation for the expanding population of the city (Walker). St Mary’s church was the first to be built in this initial wave of construction. With designs by the prominent ecclesiastical architect William Slater, St Mary’s was intended to act as a model example of church design (Larmour), capable of accommodating a congregation of 700-800. London-based Slater, was appointed architect to the Marcus Beresford Fund and designed solely for the Church of Ireland, in Ireland (DIA, Byers). During this era Walker notes (2000) that there was competition between Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland architecture, which both utilised the Gothic style. The dominating central tower and spire of St Mary’s, combined with the polychromatic treatment of the exterior is a typical example of High Victorian church architecture (Walker). During an air raid on Easter Tuesday 1941, the building was hit by a bomb which damaged the interior and destroyed roof. A new steel truss roof was designed in 1945 by Dennis O’D Hanna and during the mid 1960s the building underwent complete renovation. The organ was enlarged in 1964 and refurbished in 2006 (Byers). References Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/1/60/1 First Edition Os Map (1832-33) 2. PRONI OS/6/1/60/2 Second Edition OS Map (1857) 3. PRONI OS/6/1/60/3 Third Edition OS Map (1901) 4. PRONI OS/6/1/60/4 Fourth Edition OS Map (1920-31) 5. PRONI OS/6/1/60/5 Fifth Edition OS Map (1920-38) 6. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/C/7- Annual Revisions (1863-81) 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/C/14- Annual Revisions (1882-96) 8. PRONI VAL/7/B/11/1- Belfast Revaluations (1900) 9. PRONI VAL/7/B/11/6- Belfast Revaluations (1900) 10. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/M/3 - Annual Revisions (1906-15) 11. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/M/4- Annual Revisions (1906-15) 12. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/M/7- Annual Revisions (1916-30) 13. PRONI VAL/3/B/3/17- First General Revaluation (1935) 14. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/35- Second General Revaluation (1956-72) 15. Belfast and Ulster Street Directories 1925-1988 Secondary Sources 1. Walker, Simon “Historic Ulster Churches” QUB, Belfast (2000) 2. Byers, Robert “The Parish Church of St Mary, Belfast” (1968) 3. Boal, Frederick & Royle, Stephen “Enduring City: Belfast in the Twentieth Century” Blackstaff Press, Belfast (2006) 4. Larmour, P “Belfast, An Illustrated Architectural Guide” Friars Bush Press, Belfast (1987) 5. Brett, C.E.B “ The Buildings of Belfast 1700-1914” (1985 ed.) 6. www.dia.ie - Dictionary of Irish Architects online 7. Ventures, Hatty “St Mary’s Parish Church- History” (2011) http://www.stmarysparishchurch.btck.co.uk/About%20us

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

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

Evaluation

A prominent Gothic style High-Victorian church with grand central bell-tower and spire, built c.1865 to designs by William Slater. Much original fabric and fine stone detailing survive. The interior comprises many features of good quality. The church forms a noteworthy group with St Mary's School (HB26/36/002B) representing the initial wave of construction by the Belfast Church Extension and Endowment Society to address the needs of the expanding population of the city. It is a good example of the type by a local architect in a robust style and reflecting the expansion of the city in mid-Victorian times.

General Comments

This record is part of a group listing. Refer to HB26/36/002B

Date of Survey

09 August 2012