Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/11/005

Address :
Orangefield Baptist Church, North Road, Belfast, County Antrim BT5 6BH

Townland:
Ballyhackamore

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
24/03/2016 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:
130/15

IG Ref:
J3725 7360

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Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

A two-storey double-height pitched roof modernist church dating from 1968 to designs by local architect Gordon McKnight. Irregular plan form having a tower with open belfry to W, a flat roof two-storey extension, a flat-roof single storey extension and an abutting single storey hall to S. The church is located to the corner of North Road and Orangefield Road. Pitched clay tile roof of irregular shape with low eaves to W end and rising higher to E. uPVC ogee guttering discharging to circular downpipes. Rough cast rendered walling. Square-headed window openings with clear glazing (unless noted otherwise). West elevation: The principal elevation is symmetrical and faces W. Tall projecting tower to centre with an open belfry and topped by a short spire. Triangular pseudo-arch door opening to the base of the tower with a double-leaf diagonal sheeted timber door flanked by glazed side- and overlights opening onto a single step. Small window openings with clear glazing in a cross-shape form at high level of tower, below the belfry. The tower is flanked by two steeply pitched wings, each having three tall and narrow window openings with clear glazing. North elevation: The N elevation consists of a splayed wall, double-height to E end and sloped eaves dropping down to W side; five square windows having clear glazing. Double height bay to E has four tall and narrow deeply recessed windows to GF and a large paned window to high level. Two-storey outshot with rounded corners immediately to E with raised parapet and a triangular pseudo-arch door opening having a double-leaf diagonal sheeted timber door flanked by glazed side- and overlights. A narrow single storey block with a square-headed window opening having a replacement uPVC window to E links to the abutting single storey pitched roof hall built in concrete panels with exposed aggregate with a shallow pitched asphalt roof. Continuous horizontal strip window at high level having uPVC casement windows. East elevation: The E elevation consists of the E elevation of the double-height church to the rear, the two-storey E elevation of the flat-roofed outshot and the single storey elevation of the hall. Small window openings with clear glazing in a cross-shape form at high level to church. Two small rectangular windows and three narrow windows to flat-roofed bay. Continuous horizontal strip window at high level to hall having uPVC casement windows. South elevation: The S elevation consists of the projecting single storey pitched roof hall to E end with continuous horizontal strip window at high level having uPVC casement windows attached to a narrow single storey block with a square-headed window opening having a replacement uPVC window to W. Two-storey outshot to main church with rounded corners immediately to W with raised parapet having a window opening with replacement uPVC casement to GF and FF. Double height bay to E has two tall and narrow deeply recessed windows and a square-headed door opening to GF. Door opening has a double-leaf timber door with fanlight. Large paned window to high level. Main wall of church is splayed with sloped eaves dropping down to West side; three deeply recessed windows to GF and five square windows to FF having clear glazing. Setting: The church is located within its own grounds to the corner of North Road and Orangefield Road. Lawned to front and S, tarmaced parking to N and a narrow tiles pathway to rear. The site is enclosed by plain metal railings to W and N, hedge to S and E. Pedestrian gate to W, S and E, driveway to N. Materials Roof: Clay tiles RWG: uPVC Walling: Rough cast rendered Windows: uPVC

Architects

McKnight, Gordon

Historical Information

Larmour states that ‘churches were the last building type in the field of architecture in Ulster to succumb to Modernism, with historic style revivalism continuing into the post-war period. Ulster society in particular being so conservative, it is hardly surprising that traditional values, shapes and materials were retained for so long here even when every other building type had taken on a new and modern image’ (Larmour, Modern Ulster Architecture, p. 50). Orangefield Baptist Church, a strikingly modernist church, was constructed in 1968 to the designs of Gordon McKnight, a local architect based in Holywood. McKnight first came to prominence for his design of Orangefield Presbyterian Church (built in 1955-57 – see HB26/05/003). Constructed in the post-war period and inspired by the ‘Festival of Britain,’ the modernist design of Orangefield Presbyterian represented a shift away from the traditional conservatism and historic revivalism that characterised the design of most pre-war Presbyterian churches. The success of McKnight’s design for Orangefield Presbyterian Church marked the beginning of a four decade career for the architect. During that period McKnight designed over thirty modernist churches for the protestant denominations including Orangefield Baptist Church in 1968 (Larmour, An illustrated architectural guide, p. 97). Orangefield Baptist Church originated from a number of Gospel meetings in the Orangefield area. From 1938 the church meetings were held in a mission hall on the Sandown Road and at its members’ homes. Orangefield Baptist Church was officially founded on 1st March 1939 and a new church building was opened on the Bloomfield Road on 28th June 1939. Towards the end of the Second World War, Orangefield Baptist Church became part of the Baptist Union of Ireland in 1944. With the post-war increase in the local population, due in part to the establishment of new housing in the area, many new members joined the church. The original 1939 building was not capable of accommodating a growing congregation and in 1968 McKnight’s modernist church was constructed on the North Road (Orangefield Baptist Church website). Following his success at Orangefield Presbyterian Church, McKnight designed increasing uncompromising modernist churches although ‘it was McKnight’s particular blend of tradition and modernity, often wrought in romantic vein, which proved most popular in Ulster’ (Larmour, p. 51). Upon its completion Orangefield Baptist Church and its single-storey church hall (which was built at the same time) were jointly valued at £482 under the Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72). References Primary Sources 1. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/30 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72) 2. Ordnance Survey map – 147-3 Secondary Sources 1. Evans, D., ‘An introduction to modern Ulster architecture’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1977. 2. Evans, D; Hall, A; Larmour, P., ‘Modern Ulster Architecture’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2006. 3. Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1987. Online Resources 1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie 2. Orangefield Baptist Church website - http://orangefieldbaptistchurch.com/history.htm

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form H-. Alterations detracting from building J. Setting

Historic Interest

V. Authorship X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance R. Age S. Authenticity T. Historic Importance

Evaluation

A good example of ecclesiastical modernism in Ulster, this two-storey double-height pitched roof church dates from 1968 and was designed by local architect Gordon McKnight. The striking principal elevation with central tower and the steeply pitched side wings make it one of the architect's most bold designs. Gordon McKnight first came to prominence for his modernist church designs in the mid 1950's. His buildings were a shift away from the traditional conservatism and historic revivalism which characterised the design of most pre-war churches and the architect designed over thirty modernist churches for the protestant denominations over a four decade long career. The design may well have been influenced by the church of Christ the King, Turner's Cross, Cork, designed by Barry Byrne and opened in 1931. The building retains a well proportioned minimalist interior with dramatic sloping ceilings and simple palette of materials including white painted render walling, and polished timber boarding to ceilings. Situated on a corner site in a suburban residential setting, the church is a local landmark and of historical and social importance to the area.

General Comments

Date of Survey

07 April 2014