Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/34/001

Address :
Nelson Memorial Presbyterian Church Annsboro Street Belfast County Antrim BT13 2PH

Townland:
Town Parks

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Survey 2:
B1

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:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130-13NW

IG Ref:
J3225 7475

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Owner Category

Church - Presbyterian

Exterior Description And Setting

A free-standing pedimented double-height symmetrical classical style Presbyterian church, built c.1895 to designs by architect William J. Gilliland. Rectangular-on-plan facing north with four aisles, porch and vestibule at north and paired stone stairways both at front and rear of building. Abutted to rear by double-height lecture hall attached by single-storey canted annexes containing kitchen and minister’s room, built in 1898 by Vincent Craig. Located at the centre of Nelson Square to the south side of Shankill Road, Belfast. Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black clay ridge tiles, lead-valleys, replacement uPVC ogee rainwater goods on corbelled brick eaves course. Raised curved parapet wall at south with sandstone coping. Classical Corinthian order entrance façade comprises red sandstone ashlar walling on projecting plinth, continuous string course at pedestal base level and first floor sill and window head level. English bonded red brick to sanctuary with continuous moulded sill course, garden-wall bonded red brick to south hall and annexes. Sanctuary windows are round-arched casements with reinforced glazing (unless otherwise stated) over camber-headed windows. Each window bay is embraced by a double recessed brick arch with voussoirs, (having moulded sills at each floor). Principal elevation faces north and is symmetrically arranged, comprising a central breakfront with paired entrance arrangement. Sandstone pedestals support paired Giant Order pilasters, shafts surmounted by Corinthian capitals, surmounted by architrave and dentilled pediment with plain modillions and cyma recta cornice. Frieze and tympanum of pediment is blank; balustrade parapet to either side with corner die. At centre, paired six-panel double entrance doors are contained within round-arched openings with projecting moulded keyblock and archivolt. Doors surmounted by recessed carved sandstone lettering panel which reads; ‘NELSON MEMORIAL CHURCH’. At centre three round-arched windows (central larger). Left and right cheek of the central projecting bay contains a square-headed opening with chamfered surround located above pedestal base level. One opening to either side of pedimented breakfront at first floor level, over a lugged blind panel inset with a roundel. East sanctuary elevation is five windows wide. Abutted at left by single-storey canted annex attached to lecture hall at left. Annex windows at centre and left are now bricked up, timber panelled entrance door with segmental-arched fanlight at right. Lecture hall gable contains three segmental-arched windows, gable has rendered plinth. Abutted at right by projecting stairwell (continuation of classical entrance façade) having single timber panelled entrance door at left and blank opening at right, each with moulded surround, opening with chamfered sill. Door accessed by two stone steps. Openings surmounted by oculus window with moulded surround and voussoirs. Single window at first floor. South sanctuary elevation is abutted by two canted annexes which adjoin the double-height lecture hall. Exposed section contains central canted projection with single square-headed window opening at each face. Lecture hall south elevation is roughcast rendered with visible corbelled eaves course, five windows wide, each window divided by rendered angle buttress with offsets and weathering. Windows are replacement uPVC. West sanctuary elevation is five windows wide, abutted at right by single-storey canted annex attached to lecture hall at right. Annex contains segmental-arched timber sashes at centre and right, timber panelled entrance door with segmental-arched fanlight at left. Lecture hall gable is abutted at centre by lean-to porch containing double timber panelled doors contained within segmental-arched moulded opening. Entrance porch surmounted by round-arched opening now boarded with hood mould over, single window at left. Nave abutted at left by projecting stairwell, detailed as east. Setting Located at the centre of Nelson Square to the south side of Shankill Road, Belfast. Church grounds are bounded to road at west and north by mild steel railings on brick plinth wall. Paved walkway around church with car parking at south accessed by mild steel gates. Bounded by terraced housing at east and south. Roof: Natural slate Walling: Ashlar and English-bonded red brick Windows: Timber casements RWG: uPVC

Architects

Gilliland, W J

Historical Information

Nelson Memorial Church was erected in memory of Reverend Isaac Nelson and constructed to the designs of Belfast architect William Gilliland between 1893-1903. The Church is first captioned on the third edition OS map (1901) in Annsboro’ Street. Set just off the main thoroughfare of the Shankill Road, it is surrounded by dense streets of terraced housing, which reflect the significant population increase of the mid-late 19th century. Prior to construction, the second edition OS map (1857) indicates the land was previously a brownfield site used by a starch works. The church is first listed in the Belfast Revaluations (1900) at a value of £275. The adjoining redbrick ‘Lecture Hall’ to the rear is valued separately at £44 and was constructed in 1898 by Vincent Craig (First Survey Information). Craig was a former pupil of W.H Lynn and also designed Belmont Primary School (HB26/14/001) and St John’s Presbyterian Church (HB26/0/001) (Larmour; DIA). It is noted that proceeds from the lecture admission fees go towards the church. The church was constructed in honour of the prominent religious and political figure, Reverend Isaac Nelson (d.1888), by means of money donated by his sister. The minister of Donegall Street Presbyterian church, Nelson was also a public advocate of Home Rule. He succeeded Charles Stewart Parnell as Nationalist MP for Co. Mayo in 1880, acting as representative in the House of Commons (Gray 2011). In the mid-late19th century, Nelson had resided in Sugarfield House, located just to the south-west of where the church would be built. By the turn of the 20th century the House had given its name to Sugarfield Street, to the south of the church building (Street Directories). The church represents one of the few remaining examples of work by Belfast born architect William Gilliland, a founder member and president of the RSUA (Larmour). Larmour (1987) describes Gilliland as a forerunner of the Queen Anne movement and Gothic style but the neo-classicism of this design reflects the strong tradition of its use in Presbyterian churches. Walker (2000) reasons that the ordered and restrained manner of this architectural style, devoid of ‘frivolous’ decoration, was well suited to Presbyterian sensibilities and ensured that it would not be mistaken for that of another denomination. The grand façade dominates the square in which it sits but the remaining three elevations are relatively plain, a typical characteristic of Presbyterian ecclesiastical architecture (Curl). The organ dates from 1906 and is by Evans and Barr (Henshaw). 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/Q/3- Annual Revisions (1906-15) 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/Q/5- Annual Revisions (1916-30) 8. PRONI VAL/3/B/3/23- First General Revaluation (1935) 9. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/56- Second General Revaluation (1956-72) 10. The Ulster Street Directories 1887-1935 Secondary Sources 1. Walker, Simon “Historic Ulster Churches” QUB, Belfast (2000) 2. Curl, James, Stevens “Classical Churches in Ulster” UAHS, Belfast (1980) 3. Boal, Frederick & Royle, Stephen “Enduring City: Belfast in the Twentieth Century” Blackstaff Press, Belfast (2006) 4. Larmour, P “Belfast, An Illustrated Architectural Guide” (1987) 5. www.dia.ie - Dictionary of Irish Architects online 6. Myrtle Hill, “Nelson, Isaac (1809–1888), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography”, Oxford University Press, (2004) http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/52712 7. Gray, John BBC Radio Ulster “Shankill- From the Old Church to Fernhill House” (24 August 2011) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00z0h5g 8. Henshaw, W.B “Biographical Dictionary of the Organ” (2003-12) http://www.organ biography.info/organs.php?id=Ireland_Belfast_NelsonMemorialChurch 9. First Survey Information (1986)

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form I. Quality and survival of Interior

Historic Interest

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

Evaluation

A classically styled red sandstone Presbyterian church with grand entrance façade, built c1895 to designs by William Gilliland. A building of architectural interest with regard to its unusual plan form, which includes four stairwells to gallery and four aisles with access to a double vestibule at north. Much fabric survives intact including fine detailing, although no original stained glass remains intact. Interior demonstrates outstanding craftsmanship throughout. This is a late example of Presbyterian classicism, departing from the Gothic styles that had been favoured since the earlier part of the nineteenth century. Nelson Memorial is a church of much aesthetic, historic and architectural interest, constructed in honour of the prominent religious and political figure Rev. Isaac Nelson and to designs by a local architect of note.

General Comments

Date of Survey

03 August 2012