Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB03/13/009

Address :
Second Dunboe Presbyterian Church 236 Windy Hill Road Coleraine Co. Londonderry BT51 4JN

Townland:
Ballinrees

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Survey 2:
Record Only

Date of Listing:
22/06/1977 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:
28/09/2015 00:00:00

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:
20-02SW

IG Ref:
C7880 3022

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Owner Category

Church - Presbyterian

Exterior Description And Setting

A symmetrical, partially attached T-plan rendered church, six openings wide with primary phases of construction dating from mid 18th century, 1822 and 1859. The original single-celled hall-type church forms the basis of the building, which is intersected along the south long-axis by a twin-gabled abutment c.1859. The building has been extensively refurbished and renovated in recent years (particularly gable walls and roof structure) and the former porch, c.1930, substantially remodelled and extended to create a semi-circular abutment to the twin-gabled southern part. Modern extension also added to the eastern gable, linking the main church to the contemporary hall accommodation. Pitched re-slated roof having replacement terracotta ridge-tiles; replacement metal ogee rainwater goods to eaves, mounted on projecting rendered eaves course. Walling across complex is pebble-dashed, over projecting cement rendered base and similar raised strip quoins to corners. Pointed-arch window openings having rendered reveals and projecting cement sills; windows are generally plain glass in replacement stained-timber, Y-traceried casements, unless otherwise stated. Symmetrical principal elevation faces north, six windows wide with leaded and stained-glass windows in each, within replacement timber frames; outer windows are modern insertions, the two at centre are larger and date from the early 20th century. East elevation is abutted by modern single-storey, pitched link block which extends east, connecting to church hall, all of which are of little interest; remaining elevation is blank. South elevation contains a window to each side of the twin gabled portion which extends southward and has two windows on each cheek; porch south elevation is abutted by a modern single-storey, gable-fronted porch with outwardly curved walls to re-entrant angles. Porch contains squared double-leaf, timber-sheeted entrance door with elaborate original hinges, with modern y-traceried plain glass pointed transom over; the porch is lighted by three diminutive windows on each side. West elevation is blank. Setting Located within a rural farmland
setting, on an elevated site to the north-west of Coleraine town. A graveyard is located to the north with a modern house to the south west and small car-parks to the west and south-east. The church bounded by a low pebble-dashed and cement capped wall along Windyhill Road, with primary access through a pair of matching piers, which support replacement metal gates. A tarmac path leads to the main entrance door which has semi-circular concrete steps and modern metal handrails. Secondary access is via the link block to east. The site is bounded by mature tress to the north-west and north-east. Roof Natural slate RWG Replacement metal Walling Pebble-dash Windows Replacement timber

Architects

Historical Information

The present meeting house dates from 1822 with alterations carried out c1860 and c1930. The church is shown on the first edition OS map of 1830, captioned ‘Meeting Ho[use]’ with a ‘School’ to the east. The roots of the present congregation date back to 1749 when an application was made for ‘supply of sermon’ to the Antiburgher Synod - formed in Scotland two years previously over the issue of the ‘Burgher Oath’ which required holders of public office to affirm approval of the established religion. However, no congregation was established until 40 years later when Charles Campbell was ordained in 1788. Until 1800 the cause was joined with that of Crossgar (Kirkpatrick). The earliest building associated with the congregation was a thatched meeting house of stone and lime that was built by subscription. OS Memoirs give a date of 1740 for the early meeting house, but this date is in conflict with the early history of the congregation which suggests it was not in existence until the 1780s. The meeting house was replaced in 1822 at a cost of £113 by a new thatched building and OS Memoirs record that the ‘seceding meeting house’ was called the ‘Whin meeting house’ because it was surrounded by furze bushes. In the 1830s the pews were unpainted the floor was earthen and ‘the whole has an unfinished appearance and is in bad repair’ (OS Memoirs). At this period the meeting house was a simple, hall-style building measuring 69 by 26 feet and 12 feet high with a door at each end. There were 37 box-style pews, one of these a double pew and 4 of which had a canopy over, giving seating to 270 in all. The fenestration, which comprised six windows on each side with two larger central windows, does not appear to have been altered on the northern side (OS Memoirs). The church is listed in the Townland Valuation at £3.4s and dimensions are given. A double-gabled transept was added to the building following the Ulster revival of 1859, rendering the church T-shaped ‘a traditional Presbyterian form’ (Girvan) and in Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) the church, sessions house, caretaker’s house and outbuildings are valued at £9. Porches were added c1930 which are shown in valuer’s notes of the early 1930s. At this stage the porches appear to have been individual to each gable and the porch shown in the first survey photograph of the 1970s is therefore a later addition. At this period the church was lit by oil lamps and stabling is shown on the associated plan (now gone). The church was listed in 1977 and on 28th April 1980 re-opened after renovations which included a new floor, and new pews and pulpit. In the 1990s the church was partly demolished and rebuilt, the entrance porch was rebuilt to a dufferent design and a new linking block was constructed connecting the church with the lecture hall to the east (HB file). The congregation was united with Ringsend on 1st January 1995 and membership stands at almost 100 families (Kirkpatrick). References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/5/7/1 First Edition OS Map 1830 2. PRONI OS/6/5/7/2 Second Edition OS map 1849-50 3. PRONI OS/6/5/7/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904 4. PRONI OS/6/5/7/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923 5. PRONI OS/6/5/7/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1949 6. PRONI VAL/1/B/55B Townland Valuation (1828-40) 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/15A-E Annual Revisions (1864-1929) 8. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/3 First General Revaluation 1933-57 9. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/3/Q/1 First General Revaluation 1933-57 10. Griffith’s Valuation online 11. HB file – 03/13/009 Secondary Sources 1. Day, A., P. McWilliams, eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Londonderry III, 1831-5, Vol. 11.” Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, 1991. 2. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in North Derry including Limavady, Ballykelly, Castlerock, Downhill and Magilligan” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1975 3. Kirkpatrick, L “Presbyterians in Ireland” Booklink, 2006

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A symmetrical, T-plan Presbyterian Meeting House, incorporating elements of early 19th century rectangular meeting house. The addition of the twin gable, c.1859, transformed the previous hall-type church into the a T-plan form, common to Presbyterian churches. The phased alterations made to the church during the mid 19th and early 20th centuries reflect the changes in religious practice of the times. Although the structure continues to be of historic and social importance, the overall character and authenticity have been severely eroded by recent additions and the extensive alterations to both interior and exterior fabric.

General Comments

Date of Survey

30 January 2013