Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB24/15/034 A

Address :
Comber Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church Mill Street Comber Co. Down

Townland:
Town Parks

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
04/03/1977 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:
148/10

IG Ref:
J4556 6927

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Owner Category

Church - Other

Exterior Description And Setting

Two storey Classical Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of 1838, set on a rise to the S of Mill Street, to the W of Comber town centre. The church can be approached either from a (pedestrian) lane from Mill Street or a drive from High Street (to the S). It is surrounded by its own partially wooded grounds, with a small graveyard to the N side and the manse and church hall (both of later date) to the S. The front façade faces W and has a central pedimented bay. Within the bay is a central ground floor doorway with panelled double doors with a simple stone surround topped with a pedimented entablature on curved brackets. High above the doorway is a decorative stone date panel-‘1838’. To the ‘outer’ edge of the central bay are plain pilasters with simple capitals and bases. To the ‘inner’ side of each is an Ionic column. These all support a relatively plain entablature topped with a pediment. To either side of the central bay, the narrower outer bays each have a pilaster (as before) to their inner and outer edges, both of which support a frieze (like the central bay’s entablature), with cornice. This is topped with a parapet (which carries on to the W portion of the N and S facades) with panelled end piers. Within each of the outer bays is a high level stairwell window with semicircular head and Georgian paned sash frame. Each window rests on a cill course with moulding above. Tall base to both outer bays. To the far right on the N façade is a bay as the outer bays to the front, but with a recess in place of the window. To the left of this the façade is largely plain, and minus the frieze or parapet. To the ground floor are four evenly spaced windows with segmental heads. The two to the left are now filled with stained glass whilst those to the right have their original multi-pane frames. To the upper level are four larger windows, similar to the front stairwell windows. The two to the left are now filled with stained glass whilst those to the right have sash frames as front. In/out quoins to left (E). The base of the N façade (to the left of the bay) is in greywacke rubble with rendered ‘coping’. The S façade is as the N façade only handed and with stained glass to the far left (E) window on each level only. The rear (E) gable has a large two storey gabled projection to its centre. To the N face of this there are two windows to the ground floor, similar to ground floor right on the N façade (but slightly smaller), and two first floor windows, similar to upper level right on N façade (but also slightly smaller). In/out quoins to E edge. There is a similar arrangement to the S face but with a doorway in place of the left hand ground floor window. Tall boiler house chimney attached to this face. Much of the façade is finished in lined render, but with the bay pilasters, columns, front door surround, entablature, pediment, parapet etc. all apparently in sandstone. Sections of this stonework may have had ‘plastic’ repair, but it is difficult to be certain. The whole façade, with the exception of the central bay to the front was once covered in a plant growth and the iron ‘pins’ which once supported the ‘netting’ which held the foliage are still in position. This has resulted in much rust staining. The roof is gabled and covered in natural slate. Cast iron rw goods. Forecourt to W (as well as walkways around of the church) now covered in tarmac.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

This church was built in 1838 on land donated by local mill owner, James Andrews. Andrews had a windmill close to the site and planned to build himself a new house close to this, but after the local Non-subscribing congregation had been refused a lease of land (to the west of Killinchy Street) by Lord Londonderry, he generously gave them this plot, completely free of charge. The church was originally due to hold its first service in early January 1839, but the infamous ‘Great Wind’ of the 6th/7th January blew the roof off Andrews’ near by windmill on to the roof of the church, severely damaging the new building in the process. As a result, the installation of the minister was held up for a year. The gallery is not original and appears to have been added in the late 1800s. The original ceiling was removed some time ago after a major portion of it collapsed. References- Primary sources 1 PRONI OS/1/3/10 OS map, 1st ed. 1834, Down 10. 2 PRONI MIC/1B/1 Records of Comber Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church 1838-1971. 2 PRONI OS/6/3/10/3 OS map, 1st rev. 1858, Down 10. 3 PRONI 2nd valuation, Comber, 1861. [In print in PRONI search room and in the Linen Hall Library.] 4 PRONI OS/2/3/10 OS map, 2nd ed. 1901, Down 10. Secondary sources 1 Sydney Andrews (ed. John Burls), ‘Nine Generations- A History of the Andrews Family, Millers of Comber’ (Isaac Andrews & Sons, 1958). 2 Norman Nevin ‘The Story of Comber’ (c.1980s) [typescript in Comber library].

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation H-. Alterations detracting from building J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

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

Evaluation

Important two storey Classical Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of 1838, with central pedimented bay to front. The façade is rendered and dressed with columns, pilasters,pediment and parapet etc in light sandstone. Within each of the outer bays is a semi-circular headed window with Georgian paned sashes.

General Comments

Date of Survey

09 July 1999